Possibly the 2 rarest US CO2 pistol variants together

[Jerry Cornelius]

A 150 is definitely on my to get list because of its historical significance. Yours is a cracker.

I just can’t get interested in the Benjamin. I’m working my way through the 60s crosmans, which imho was their golden decade with brilliant designs and very attractive and well made pistols, and the Benjamin just doesn’t fit into any collecting category for me. Not sure if that makes sense.

[Abasmajor]

A 150 is definitely on my to get list because of its historical significance. Yours is a cracker.

I just can’t get interested in the Benjamin. I’m working my way through the 60s crosmans, which imho was their golden decade with brilliant designs and very attractive and well made pistols, and the Benjamin just doesn’t fit into any collecting category for me. Not sure if that makes sense.

If I were choosing the best CO2 pistols from their golden era, it would be the Crosman products for sure, but I believe other manufacturers such as Benjamin and Schimel also have a place in the history and development of these CO2 pistols which justifies them in any collection.
As I'm sure you are already aware, for a period these pistols could only be held on FAC in the UK which limited their popularity and prevented any UK interest in developing a home grown product. Although they will always be secondary to spring powered air pistols for me, they represent something different and provide superior accuracy particularly in the .22 calibre.

Brian

[Jerry Cornelius]

If I were choosing the best CO2 pistols from their golden era, it would be the Crosman products for sure, but I believe other manufacturers such as Benjamin and Schimel also have a place in the history and development of these CO2 pistols which justifies them in any collection.
As I'm sure you are already aware, for a period these pistols could only be held on FAC in the UK which limited their popularity and prevented any UK interest in developing a home grown product. Although they will always be secondary to spring powered air pistols for me, they represent something different and provide superior accuracy particularly in the .22 calibre.

Brian

Yes, until a few years ago I had no interest in them, a combination of preferring older british spring pistols and semi assuming because the 2240 is nasty they would all have been nasty. Then I got either a one of the 38s or a mk1 (can’t remember the order) and began a reappraisal

And then the rifles

[45flint]

There is little question that the Crosman 150 was the best engineered CO2 of the Golden Era 1950-60’s but Benjamin had a reliable good looking compact modern type CO2 pistol the 250 in 1952 two years before the Crosman 150. Yes, Crosman with the 150 took the lead in 1954 and never looked back. The Rocket was Benjamin trying to compete with the 150 in 1956. They weren’t better, but you could argue they had nice machining and a better machined bolt system than the cheaper sliding bolt cover of Crosman. But collecting joy often comes from the guns that were a little odd and short lived. The 2620 was such a beast as well as the much later 422 in 1969. The 20 shot loading mechanism is unique and would not be surpassed until Crosman’s 600 which obviously is a “classic”. But classic means they made a lot of them and they are not rare at all. A major collector of Benjamin Guns said to me on another forum that this 2620 was the first one he has seen for sale in 15 years looking. He only has one a serial number 200 from mine. Lastly I have a 600 and the downside is it’s too is a little odd looking, heavy, large, die cast and very complicated.

Holding a Crosman 150 with grip panels like the one below feels perfect in the hand!

[Abasmajor]

[QUOTE=45flint;7942441]There is little question that the Crosman 150 was the best engineered CO2 of the Golden Era 1950-60’s but Benjamin had a reliable good looking compact modern type CO2 pistol the 250 in 1952 two years before the Crosman 150. Yes, Crosman with the 150 took the lead in 1954 and never looked back. The Rocket was Benjamin trying to compete with the 150 in 1956.

I was a bit worried when I bought this Benjamin 150 as it appeared that it was intended for .177 BBs, but thankfully it quite happily shoots .177 pellets with no problems. Although the larger CO2 capsules are more readily available, you can still get the smaller ones from home brew shops etc.



Brian

[45flint]

[QUOTE=Abasmajor;7942464]

There is little question that the Crosman 150 was the best engineered CO2 of the Golden Era 1950-60’s but Benjamin had a reliable good looking compact modern type CO2 pistol the 250 in 1952 two years before the Crosman 150. Yes, Crosman with the 150 took the lead in 1954 and never looked back. The Rocket was Benjamin trying to compete with the 150 in 1956.

I was a bit worried when I bought this Benjamin 150 as it appeared that it was intended for .177 BBs, but thankfully it quite happily shoots .177 pellets with no problems. Although the larger CO2 capsules are more readily available, you can still get the smaller ones from home brew shops etc.



Brian

Brian what a nice example! I’ve been looking for a nice 252 which was rifled for 22, they are so compact and clean looking. One that clean is very hard to find. These are not rare but most have no finish left at all. I don’t think Benjamin’s finish was very durable, they were all brass guns I believe.

[Geezer]

[QUOTE=Abasmajor;7942464]

There is little question that the Crosman 150 was the best engineered CO2 of the Golden Era 1950-60’s but Benjamin had a reliable good looking compact modern type CO2 pistol the 250 in 1952 two years before the Crosman 150. Yes, Crosman with the 150 took the lead in 1954 and never looked back. The Rocket was Benjamin trying to compete with the 150 in 1956.

I was a bit worried when I bought this Benjamin 150 as it appeared that it was intended for .177 BBs, but thankfully it quite happily shoots .177 pellets with no problems. Although the larger CO2 capsules are more readily available, you can still get the smaller ones from home brew shops etc.



Brian

I’ve always liked the compactness and look of those Benjis. Very nice.

[Benelli B76]

I find the Benjamin Rocket one of the hardest CO2 pistols to keep leak free due to the way it is designed and assembled. Lawrie Amatruda repairs the Benjamin 422 semi autos and says the choice of O rings is the main criteria to get the feed mechanism working correctly.

Baz

[IMG][/IMG]

[gingernut]

That's mine
Which for a short period behaved itself

But now leaks between the barrel and tube where you can see the silver coloured bit joining.

Even when working it seems to be designed for very short pellets more like the slugs we had as kids.
177

[45flint]

I find the Benjamin Rocket one of the hardest CO2 pistols to keep leak free due to the way it is designed and assembled. Lawrie Amatruda repairs the Benjamin 422 semi autos and says the choice of O rings is the main criteria to get the feed mechanism working correctly.

Baz

[IMG][/IMG]

Have you ever owned a Schimel Model GP-22 CO-2? These have to take the prize for reseal nightmare? You need to make a Utube on stripping the Rocket, very little out there on this? I assume the long scissor tool removes the C ring? Then does the valve come out?