Diana disappointment

[tinbum]

I've been searching for a .22 springer for the upcoming Springer Bash in June. As per Paul's excellent suggestion, I wanted something not AA or HW. A wanted ad brought forth some truly excellent guns and I was spoilt for choice, but while dropping a couple of guns at a local RFD yesterday I saw a Diana 52 leaning against the counter. It didn't have open sights, but it did have a slim steel mod. "It's just come in in a px" says the fella, "I'll get a price for you and ring you in the morning".
A price was duly given and I went in to collect. On returning to the workshop I noticed something odd. This isn't the Diana 52 I had been expecting, I've been lumbered with a Diana 54 Airking!
can anyone tell me about this mod, is it standard? Can it be removed? (Theres no grub screw)
I want to fit open sights, does anyone have any who wants a mod?
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]

[T 20]

Not standard, Nick, the 54 came with a barrel shroud retained by the foresight so I'd imagine it's loctited on.


Good score btw, Looks just like my 54 T01 Air King thingy that I hate.

[tinbum]

Not standard, Nick, the 54 came with a barrel shroud retained by the foresight so I'd imagine it's loctited on.


Good score btw, Looks just like my 54 T01 Air King thingy that I hate.

It has the T01 Mick, it's a 1987 vintage. Second stage is heavy but not got to the bottom of adjusting it yet.

[BAD DAZ]

I'll buy the mod if it fits an 80 and it's not damaged on removal mate, atb Daz

[joffy]

I'll buy the mod if it fits an 80 and it's not damaged on removal mate, atb Daz

15mm barrel inside a tube with packing

[eyebull]

TBH it looks more like a muzzle weight than a moddy but I could be wrong. Unless you have a foresight or another mod to put on it I would leave it there - What looks like the barrel is actually a steel tube over a straw barrel.

If you do take it off, measure the barrel and give me a shout - if my modern 54 foresight will fit then you are welcome to it for the cost of postage.

[edit: I may have the rearsight too but I'd have to have a root around the parts bin]

[TonyL]

It has the T01 Mick, it's a 1987 vintage. Second stage is heavy but not got to the bottom of adjusting it yet.

Once properly adjusted, the T01 trigger is a good one, Nick.

Think along the lines of a CD trigger, where you want the first stage to do most of the work.

I'm sure Barry will be along with some helpful, explanatory pictures soon. If not, plenty of information in webland.

[Drew451]

Once properly adjusted, the T01 trigger is a good one, Nick.

Think along the lines of a CD trigger, where you want the first stage to do most of the work.

I'm sure Barry will be along with some helpful, explanatory pictures soon. If not, plenty of information in webland.

I agree re. the T01 on both counts. I didn't think the 54 was released until well after 87. This would have been hot on the heels of the 52 and I didn't think it was. You can't argue with a date stamp, though.
Modern classic in my opinion and we'll worth picking up for the something different theme or at anytime. Interesting that most folk want to go the mod/ barrelweight route on these, not back the other way. I do love opens myself though.

[valboskie]

I had a 54 Air King and a 52 both were sleeved down to 22mm and a skirtless piston fitted.
The 54 only moved 4 or 5mm on the sled
They were a joy to shoot.
The 52 had an anschutz rapid barrel fitted very accurate rifle

[tinbum]

I agree re. the T01 on both counts. I didn't think the 54 was released until well after 87. This would have been hot on the heels of the 52 and I didn't think it was. You can't argue with a date stamp, though.
Modern classic in my opinion and we'll worth picking up for the something different theme or at anytime. Interesting that most folk want to go the mod/ barrelweight route on these, not back the other way. I do love opens myself though.

You could well be right, the stamp is a bit iffy

[IMG][/IMG]

[jonnyone]

I've been searching for a .22 springer for the upcoming Springer Bash in June. As per Paul's excellent suggestion, I wanted something not AA or HW. A wanted ad brought forth some truly excellent guns and I was spoilt for choice, but while dropping a couple of guns at a local RFD yesterday I saw a Diana 52 leaning against the counter. It didn't have open sights, but it did have a slim steel mod. "It's just come in in a px" says the fella, "I'll get a price for you and ring you in the morning".
A price was duly given and I went in to collect. On returning to the workshop I noticed something odd. This isn't the Diana 52 I had been expecting, I've been lumbered with a Diana 54 Airking!
can anyone tell me about this mod, is it standard? Can it be removed? (Theres no grub screw)
I want to fit open sights, does anyone have any who wants a mod?
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]

Good evening Nick,
I seem to recall that you had an Airking previously? If memory serves by the thread back in the day it had a laminate stock? A rare beastie. I was a little surprised you say you didn't recognise the 52/54 differences before walking out the shop. But rather than a disappointment I rather think this is a pleasant surprise. I've certainly fell head over heals for the one I've gone and bought but as it is in .25 calibre my shooting is a little niche and I'm using it for relatively close in squirrel culling- a task that it accomplishes with aplomb.
I really do think these guns will become classics in years to come and I'm so taken with mine I am keeping an eye open for one in .177 to undertake the more mainstream shooting I undertake.
As has been said the moderator that's been fitted actually appears to be of decent quality and suits the gun. In actual fact it had crossed my mind that a clever so and so could remove the factory barrel shroud and fit a new one complete with inserts to make up an enclosed mod with clean lines ala pro sport. I think this would enhance the guns lines though it may add a little more length to barrel than the pro sport and may make the gun a little unwieldy.
The reduced bore/ lightened piston set up certainly sounds impressive and I'd imagine makes an already competent semi recoilless gun sublime. Reducing movement on the sledge to around 5mm must be remarkable and I'd certainly like to see what the firing action on that feels like.
Anyhow I do hope you get along well with your current purchase as reading some of your older posts you appear to have something of a love/hate relationship with the marque- falling in love and outta love at speed
Have you got any special plans/ mods in the pipeline for this one then?
Dave

[tinbum]

Good evening Nick,
I seem to recall that you had an Airking previously? If memory serves by the thread back in the day it had a laminate stock? A rare beastie. I was a little surprised you say you didn't recognise the 52/54 differences before walking out the shop. But rather than a disappointment I rather think this is a pleasant surprise. I've certainly fell head over heals for the one I've gone and bought but as it is in .25 calibre my shooting is a little niche and I'm using it for relatively close in squirrel culling- a task that it accomplishes with aplomb.
I really do think these guns will become classics in years to come and I'm so taken with mine I am keeping an eye open for one in .177 to undertake the more mainstream shooting I undertake.
As has been said the moderator that's been fitted actually appears to be of decent quality and suits the gun. In actual fact it had crossed my mind that a clever so and so could remove the factory barrel shroud and fit a new one complete with inserts to make up an enclosed mod with clean lines ala pro sport. I think this would enhance the guns lines though it may add a little more length to barrel than the pro sport and may make the gun a little unwieldy.
The reduced bore/ lightened piston set up certainly sounds impressive and I'd imagine makes an already competent semi recoilless gun sublime. Reducing movement on the sledge to around 5mm must be remarkable and I'd certainly like to see what the firing action on that feels like.
Anyhow I do hope you get along well with your current purchase as reading some of your older posts you appear to have something of a love/hate relationship with the marque- falling in love and outta love at speed
Have you got any special plans/ mods in the pipeline for this one then?
Dave

Well remembered sir! The previous one was indeed in a laminate stock, and mighty handsome it was too. Trouble was it was in .177. The wrong calibre!
A good friend of mine has it now and it is still lovely, if not a tad effeminate.

I had only seen the gun in passing the day before, the price was ridiculously cheap so I turned up, handed over the cash and gunslip and in it went. I was truly surprised and delighted by the revelation.

As mentioned previously, I have a few 22mm skirtless piston sets here from tx's, but having tried them at the bash and in my own guns it's just too "crashy" for me.

I'm going to sleeve it to 25mm and see what happens. TBH I thought it was a 52 when I ordered the first parts for this conversion. It really seems utterly redundant in such a sweet shooting rifle, but I'll do it nontheless.

[T 20]

Well remembered sir! The previous one was indeed in a laminate stock, and mighty handsome it was too. Trouble was it was in .177. The wrong calibre!
A good friend of mine has it now and it is still lovely, if not a tad effeminate.

I had only seen the gun in passing the day before, the price was ridiculously cheap so I turned up, handed over the cash and gunslip and in it went. I was truly surprised and delighted by the revelation.

As mentioned previously, I have a few 22mm skirtless piston sets here from tx's, but having tried them at the bash and in my own guns it's just too "crashy" for me.

I'm going to sleeve it to 25mm and see what happens. TBH I thought it was a 52 when I ordered the first parts for this conversion. It really seems utterly redundant in such a sweet shooting rifle, but I'll do it nontheless.

I keep meaning to measure up the Diana breech seal to see if it can be replaced with one of Knibbs' soft Feinwerkbau 300 breech seals --- this would save the D52/54/56 cocking link bending like a Banana to get an airtight seal.

[PCPShooter]

For anyone 'on ticket' I think I saw a 'full power' Diana side lever at C H Westons in Brighton tother day .... ...
Just sayin, I bet that is a doozy of a Rabbit Sniper

[T 20]

I keep meaning to measure up the Diana breech seal to see if it can be replaced with one of Knibbs' soft Feinwerkbau 300 breech seals --- this would save the D52/54/56 cocking link bending like a Banana to get an airtight seal.

And the answer is no, the Feinwerkbau seal is much bigger in OD, I've just checked on my old 52 :-


image.jpg