Need info on Postwar Airguns 1946-1950 Challenger Arms

[DWTrull]

I collect Post War Air Rifles and am trying to put together as much accurate info as I can regarding air guns of this period to not only help myself but for others. Does anyone out there have a CO2 Challenger with an Eagle Rock stamp on the receiver? I have a strong suspicion that all CO2 Challenger Airguns were produced by Goodenow in Pennsylvania after they discontinued manufacturing in California. It appears that all pneumatic were produced in California prior to 1951, and all CO2 guns were produced in Pennsylvania after 1951. Goodenow took over manufacturing after 1951 and produced only CO2 guns. 1951 ads for the CO2 guns list Challenger Arms Co with a Wagner Station address, the same as Challenger Arms Distributing.  Healthways of LA was no longer the distributor likely due to National Cart Corp cutting their losses and stopping manufacturing in California. Unfortunately records were not saved at the time and most of the companies involved are now defunct. I believe Goodenow took over manufacturing the Plainsman sometime in 1951, dropping the California address from the Guns receiver. They used Challenger Arms as the new  distributor. "Challenger Arms Distributing Co." is listed on the CO2 instruction manual, instead of Challenger Arms manufacturer. By 1953 Goodenow began selling and distributing these guns from their Pennsylvania Factory, totally dropping any California connection. That only last another year or two and all manufacturing of these guns likely ended by 1955. If anyone has info to add regarding these guns please post. Unfortunately alot of what we have is conjecture due to the lack of any hard documentation.

Dave Trull
   

[Renfield]

sooo... anymore information unearthed yet?

[Renfield]

Actually, just found this:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/svfd7vrshaact8z/PT3%20Challenger%20Plainsman%20Article%20revised%20.pdf?dl=0

Great article!
Thank you!

[eeler1]

Not to hijack, but a question; are those companies related at all to Healthways?

Update; read the scanned article, DOH!!!

[oldair]

Jimmie Dee in the UK has done a couple informative sessions on Challenger Plainsman products, at:
http://www.jimmiedeesairguns.com/manufacturers/challenger-arms-corporation/challenger-arms-corporation-gallery/

You may want to check his other articles as well.