U.S. Shooting Team 953

[korny351]

Some of you may have read my earlier thread concerning my "new to me" 953.  What I thought to be a modded 953 had me puzzled, as it was only a single-shot.  After much Google-foo I found an Ebay auction for a magazine ad for a "1985 DAISY 953 777 ADVERTISEMENT AIR PISTOL RIFLE GUN AD US SHOOTING TEAM"

The picture is identical to the mystery 953 I bought.  Wooden stock, barrel weight and rear sight (Daisy 5800) are identical.  If anyone has access to the air rifle Blue Book I'd appreciate any info available on this model.  I'll be in contact with Daisy tomorrow.

JK

[korny351]

Bear with me I'm going to have to re-size photo to post.  Here, I'll just do it this way.
http://i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx348/korny351/T2eC16NzUE9s389zVZBRktEHOkQ60_57_zps75e80a86.jpg

[korny351]

Thought I'd post before someone says it didn't happen.

[K.O.]

I have to say this

Dude you are AWSOME.  This place is also...

I just learned some thing new...

I thought my 853/953 was a put together, a 953 receiver with 853 the rest including the  LW barrel...

but the serial number on the barrel starts 5A so I now know  mine is also a 1985 U.S. Shooting Team 953, Thanks!!!

[korny351]

K.O.
There's just not much info out there on this rifle.  I'll be calling Daisy tomorrow but I'll bet they'll refer me to the Daisy Museum.  If I remember, Orin, the curator is only in on Fridays.  If I get any further info I'll let you know.

J.K.

[K.O.]

I resealed mine and when I did I found my piston was flat topped not dished like the current X53s.  I wonder when that changed?

I am still totally surprised and honestly I think it is very cool.  I just did a little search the little I could find  was they were 1984-1985 only...

[korny351]

The '1984-85 production dates makes sense.  My serial # is 4Jxxxxx.  Seems your Google-foo is stronger than mine.

[K.O.]

(>")>  <("<)   (>")>  <("<)  (>")>  <("<)  (>")>    (Kirby the Crème Puff Victory Dance)

 not about the Goo fu but about my x53 being just a touch unique...

[K.O.]

well I filled out the Daisy customer service contact form... and asked about the U.S. Shooting Team 953 but for got to say 1984-85


 I have a Daisy 953 with the LW barrel that I thought was put together but I then saw an add For the U.S. Shooting Team 953 & 777 I would appreciate any Info that I can get about it thank you. ,Kirby O

the answer I got...

 I have attached a parts diagram for the 953.  We do not make that gun with a LW barrel.


     

I don't have anything on a U.S. Shooting Team 953 & 777

[korny351]

K.O.
I sent an email to Orin Ribar, curator of the Daisy Museum.  I gave him info on our rifles, as well as pix and a copy of the ad I posted.  Still waiting on a reply.  He's only there on Fridays if I remember correctly.  If no reply by then I will be calling directly.  Orin was a long term employee of Daisy who retired and then came back as the curator of the museum.  I also sent in a info request to Customer Service, but their reply was that the 953 is a repeater and my rifle is probably a 953 with 753/853 part upgrades.  They also said the 953 wasn't introduces 'til 2004.  That doesn't jive with an ad clearly marked 1985 or a single-shot receiver  with Powerline 953 embossed on the side.   I also found a copy of another ad for for the U.S. Shooting Team model.  Circa 1984.

[K.O.]

what I found was from 1982 to 1984 they had the 851 I think there is one for sale here they had a daisy barrel and I think where advertised as getting 600 fps...

I think from 80-83 they had the 977 that came with the peep sight I do not think the 851 did.

[korny351]

I talked with Orin at the Daisy Museum on Friday.  He confirmed that my 953 was part of a promotional run (1984-85) through their Special Marketing Division.  It wasn't even included in their 1984 catalog.  A portion of the proceeds were donated to the U.S. Shooting Team.  Manufacturing continued through 1989.  According to the serial numbers my rifle (4Jxxxxx) would have been made in Sept. '84.  K.O. yours was made in Jan. '85.  The letter designates the month of manufacture, A through M skipping I.

[K.O.]

I wonder if the 5A00XXX is sequential starting with one( mine fair middlin low)?... So they continued to make it or the whole


" .177 Shooters' Sport Shop Coolection of precision air guns"

(from the 84 advert).  So I guess you had to call and Know what to order? I notice the cutout coupon had "offer expires April 30 1886" in both ads.

I wonder how many there are...
Les than 1000  or thousands.... was the serial sequential overall, for that year or at all. , If sequential overall the number has room for tens of thousands...

If they are sequential yours would have to be pretty low.

[K.O.]

I talked with Orin at the Daisy Museum on Friday.  He confirmed that my 953 was part of a promotional run (1984-85) through their Special Marketing Division.  It wasn't even included in their 1984 catalog.  A portion of the proceeds were donated to the U.S. Shooting Team.  Manufacturing continued through 1989.^{were they all "Shooting team 953s or just the 84-85?}  According to the serial numbers my rifle (4Jxxxxx) would have been made in Sept. '84.  K.O. yours was made in Jan. '85.  The letter designates the month of manufacture, A through M skipping I.

And thank you for sharing what you have found

I now wish I could find copies of Daisy Catalogs for the years of production  85-90...

[K.O.]

So Daisy says the 953 (current model I guess) began production in 2004...

These were manufactured till 89,

So no 953s  from 89-2004?