Sheridan Blue Streak vs C9A

[HPP-Mechanic]

Which one would you rather have?  I have a few Blue Streaks & one C9A... A guy at work wants to buy a Sheridan from me, and I dont know which one to sell.  I have a 1975, 1957, 1963, and a 1991 C9A. They all shoot well and look good. I have not got to test any for accuracy yet (winter),  so assuming they all shoot equal, how would the experts rate them?
The C9A has a Williams peep sight.

[Hoosier Daddy]

I guess it all depends on how much of a "purist" you are.
While the C9A is a wonderful gun, it is not a true Sheridan.
 They were produced by Benjamin after the take-over... maybe even Crosman if it is later version.
Where is the safety?

The C9 had a soldered valve and was made in Racine, Wisconsin until May 1995. After that it became the C9A and was produced in NY and the serial numbering process follows the one used by Crosman. In June 1997 a new trigger unit was introduced. Additional changes have taken place occasionally over time, but the serial numbering process still followed the Crosman method.  The Sheridan line was marketed under the Benjamin name for a short period of time and for a while during the late 1990s then under the Benjamn/Sheridan name, then marketing switched back to the Sheridan brand.   The .20 caliber air rifle known as the Sheridan was discontinued at the end of 2019.  All .20 caliber pellets were discontinued in June of 2021.

[Frank in Fairfield]

I know nothing about Benjamin’s other than what I hear…
That you must have special tools to repair them.
I rebuilt my C9a with a 7/8” wrench, some punches, a wooden dowel and a screwdriver.

[avator]

I would sell the C9A and hang on to the real Sheridans.

[Hoosier Daddy]

I would sell the C9A and hang on to the real Sheridans.

That is what I was hinting at Bill... but a "Tang Safety" C9A can be a pleasure.
 If the safety is at the trigger group like a Crosman 392 I would let it go.

[avator]

I would sell the C9A and hang on to the real Sheridans.

That is what I was hinting at Bill... but a "Tang Safety" C9A can be a pleasure.
 If the safety is at the trigger group like a Crosman 392 I would let it go.

I get that... but among the guns he listed, that one one be the sacrificial lamb.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Agreed!

[HPP-Mechanic]

The safety is down by the trigger. In the Blue "Know your Sheridan" book, it sounded like the C9A was something special... I like the older Sheridans with the skinnier pump arms, but the thumb safety is annoying.

[avator]

I believe the pump on the C9A is referred to as the "beaver tail".

[Hoosier Daddy]

The safety is down by the trigger.. (snip) .. the thumb safety is annoying.

To each his own... that is what makes this a great sport!
 To me, the 1957, 1963 are keepers.. the 1975 "rocker" style is my favorite. 

[HPP-Mechanic]

Update: I shot them all @ 21yards to sight them in. I dislike shooting the 57 because of the thumb safety.

 The C9A was also not fun to shoot because of the awful 7.5lb trigger. I took it apart, polished everything, put in a lighter return spring, and lubed it w/moly grease. All that work and it only got it down to 6.5lbs. After a few Google searches, I found out that the Benjamin 392 had the same trigger, and read about the poor sear design. After a slight re-shaping, the trigger feels great, and is down to 2.5lbs, w/o moly grease!  Tomorrow, I will harden the sear, add moly, and see how it shoots. I also cut off the tab that kept if from being de-cocked. 

[Frank in Fairfield]

I have read horror stories about working on bluestreaks.
I always wanted one but had to settle for a C9a.
Recently I rebuilt the C9 myself.
It might have taken 15 minutes.

[JPSAXNC]

The tang safety transition gun might be the rarest of them all.

[19Sheridan57]

    I would sell the newer Sheridan .