Another “Exceptional?” 102

[OTmachine]

Way out of my league: https://www.ebay.com/itm/126599556105?itmmeta=01J41R2PPKYZ47GVVZJCB65XFX&hash=item1d79ebec09:g:R-IAAOSwzetk9gH1

Most likely everyone’s league

[Habanero69er]

They sure are proud of that one. I know inflation & the cost of living is up, but that’s ridiculous.  🙄

[Back_Roads]

 Hmm I will see if they will trade my FX DRS even up

[45flint]

That is actually very rare. See it loads round balls.  Sent to the military during WW2 to Burma? India? No one sure why? In that condition if authentic maybe one of a kind? Only seen a pic of one other and it was a mess.

“OSS” version

“The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was an intelligence agency of the United States during World War II. The OSS was formed as an agency of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS)[3] to coordinate espionage activities behind enemy lines for all branches of the United States Armed Forces. Other OSS functions included the use of propaganda, subversion, and post-war planning.”

Here is story:
“ Hahn's determination to keep Crosman Arms going was inexhaustible. Since materials could only obtained with a government contract then the answer would be a government contract.  Hahn made several trips to wartime Washington, D.C.with his son P.Y. Jr. The meetings took place in the old munitions building on Connecticut Ave. Against the odds, life-giving government contract was obtained. Interestingly, Hahn always referred to it as the "Marine contract." However, the source of the contract was the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). The OSS built up the ability to supply all sorts of odd and interesting weapons including gift weapons of 500 Civil war era muzzle loading rifles for the Kachin tribesmen of Burma.

How the 1000 Crosman model 102 airguns from contract #623 were used is open to question but where they ended up isn't, since 957 model 102's are counted in a January, 1945, inventory of OSS Calcutta stock. If any of the airguns were actually distributed is not known. But, the order for the airguns was certainly a well considered purchase as evidenced by the ammunition specified in the order. The .22 caliber round ball shot was non-standard wares for Crosman and Crosman had to special purchase shot and size it to meet the government specifications. This seems to indicate that these guns were intended to be used! Making it easy to let the imagination run wild with  romantic ideas of a thousand silent airguns lurking behind enemy lines creating terror, inflicting small-scale sabotage. Or, the airguns could have been used by the Island Watchers. The OSS had the responsibility of supplying the Pacific and Indian ocean Island watchers. The chore of living on a island completely held by the enemy would be, of course, extremely difficult. One of the requirements would be to live off the land as much as possible and use of regular firearms would be restricted, due to the noise. A Crosman Silent Rifle model 102 would have been perfect for the job of filling the evening stew pot even under the harshest conditions. Although any such combat role is very much open to question, the Crosman model 102 status as a war veteran is secure.

 (U.S. archive information is from correspondence from Dr. John W. Brunner in preparation for his book OSS Weapons )”

Looks too good to be true?  Why would they send checkered stock and grip to the far east during wartime?

[KWK]

FWIW I know the man and he's easier to deal with in person.

[JKM6442]

I agree that it looks too good to be true.  With a 1,000 gun order to fill, it's highly unlikely Crosman would have taken the time to checker an OSS destined rifle.  The question is what is it:  was it converted to round ball after it left the factory; is it a special order rifle built by Crosman for a commercial customer; or is it a sample Hahn took with him when he sat down with the Government ? ? ? ?

[45flint]

I agree that it looks too good to be true.  With a 1,000 gun order to fill, it's highly unlikely Crosman would have taken the time to checker an OSS destined rifle.  The question is what is it:  was it converted to round ball after it left the factory; is it a special order rifle built by Crosman for a commercial customer; or is it a sample Hahn took with him when he sat down with the Government ? ? ? ?

If you look at the hole the right part of it looks a little like part of the flat edge is still there.   Looks drilled out to me?  With no documentation you have to assume that? Already altered with a diablo pull knob. Asking that price and calling it a OSS yet saying he can’t say for sure?!

[JKM6442]

Good eye Flint.  Given the rarity of original OSS rifles, did someone create their own version of one ?  If Crosman built that rifle, they probably would have drilled a new blank tube, and not modified an existing one ?

[JPSAXNC]

The checkering pattern looks awkward. I don't think it's factory.

[OTmachine]

Checkering looks pretty close to right.

[DWTrull]

It is highly unlikely the eBay 102 is a OSS gun. The seller is very honest and upfront in the description that it cannot be confirmed if it is an OSS rifle. Several traits on that example do not jive for the time period it was made.

There are so many unconfirmed stories regarding the OSS versions it hard to know what to believe.