My favourite 35 in my collection is from the late 50s or very early 60s. It has the proper steel sights, albeit the basic ones, and the best beech wood I’ve ever seen on a factory air rifle.

It doesn’t shoot better than my later, cheapened, 1970s one, which has better (though plastic) open sights. But, a lot like a Mk1/2 Airsporter or a Webley Mk3, it’s just great to handle and shoot. A piece of history. Pick it up and it’s just “I really like this.”.

I agree that the 34s weren’t necessarily as nice. But they were a great success. By the late 70s or earlier 80s the 35 was selling badly compared to the 45, FWB, HWs, etc. It was a 10 ft-lbs rifle in a 12-18 ft-lbs world. The 34 got Diana back in the market with a good quality, good value, 12 (U.K.) to 14 (US) ft-lbs 7.5lbs break-barrel. They handle well, shoot well, and are reliable. In the U.K., they are massively underrated.