Vintage Benjamin airguns

[Mobiasstrip]

Here is where the design started. Two of my favourites. Both still shooting well.
Steve
Title should say
Benjamin Franklin models 177 and 122. 1930s

[45flint]

Here is where the design started. Two of my favourites. Both still shooting well.
Steve
Title should say
Benjamin Franklin models 177 and 122. 1930s

Love these front pumper!

[jirushi]

Here is where the design started. Two of my favourites. Both still shooting well.
Steve
Title should say
Benjamin Franklin models 177 and 122. 1930s

Really nice! How do you pump them? I saw a drawing where you put the pump rod against a wall, and push the pistol?

[jirushi]

With the kind permission of AllanM, I hereby present you his beautiful Benjamin 312 and 347.

[Mobiasstrip]

Really nice! How do you pump them? I saw a drawing where you put the pump rod against a wall, and push the pistol?

I use the floor to pump them.

[jirushi]

I'm straying off topic in my own thread, but someone sent me photos of his vintage American pumpers yesterday and I'm trying to find out what they are (he doesn't know ).
Not Benji's.
Apache's? And a Crosman 100 or 101?
The question is also whether seals and ammo are available.
If the "mystery guns" are Apache's, then we're talking about .175" bb's?

No. 1 (looks really good imo, but that trigger - pretty rough design?)




No. 2




No. 3

[45flint]

Thats a Rodchester, made in the same town as Crosman by some ex-Crosman enplyees. Only lasted a short time right after WW2. They are similar in construction to a Crosman 101 I believe, nothing like the Apache. I see them over here and they seemed to be sealed so I don’t think there they too bad to work on. Rick would probably have the seals? I have held one, kind of a odd rifle, never really appealed to me?

[jirushi]

Ps. Fantastic info on what looks like no. 2:
https://www.jimmiedeesairguns.com/ri...t-corporation/
By Jimmie Dee (thank you).
A rifled .25" barrel for .25" bb's/lead shot with .175" insert.
11.4 ft.lbs with 6 pumps. Now that sounds

[jirushi]

Thats a Rodchester, made in the same town as Crosman by some ex-Crosman enplyees. Only lasted a short time right after WW2. They are similar in construction to a Crosman I believe, nothing like the Apache. I see them over here and they seemed to be sealed so I don’t think there they too bad to work on. Rick would probably have the seals? I have held one, kind of a odd rifle, never really appealed to me?

That's interesting, thank you.
Looking at the Apache's, they spark interest, but I think I would share your opinion.
Interesting, but not something to own.
However, the .25"/.175" dual caliber gun sounds like a lot of fun.

[45flint]

That's interesting, thank you.
Looking at the Apache's, they spark interest, but I think I would share your opinion.
Interesting, but not something to own.
However, the .25"/.175" dual caliber gun sounds like a lot of fun.

The Apaches are interesting but a bear to work on? I heard someone say that they are either not working or soon to be. Lol A major reason they died was warranty work. Valves really not well designed.

[Lawrie Amatruda]

The Apaches are interesting but a bear to work on? I heard someone say that they are either not working or soon to be. Lol A major reason they died was warranty work. Valves really not well designed.

I hope I don’t upset anyone, but I disagree with the difficulty of resealing the Apache rifles and pistols, they are very simple to work on I have done quite a few over the years, I recently supplied sets of seals to a couple of collectors in the USA who were very happy with the results. By the way they do not use .25 calibre balls, they will jam if you try them) they need .24 cal. or number 4 buckshot. I don’t know why they were advertised as .25 cal.

Cheers, Lawrie

[gingernut]

Here is where the design started. Two of my favourites. Both still shooting well.
Steve
Title should say
Benjamin Franklin models 177 and 122. 1930s

Mine is a .22 with a modern poly seal done by Baz.
Works and shoots well.
Baz also gave me a poly block which I put on the floor to pump it up on.
Only needs 3 pumps for good power.

[45flint]

I hope I don’t upset anyone, but I disagree with the difficulty of resealing the Apache rifles and pistols, they are very simple to work on I have done quite a few over the years, I recently supplied sets of seals to a couple of collectors in the USA who were very happy with the results. By the way they do not use .25 calibre balls, they will jam if you try them) they need .24 cal. or number 4 buckshot. I don’t know why they were advertised as .25 cal.

Cheers, Lawrie

That’s good to know, I have no personal experience just what I read. Good to have you as a resource.

[cinedux]

think the Rochester was a bit of a dog.....
http://cinedux.com/apache-airguns.php

[royboy1]

I have a Benjamin vintage 312 lovely rifle, had it a few years now, tucked away in leather case, bring it out to club now and again, give it pump while stored great rifle, hard to pump but get a couple of shots out of it, forgot how to upload photos