Interesting last variant of the Crosman 102

[45flint]

Has to be the last 102 type made?  Characteristics as I see them.
1. More durable paint used like the paint used on the 108
2. Curved bolt
3. Maple stock and cocking arm - only after WW2
4. High comb stock
 
Have seen examples of Crosman 102’s like this but pretty rarely.  This one was almost as new, hardly a mark on it.  Some drops of lube down to the pump cup and it powered right up, not surprising given the condition.  There is a number on the cocking lever but not sure it means anything?

Narrowing my collection to prewar but my Crosmans are the exception.  Have a corresponding 101 with normal maple stock and same durable paint.

[RBQChicken]

Wow, that is pristine!  Great find. Congrats!

[splitbeing]

Incredible condition! It's got the nondiabolo cocking knob and the rochester stamp.

[45flint]

Incredible condition! It's got the nondiabolo cocking knob and the rochester stamp.

I have never seen a 102 with a diabolo cocking knob?  What is the Rochester stamp?

[splitbeing]

It's really tough to date the 102s.  Sometimes the diabolo knobs help. The crosman logo also changed over the years. Yours is a stamp in the metal at first glance and has the ciity listed. There were about five different logos if memory serves.  One tricky thing is for a number of years they were building with a mix of new and old parts, hence the difficulty dating by the knob shape.

[tennx]

 When I see an example like yours,makes me almost wish I had my 3 (100,101,102) restored….but that would defeat the purpose ….there all rebuilt ( purchased that way) and shot regularly..thanks for posting that  beautiful example of a classic…

[Pellet Fun]

This is an amazing find and that high comb is on my wish list.

[45flint]

Had time to sight this almost new last model 102 in and it is just pellet on pellet. I think this model is definitely the best iteration of the 102 ever made. Ironic it was at the end of production but they went out with a bang you can say. I think the steel barrel and tube are better, it’s what they would continue to use on all their iconic CO2 rifles that came after.  The superior paint I guess is an improvement they started with their first CO2 gallery rifles because these were used by multiple shooters and handled much more. The finish is flawless and you can tell much more durable.  The highcomb stock was also developed for these competition rifles. In looking at the ads of the times below the 102 was only $2 less than the newly released Town and Country.  I think both were now too expensive to make for the current airgun market.  As they ended both models much cheaper models replaced them.  I have several T&C’s rifles and they are such cool, unique rifles.  But head to head I think I would have to say the final model 102 would in my mind be the best pump rifle Crosman ever produced.  It is just more compact (the T&C is just a beast) just as powerful and so solid with its all metal body. 

[splitbeing]

He's got a shooter, folks!

I read somewhere that the two fellas responsible for the 100, 101, and 102 left and then there were a lot of years in the 40's when less experienced and knowledgable folks were responsible for the assembly and production, often mixing and match8ng parts.  Then in 1949 so something shifted and they got their act together again, putting out the best models. I'll see if I can find the info again.

[splitbeing]

Oops... i found one of the threads, but it's about the 101 specifically.  Forgive me.  Here's the link.

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=105807.0

The same member had some updates to this info in other threads too as their research comtinued.  Looks like you were already on the thread too, so forgive me that as well.

[45flint]

He's got a shooter, folks!

I read somewhere that the two fellas responsible for the 100, 101, and 102 left and then there were a lot of years in the 40's when less experienced and knowledgable folks were responsible for the assembly and production, often mixing and match8ng parts.  Then in 1949 so something shifted and they got their act together again, putting out the best models. I'll see if I can find the info again.

Rudy Metz took over as Crosman’s engineer after the War.  He was a bit of a genius, renovated their production operations.  Also the Town & Country was his first new rifle.  If you look at the valve system it is so much simpler and better engineered than the prewar designs.  He would go on to develop the new CO2 models like the 160. He was responsible for Crosman’s Golden Era.