Old gems
Well Gems were made in Europe and followed on after the original American designs made by Quackenbush [ which started out late in the last century at the time you mention ] . Your Gem is a T bar latch full oct. barrel - have seen adverts from contemporary shooting catalogues showing these being around the same time as Lincoln Jefferies . These Gems were made for many years and unless stamped with a makers mark or even a British importers stamp [ 'A.B. Arbenz '- is a common name/stamp - being a Birmingham based gun retailer who imported these Gems for 40 odd years ] , they are notoiriously difficult to date ...lots of fun collecting mind as eveyone is different it seems . Once you've hit the 40 figure its time to start collecting something else .
ADDENDUM
Fellow member Gunspring has an original Quackenbush up for sale here - with photos in Sales . Its nice to be able to compare the grandaddy of all spring airguns , with the European made Gem .
Last edited by Arch.Stanton?; 17-03-2011 at 01:55 PM.
" WHEN YOU'RE GOING TO SHOOT - SHOOT , DON'T TALK ! "