Need help identifying old .30 cal air rifle.

[Gippeto]

What I know so far;

Believe it's co2, barrel is roughly .30cal. Appears to have been mag fed. Probe retracts from the projectile when you cam the bolt closed. Barrel is approx 28" from transfer ports to muzzle.

The "story" that has accompanied the rifle is "Prototype for the military circa WW2"...as with most such stories...seems rather too fantastic.









Have more pics if needed.

Thanks,
Al

Edit: Photobucket has seen fit to give everyone issues. As a result, I have uploaded the pictures to Flickr;

https://www.flickr.com/photos/78948437@N04/albums/72157683799586320

[ax57]

All I can say is "Wow."  That is an impressive looking piece of hardware.

[TF89]

I hope someone has an answer as that is very cool looking.  Have you tried to slugging the bore to determine size?  Regardless I'll be watching this thread.

Thank you for sharing the pictures.  More would be cool, not for me to help with any answers you understand, more of a fascination.

Dave

[Gippeto]

I pushed a .300 round ball through. Measures were varied, so figuring the bore is a little over that, but rifling marks were deep enough that it's somewhat close...likely no more than .310" Will dig out some .310" ball tomorrow and see how it goes. The .300 was sitting on the shelf "right there".

More pics can be found here;

http://s245.photobucket.com/user/gippeto_album/library/Old%2030%20cal%20airgun?sort=3&page=1

Al

[CraigH]

That's a great find, Al!    The retracting probe is REALLY interesting.

[Gippeto]

Is the link for the other pictures working? Had a couple guys tell me it's not but seems to work for me even if I log out.

Al

Edit; New link

http://s245.photobucket.com/user/gippeto_album/library/Old%2030%20cal%20airgun

[Rimrock]

Both links work for me.  That is an interesting find. Hopefully someone can identify it.

[the fuse]

I have never seen anything like it. Might it be a a true airgun? I looked at all the pics but didn't notice how it's charged. I mean air charged instead of Co2. It is built like a tank so it might be military. Those white seals look interesting for so old a rifle. Another thought.....might it be a carnival gun......magazine fed and all. That little screw in thing just in front of the trigger looks like it was meant to be mounted to something. Just throwing stuff against the wall to see if any sticks. Very cool find.

[Gippeto]

A fellow on the Yellow made the comment that if it were military, it would be festooned with markings...a valid point I'm thinking, but not ruling anything out.

Reservoir is charged from the front via what appears to be an 11x1.0mm fitting (which will have to be reproduced). The fitting in the end of the tube has a check valve in it. Sealing diameter of the poppet is just over .6", and would be nigh on impossible to open with the striker and spring in the rifle...pretty sure it's co2. Throat and ports are also freaking huge.

White seals are nylon, using delrin/acetal for the new ones. Screw in thing in front of the trigger is a plug for the vertical hole in what I'm calling the transfer block. It's also threaded for the stock mounting bolt...which is currently missing.

For what it's worth, and just to keep life interesting...there is an odd mixture of SAE AND metric throughout...both for threads AND dimensions. Tube threads for example, are 3/4-18 at the transfer block and 3/4x 1.0mm (possibly 19x1.0mm) on the other end...

Edit; Also, did slug the bore today with a tight fitting bit of lead....mics .3005" and .3000" at the groove. It'll shoot JSB's. Will be in the new pics later tonight. Lesson learned...don't trust the size of ballistics products round ball....

Al

[the fuse]

Well if it is a prototype there might not be any markings on it. Mix of SAE and metrics? Does not sound American.

[dv8eod]

I can't help but think I've seen that rifle before. Not in person, of course, but I can't remember where. I want to say it was when I was looking up airguns on USPTO website. The barrel is what stands out to me. It has a pretty unique shape.

[Gippeto]

I have the same sense of deja vu, but it's the stock and how it's fit around the reservoir... I KNOW I've seen it somewhere...but I've also frequented gun shows around the province where this may have been on display...so I just don't know. That you believe you've seen it too gives me a little hope that there may be some information somewhere.

Anyhow;

Fill adapter is finished. 11x1mm to foster, flanged seal from teflon. Reservoir is resealed and holding 1000psi and no bubbles!   Couple more bits to make and it will bark once more.







Al

[Horatio]

Neat rifle. Looking forward to updates. Thank you.

[TF89]

Nicely done.  That barrel really bites the pellet well.  As others have said, built like a tank.  30 cal seems awful big for a carnival gun. 

[19Sheridan57]

Very interesting rifle there. I hope you can get it identified &&&& working !

[bavaria55n]

Interesting, tagging this to see what turns up.

[dv8eod]

It's killing me that I can't remember where I've possibly seen this before.

I'm thinking that if you contact the NRA museum or the people who produce the airgun value books the mystery might be solved. Could turn out that you hit the airgun lottery, or just have a neat piece of history. It'll be awesome if you find it's a one holer.

[bantam5s]

If it were a prototype trainer for the US military would it not try to emulate an M1 or '03 Springfield rifle ? For basic marksmanship training I think .22 rimfire rifles would also be cheaper, and if indoor practice was the goal I don't think .30 cal would've been the choice.
I just don't see how this could ever be a military trainer.

[dv8eod]

If it were a prototype trainer for the US military would it not try to emulate an M1 or '03 Springfield rifle ? For basic marksmanship training I think .22 rimfire rifles would also be cheaper, and if indoor practice was the goal I don't think .30 cal would've been the choice.
I just don't see how this could ever be a military trainer.

When he mentioned sae and metric fittings plus CO2, made in Philippines came to mind. But that hasn't panned out for me during my searches. No markings doesn't help.

[bantam5s]

If it were a prototype trainer for the US military would it not try to emulate an M1 or '03 Springfield rifle ? For basic marksmanship training I think .22 rimfire rifles would also be cheaper, and if indoor practice was the goal I don't think .30 cal would've been the choice.
I just don't see how this could ever be a military trainer.

When he mentioned sae and metric fittings plus CO2, made in Philippines came to mind. But that hasn't panned out for me during my searches. No markings doesn't help.

something about that over-exaggerated pistol grip and comparatively narrow butt stock strike me as non American for some reason, so Philippines is a possibility.