Crosman 102

[LeeRoy5159]

Can someone help me with dating this crosman 102?

Walnut stock, 5 ring cocking knob & Buckhorn style rear sight

I'm guessing it's a later variant between 1948-50?

[45flint]

My guess would be a little earlier.   Looks like a repaint, look at the black on the bolt?

[Back_Roads]

 Awhile back someone found a stash of old Crosman Rifles, I have one.  Good read at lest https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=195296.0

[c801tfd]

Possibly around 1947 maybe 46, still a very nice 102. I have a few early ones, fun shooters.

[LeeRoy5159]

Thanks for the info folks,

Let's say 1946

Yes it's possibly been re painted in the past by the looks of it. I've read that they come in gloss & wrinkle finish, is this correct?

Was the rear sight an option back then to have peep, buckhorn, tombstone style or is it down to variants?

Did they use steel for the first shuttles then brass & then aluminium?

Nice collection you have their Elroy, I like the chequered stocks

[c801tfd]

Steel was used first for the shuttle.

Metals such as copper, brass and aluminium were vital metals for pre-war weapons/ammunition production.

The use of steel on the 102 can almost be confirmed by pre and post war coin production in the US.
In 1943 US Pennies were zinc coated steel and wartime Nickels from 1942 - 1945 contained no nickel but rater a composition of 56% copper, 35% silver, and 9% manganese.
Also Chrome was a restricted metal and very few pre-war vehicles came with chrome and virtually all cars and trucks produced during the war had no chrome on them.       

The use of these metals became available as the war was winding down, as an example the US Mints produced pennies using old brass shell casings from 1944, 1945 and 1946. In 1947 copper returned as the primary metal of the penny and Nickel was placed back in the the 5 cent piece, and yes chrome started to appear on vehicles again.

One other reminder Crosman set aside production of the 102 for nearly 18 months of the war as well due to these metals restrictions. However there were some special 102's produced by Crosman for the US Military that were made and delivered to the OSS in India that used a round ball ammunition.   

I am not sure about the rear sight having options, I think they came from the factory with sight installed and may have been what they had is stock at the time. The Wrinkle/Krinkle finish was produced in the last year of the 102/104 approximately 1949/50.   

Thank you for the compliment, the checkered stock appeared on early model 102's and are my favorites to find. 

[45flint]

There were really three finishes.  The normal paint that always seems to be partially worn away.  In the “1949” version, Crinkle paint and a much tuffer shinny paint was used.  The later seem to hold up much better but were made only at the last. 

[LeeRoy5159]

Removing the receiver cover their is a W stamp on the inside, anyone know what the W marking is for?

[LeeRoy5159]

Removing the receiver cover their is a W stamp on the inside, anyone know what the W marking is for?

Any idea what it could be for folks?

[45flint]

Removing the receiver cover their is a W stamp on the inside, anyone know what the W marking is for?

Any idea what it could be for folks?

I would assume it is the mark of the forge which supplied that part.  I have seen other guns with forge markings.

[LeeRoy5159]

I would assume it is the mark of the forge which supplied that part.  I have seen other guns with forge markings.

Thanks Steve, I've heard of other 102's with R markings for repair at factory

[LeeRoy5159]

Looking at the pump linkage, I can make out numbers 1368F or 136BF?

Can anyone confirm the year by these numbers?

[LeeRoy5159]

I decided to rust blue the bolt & cover as the previous owner done a poor job refinishing, leaving the markings unreadable