1960 Crosman 140

[HPP-Mechanic]

I bought this one off an old timer that said his dad bought it for him when he was 10!  It still worked, but was a bit down on power & filthy. I re-sealed it and cleaned it up a bit.  The pump link/rivet has a bit of slop & I cant seem to find a replacement link & rivet   Also, the new felt wiper is so dense, that I have to pump slowly so it can draw air into the pump tube. When I fully open the pump, I can hear the air hissing into the tube! I may cut a little valley into the felt so the air can get in more easily. Its an accurate .22 and I bothers me that the old timer didnt want his gun anymore after having it 60+ years.

[Blowpipe Sam]

The Crosman 140/1400 series had a somewhat restricted intake for the pump.  The accepted pumping style was to hold the pump arm open at the top of the stroke for a count of “one Mississippi” to let the pump chamber fill completely.  Some folks have relieved the inlet channel with a file and others have drilled a small hole to improve breathing.  I just pause at the top of each stroke for a one second count.  Pumped slowly like this these guns will make a surprising amount of power.

[HPP-Mechanic]

The Crosman 140/1400 series had a somewhat restricted intake for the pump.  The accepted pumping style was to hold the pump arm open at the top of the stroke for a count of “one Mississippi” to let the pump chamber fill completely.  Some folks have relieved the inlet channel with a file and others have drilled a small hole to improve breathing.  I just pause at the top of each stroke for a one second count.  Pumped slowly like this these guns will make a surprising amount of power.

That is exactly how I have to pump it.  I took it apart twice, thinking that something was wrong, because it wouldnt "auto-cock", or build pressure, when I was pumping it quickly. Maybe I will add a small hole to the pump tube when I replace the rivet & pump link (when I finally find one). After I cleaned the barrel, straightened the bent sights, and re-crowned the beat-up barrel... Its quite accurate. Im keeping this one.

[Blowpipe Sam]

And it has one of those (typically) nicely figured Elm stocks that Crosman made in those days!  I’m sorry I just parted with a spare 140 linkage not long ago for another member’s gun.  You might try contacting Baker Airguns, or Precision Pellet about a used one.

[Back_Roads]

 That American Elm sure looks pretty, and all from the same part of the tree

[HPP-Mechanic]

That American Elm sure looks pretty, and all from the same part of the tree

  BEFORE PIC

The stock was so dirty. I scrubbed it with soap & warm water. The water looked like coffee when I rinsed it. After drying overnight, the whole thing looked chalky. I gave it 4-5 doses of Old English(for light woods) and it looks ok. Then a coat of Renaissance Wax to seal the deal.   I wanted to keep the "well used" look of the gun. This thing was shot so much that the linkage wore out. At some time, the kid must have beat something to death with the end of the gun, as the front sight and barrel was damaged. And he must have bent the rear sight to make up for it. 

[Mzq284]

Your efforts definitely paid off, it's a purty gun, now. I love the elm stocks, they're striking. I like them so much that there's 3 of them in my cabinet 

[Back_Roads]

 I keep looking at the Elm tree in my yard thinking someday soon it will get Dutch Elm and need to be made into gun stocks.

[Van]

   I ordered several used Crosman 160 Elm Stocks from Numrich at $29 each.  The finish was a bit dark and dirty, but all cleaned up very nice.  This one I modified to go on a Disco tube carbine build.  The wood can have some really nice patterns according to how it was cut.  I think I will order one more to use on a stockless 392 pumper action I have on hand before they are gone. Stained this one Honey Maple.

[Flex]

I bought this one off an old timer that said his dad bought it for him when he was 10!  It still worked, but was a bit down on power & filthy. I re-sealed it and cleaned it up a bit.  The pump link/rivet has a bit of slop & I cant seem to find a replacement link & rivet   Also, the new felt wiper is so dense, that I have to pump slowly so it can draw air into the pump tube. When I fully open the pump, I can hear the air hissing into the tube! I may cut a little valley into the felt so the air can get in more easily. Its an accurate .22 and I bothers me that the old timer didnt want his gun anymore after having it 60+ years.

The Crosman 140, IMHO, is a very nice pellet rifle! I have one that is perhaps a bit newer but still basically the same RE: the power plant. You might be able to fix the pump/link rivet issue by fabricating a bushing out of a small section of copper tubing 🤔. I’ve fixed other “sloppy” pivot points using that method before. I’d be hesitant to “hog out” any metal from the pump tube. If the piston rod is properly adjusted, the felt wiper should barely clear the gap and if you can hear air “hissing” you should be good. On mine, I’m able to see edge of the washer that’s between the felt wiper and the piston cup. The suggestion to pause briefly at the end of the open stroke is a good one! I wouldn’t cut a “valley” into the felt wiper. You mentioned that the felt wiper is new. Have you saturated it with pellet gun oil? It will soften somewhat with the oil and keep the pump tube lubed. I wouldn’t be too bothered that the “old timer” didn’t want the rifle anymore. He might be in the “downsizing” and tough decisions need to be made. Sounds like you’ll be giving it the new home it deserves! 😎

[OneDollarBob]

The Crosman 140, IMHO, is a very nice pellet rifle!

I agree.  They shoot every bit as well as the old Benjamin's.
I don't know why I see so many 140s that look like they have just been left to rust.

[Mzq284]

The Crosman 140, IMHO, is a very nice pellet rifle!

I agree.  They shoot every bit as well as the old Benjamin's.
I don't know why I see so many 140s that look like they have just been left to rust.

I had a mint 1969 342, a long sought desire. It wouldn't shoot very well with CPHPs, my preferred do-all pellet,  so I rehomed it. What a disappointment.
My Grandpa's 140, like above, and my later one will shoot circles around it. The later one has a 362 barrel that I machined to replicate the original, it's a shooter! And they aren't leaving!

[JPSAXNC]

There solid shooters, I had 3 140's and 2 1400's. I gave one 140 to my sons father in law.  And I converted 2 to pin style poppets. The link pivot has a lot of clearance from the factory.

[Blowpipe Sam]

The 140/1400 series is one of my favorites.  Because chronographs were not as common fifty years ago there was a lot of speculation about whether the Benji’s and Dan’s were more powerful than the Crosmans.  Only marginally as it turned out.  Everyone hates the trigger on these guns though I don’t.  Yes the trigger gets heavier as the pressure increases but a well tuned (or aged) 1400 trigger only needs about 5/32” of travel.  That very short pull combined with a little filing (or wear) and a trigger stop makes for a very nice crisp trigger.

I’m presently negotiating with another member here to buy two 140’s and a first model 1400 from him.