Winter 2021-22 Antique Pistol Restoration Project

Antique "Sterling" .38 cal.rimfire restoration project update...

  It seems that I could have bought an E.L.Dickinson "Parts gun" a couple of weeks ago, but I passed, not realizing a the time, th...

Sunday, June 10, 2018

Colt 1903 should have an AirGun replica!



I think the Colt 1903 automatic pistol is one classic pistol that should have an AirGun replica!
It is very surprising that there isn't a licensed Colt 1903 automatic already.
Pictured are two .32 caliber models and a 9mm longer barrel version with a holster/shoulder stock


The closest to a Colt 1903 replica AirGun is the Cyber gun "SoftAir"  .24cal/6mm Colt .25 spring airsoft pistol.
This pistol has a muzzle velocity of around 90 fps with .20 gram BB's and 150 fps with .12 gram BB's.
Power is not why someone buys a gun like this.
It still has a nice crack of a discharge sound and it very fun to rack the slide and point & shoot.

It is a nifty looking replica of the Browning designed, FN model 1906/Colt model 1908 pocket pistol, maybe someday Umarex or Crosman will release a Co2 version of this gun or the Colt 1903 and the other Browning designed semi-automatic pistols like the model 1900 thru 1935(hi-power 9mm).

I was only able to buy the clear plastic version here in Canada, and I refinished the frame & slide with a paint marker.
I think the finish has a more blued  metallic look than if I used Krylon Fusion "for plastic" spray paint, which leaves a nice powder coat finish.


There is another replica Co2 pistol based on a real steel Russian sidearm that is very similar in design to the John Browning pistols, like the model 1900 & 1903, and that is the legendary Tokarev TT-33.
The Gletcher TT series has been discontinued, except for the TT-P, which is an inexpensive, all plastic, DAO semi-automatic BB pistol.
I was able to find a  TT-NBB, the all metal, non-blowback version that suddenly appeared "in stock" at replica airguns Canada's online store, and it is on its way to me with Canada Post.
The newest Tokarev replica is the  KWC TT-33, which is an oddball of an air Pistol, being that it is single action only like a Colt Single Action Army revolver, were you need to cock the hammer for each shot.
The KWC has a few design flaws, and although I still plan to purchase one, I had to jump on the Gletcher TT-NBB now, and get what possibly could be the last Gletcher Tokarev available brand new from an airgun retailer in Canada, or maybe even North America.
A "Gletcher Guns" representative wrote me back and told me that the company had discontinued the TT, TT-NBB & TT-A, however, he did mention the TT-P that should be available this summer, and it is.




I was lucky to find a Gletcher TT-NBB from a Canadian AirGun Dealer last month, after looking for at least a year.


As I have said in my other post about my TT-NBB, it chronographed between 380-425 fps, depending on temperature, an the state of the Co2 charge.




John Wick's guns: H&K P30 & Crosman's Model C21

I think the Crosman model C21 was last in their catalogue around 2012, along with the Beretta lookalike  model C31.
I bought my C21 less than two years ago from Pyramydair, when they suddenly had one in stock for $39.99 US.
This air pistol has a metal slide and nice fibre optic open sights on the rear and front, and a polymer frame.
The fake compensator is made of plastic and can be removed.
The muzzle velocity is rated up to 495 fps, and I had reàd online that this rating was accurate.
I've tested it with 5.1 grain Hornady black diamond steel BB'S and had high's above 500 fps, so the rating is accurate as far as I am  concerned.

It is obvious from its appearance that the model C21 is based on the H&K P30L that John Wick carries in the action films starring Keanu Reeves.

All I care about is if it is comfortable in the hand, shoots straight & Hard and looks cool!

Sunday, June 3, 2018

Crosman Trapmaster 1100 Air Shotgun





My Crosman Trapmaster 1100 .380 caliber Co2 air shotgun was in excellent condition except for the barrel band (the upper left portion was broken off).
I found a company online in Illinois called JG AirGuns who manufacturers every single part for many vintage AirGuns, including the Trapmaster 1100, and so I ordered one to complete my 50 year old Crosman!

The barrel band cost $45 US plus shipping.

My lovely 50 year old Crosman Trapmaster 1100 Co2 shotgun is now in "excellent" condition!
The barrel band was quick and simple to install.

This airgun is almost too nice to take outside shooting ;)





This is a photo taken by Mr. Marvin "the airgun guy" of the Trapmaster 1100 that I later bought.
It is truly a beautifully put together airgun!

These are my photos of the receiver:




Saturday, June 2, 2018

Beeman P-1








My newest AirGuns: Beeman P1 & HellBoy M4





I have had my .22cal/5.5mm Beeman P-1 since December 2017, and just recently bought some Pierce rubber finger groove grips for it.
I've only shot it a few times and plan to shoot it much more this summer.
I did test it with an AceTech ac6000 chonograph and it shot an 11.9 grain H&N Hobby lead pellet as high as 607 fps!
The factory lubrication residue is still causing some dieseling which is why the velocity is so high.

Air Venturi's HellBoy M4 is a brand new full metal .177cal/4.5mm Co2 BB gun from Pyramydair in Ohio.
I ordered one last week and it is at UPS waiting to be picked up on Monday.


I picked up my new HellBoy M4 Co2 .177 cal semi-automatic BB air rifle last Monday and brought it home to unbox.
The "ten for $10" chronograph test recorded shoots a high as 503 fps with an average around 490 fps.
This is a very realistic looking airgun!
I can't wait to shoot it, but I will have to wait untill I can leave my City and shoot in peace.

Saturday, February 10, 2018

Crosman DPMS SBR air rifle @2018 shot show!!!

This year's shot show had many exciting new airgun products on display, but I think my favorite was this new M4 type select fire Co2 powered air rifle: crosman dpms SBR
I pre-ordered myself one from pyramydair, and hopefully I will receive it by the end of March.

More to come...

Thursday, June 15, 2017

Baikal MP-651K Co2 semi-automatic 4.5mm/.177cal. Pistol/Carbine



Baikal Canada has been unable to restock their product line for a number of years because of trade sanctions that Canada has in place against Russia.
It's a shame because they make the Makarov co2 pistol and Blackbird BB machine pistol, as well as some spring piston air rifles and target pistols,  but there is one very unique co2 pistol still in stock; the MP-651K.
The MP-651K shoots 4.5mm steel or lead BB's or lead pellets.


Two years ago II bough my Baikal MP-651k directly from Baikal Canada's web page for $89.99+shipping & tax.

It is a  well made AirGun
The carbine's sights are unique and work good.
I prefer using 4.5mm lead roundball instead of pellets or steel BB's.
You can load something like 23 rounds and plink away!



This should be one of AirGun depot's "Stranger Guns"

Sunday, April 30, 2017

ASG Steyr m9-a1 Co2 air pistols in 6mm & 4.5mm


The .24cal/6mm BB version and the .177cal/4.5mm steel BB version of the STEYR M9-A1 are well made, realistic polymer Co2 replica air pistols that have high muzzle velocity and excellent accuracy.





The .24cal/6mm STEYR M9-A1 is well suited to shoot .30 gram Aluminum alloy BB ammunition



ASG's Steyr m9-a1 Co2 powered .177cal/4.5mm and 6mm pistols are not non-blowback, accurate looking replicas of the Austrian Steyr m9-a1 striker fire semi-automatic pistol.

I own both variants of this air pistol, the .177cal/4.5mm steel BB version and the .24cal/6mm BB airsoft version.

Since the 6mm airsoft version is rated for a muzzle velocity around 460 fps with .20gram airsoft BB's, I have found that it can shoot 1.0 gram steel Ball-bearings at a reasonable velocity.

I don't own a proper ballistic chronograph, so I am not sure what the exact muzzle velocity is, but when shooting at Campbell's Soup cans, it is capable of punching an entry hole and seriously denting the cans.
I also shoot .28gram airsoft BB's with great accuracy in this Co2 pistol.

The .177cal/4.5mm version is rated for a muzzle velocity around 450 fps with 5 grain steel BB's.
Both air pistols are very economic with Co2 and will give you around 100 powerful shots per Co2 powered.

These air pistols both have a white dot/front post & fibre optic rear sights that are excellent.
I like the 111° grip angle and combined with these sights, they help make this a very easy air pistol to shoot straight.

The Steyr Mannlicher branding looks superb,  and discrete 'warning' text is good to see. Nothing spoils the finish of a great looking air pistol like bright white WARNING text!

I was going to remove the 🍊 muzzle tip, but since it covers the moving barrel I decided to paint it Black and keep it.