Dating a Benjamin Sheridan Blue Streak

[schwinnbikebob]

Hi Guys

Bought this at a gun show.  Trying to get a date W132042. C Series  .20  Safety is a slider at the rear.  As best as I can find maybe 90-92?   Will this have the valve like the 392 etc?    Have not worked on a Sheridan before so this will be the first.  It has the odd problem of it will pump up (lever kind of bounces back on the first couple) but really no resistance and will shoot a pellet but only about 300 FPS with 7 pumps.

[Hoosier Daddy]

Nice!
That is a "tang safety C-9".
Unfortunately I can no longer find the "dates of Manufacture by serial number" on Crosman's website.
 That was a GREAT resource.

For now, I would read and post and then ask Flint here. https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=112577.0

But here is your best source of parts.
https://www.jgairguns.biz/c9-c-78_332_333/

[xcalibur]

It was manufactured late 1992 to early 1993. It will have the soldered in valve chamber like the older Sheridans. Get some oil on the pump cup and see how it does.

[Motorhead]

Original SHERIDANS had either a "Reverse order year"  such as 6691 which is 1966 mfg date .... Or the same with a suffix letter A to K for the month.
This marking was in the upper receiver just under the loading tray ( Don't recall which side tho ? )

[Hoosier Daddy]

Motorhead: His gun is a C9... after the "take over".
 "W132042"
The old Sheridan number sequence doesn't apply.... Right?

[eeler1]

So, a Benjamin Sheridan but not a Crosman Sheridan?  Which would mean it has the soldered valve as xcalibr said.  Awfully nice shape, and with the box.  Quite a find, congrats.

[Motorhead]

That would be correct ... My info was an FYI for anyone else reading thread on "How Too" date an older sheridan 

[xcalibur]

So, a Benjamin Sheridan but not a Crosman Sheridan?  Which would mean it has the soldered valve as xcalibr said.  Awfully nice shape, and with the box.  Quite a find, congrats.

The removable cartridge valves started being used in both the Benjamins and Sheridans in mid 1995. It also coincides with the addition of "A" at the end of the model designation, so a C9 has a soldered in valve and a C9A will have the removable valve assembly. The stocks between the two models are not interchangeable either.

[Hoosier Daddy]

I some-what disagee.
The early Benjamin C9A's had a soldered in valve and a tang safety like the OP has... similar to a Benji 342.
The later ones had the trigger safety and the cartridge valve like the later Crosman 392 as you described.

[Madd Hatter]

Here's the breakdown of serial numbers to year made.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheridan_Products

[xcalibur]

I some-what disagee.
The early Benjamin C9A's had a soldered in valve and a tang safety like the OP has... similar to a Benji 342.
The later ones had the trigger safety and the cartridge valve like the later Crosman 392 as you described.

Hi Scott, I've charted over 500 serial numbers and characteristics of 1991 and up Benjamins and Sheridans, and have never seen a C9 with a cartridge valve. Are you sure you're not thinking about the timeframe in which C9A guns still had the early steel triggers and guards, before the change to a trigger pack?

[Hoosier Daddy]

I some-what disagee.
The early Benjamin C9A's had a soldered in valve and a tang safety like the OP has... similar to a Benji 342.
The later ones had the trigger safety and the cartridge valve like the later Crosman 392 as you described.

Hi Scott, I've charted over 500 serial numbers and characteristics of 1991 and up Benjamins and Sheridans, and have never seen a C9 with a cartridge valve. Are you sure you're not thinking about the timeframe in which C9A guns still had the early steel triggers and guards, before the change to a trigger pack?

Steven, you are probably correct.
 Reading what I typed was not what I meant.
C9 were soldered valve , and a tang safety.
C9A's went to the cartridge valve and and the safety at the trigger pack.
Correct?

[xcalibur]

I some-what disagee.
The early Benjamin C9A's had a soldered in valve and a tang safety like the OP has... similar to a Benji 342.
The later ones had the trigger safety and the cartridge valve like the later Crosman 392 as you described.

Hi Scott, I've charted over 500 serial numbers and characteristics of 1991 and up Benjamins and Sheridans, and have never seen a C9 with a cartridge valve. Are you sure you're not thinking about the timeframe in which C9A guns still had the early steel triggers and guards, before the change to a trigger pack?

Steven, you are probably correct.
 Reading what I typed was not what I meant.
C9 were soldered valve , and a tang safety.
C9A's went to the cartridge valve and and the safety at the trigger pack.
Correct?

Tubes were updated to use cartridge valves in mid-1995 and the trigger pack in mid-1997, so in those two years the C9A and 39(X)PA guns still utilized the sheet steel triggers and guards.
Interesting fact: The only gun manufactured in that time period with a soldered valve still was the Benjamin 397C carbine rifle. Those carbines also all have a rocker safety like the old Sheridans.