Original/ Diana Mod. 38- Early Versions

[Mole trapper]

I've never seen a 38, but see 35,s regularly?
I've got two 35,s here at present, hideous stocks, brown though instead of the awful orange colour on my 45

[landymick]

The 34 range is vague at best what with the short cylinder then the longer one & all the various stocks, sights,barrel length & triggers so it is no surprise the 38 is just as bad.
The 38 was the top of the range 34 in 1986 & it was listed as "also available with special Beech stock" though this would make it a 36.

So perhaps its one of these since the manufactured date is close to the 1986 sales date.

[Drew451]

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/zgenjiva0...VsmrFm4M-Fej8a

Pictures above of the 38. As far as comparison with the 36 of similar year goes, its just the stock shape/ pattern and the addition of the sight ramp as far as I can ascertain.
The 36 and even the 34 gained the ramp soon after. A direct comparison with my '88 34 will follow to compare cylinder length. Ill be needing my anorak at this rate.

[richywilk]

Does anyone remember when Venom tuned a 38 for a company called Cindys shooting shop.
It was called the Piranha ..in a stunning walnut stock another one on my list to own.

[air-tech]

Odd, a 38 with a 36 style stock. Well that must be early. In the 90s 34-38 were all the same metalwork but with different woodwork, yours would distinctly be 36 style. Mine is 08-88 and has a different, "38" style stock as shown in later catalogues.

[air-tech]

I have a.22 Diana 38 dated 08 88.

Mine is 08-88...

I think I'll be checking the serial no. next!

[jonnyone]

Does anyone remember when Venom tuned a 38 for a company called Cindys shooting shop.
It was called the Piranha ..in a stunning walnut stock another one on my list to own.

There is a certain personage on this forum who has one. And very nice it is too.
If only they had done a walnut tyro or thumbhole to a 45 and worked their magic on the action. I think a 45 with that amount of work on it n.with good handling characteristics would be sublime.
A small digression from the 38 thread there (ahem)
Getting back to the subject it would be interesting and informative to explore the claimed short cylinder/ longer cylinder (or could it be short/ long stroke piston) variants among the 34/36/38 action types. I posted a short time ago about having taken cylinder dimensions on the current 35 anniversary model available abroad. As it turned out this was a 34 in what can.only be described as perhaps 34/36 ish clothing.
Dave

[Drew451]

I agree on the potential of 45's with the right tuning and stock options.... But there were very few options, even in their heyday..

I slipped a front sight element into the 38 and had a wee shot with opens over 15m earlier. It shoots very well and although I will have to get the trigger sorted, accuracy seems good. In isolation it seems very responsive as far as shot cycle is concerned: my 34, in .22 also, has I lazier, softer feel. I need to get them both together for a direct comparison.

Shooting just one 10 pellet group each with the pellets I had to hand has Hobby and H&N Spitzkugel giving very good results. Bisley Practice and H&N FTT are normally my favourites in most Diana's, esp. in .22, but both are well behind.

[Drew451]

Back up to help with an enquiry.

[Bedazzled]

Does anyone remember when Venom tuned a 38 for a company called Cindys shooting shop.
It was called the Piranha ..in a stunning walnut stock another one on my list to own.

I think I have one, thought it was venom tuned but spoke to v mach and he told me they may have done it for Cindy's, its seen better days but has a stunning tyrolean stock

[Geezer]

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/zgenjiva0...VsmrFm4M-Fej8a

Pictures above of the 38. As far as comparison with the 36 of similar year goes, its just the stock shape/ pattern and the addition of the sight ramp as far as I can ascertain.
The 36 and even the 34 gained the ramp soon after. A direct comparison with my '88 34 will follow to compare cylinder length. Ill be needing my anorak at this rate.

That is identical to my 36 (except that a previous owner carbined the barrel). From memory, mine is around 1990. Can't summon the energy to dig it out of the cabinet and check.

I thought the long cylinder, ramp, 3-ball trigger replaced the short cylinder, rails, simple trigger in about 86-87 across the 34/36/38 range.

[Drew451]

Interesting. It would seem that the 36 may have gained the 38 stock when the 38 got the longer, deeper one. Eventually 34 series evolution may be revealed on this forum.