Original Diana Model 50

[Arminius]

Hello Gents,

Please see photos of my Original Model 50, with which I am well pleased. It's still reasonably powerful, and the trigger is an absolute pleasure. Its also accurate, and I love the weight and balance.

https://imgur.com/a/VKNO7sv

In my opinion the craftsmanship is superior to many air rifles made today. However, there is a little issue that this rifle is shooting high. At about 15 yards I have to aim low, to get the pellets on target. I have adjusted the rear sites as low as they will go, and so I am at a loss. Does anyone have any idea what I could do to fix this issue, and why would the sites be like this is the first place?

I would appreciate any information from the specialists on here, how old is this rifle?

Best regards

Will

[Jerry Cornelius]

I can’t help you with your poi but you are right the original/Diana mod 50 is a very nice gun, especially the early models.

[coburn]

I'd suggest your from sight is too low, I ve the same model of 50 as you, and mine has a much higher tunnel front sight.

As for age, late 50's to early 60's.

[AC99]

The tunnel foresight on my Original 50 is also much higher than yours - the blade tip is about 1" above the bore if that helps and may explain why your POI is high. Maybe the sight is non-original.

[Arminius]

What you have said makes sense. Problem is, I can't see an obvious way to raise the front sights, without taking it to a gunsmith. No screws on the sight.

[keith66]

Some of the 50s had a tiny rebate machined into the barrel about 100mm in front of the loading tap to locate the steel front breech cover this makes an ideal place for the barrel to bend if the rifle is dropped or knocked over. Mine had to be gently straightened with a lead hammer.

[johnbaz]

Hi

I have to say, I've not seen a mod50 with your kind of sights before, The rearsight looks almost like pre war rearsights on BSA rifles!

As already said, The foresight seems to low, Here's one of mine, Even without the tunnel, I think it's higher than yours..



These are the sights, I photographed them when I stripped the rifle somewhat whilst I was refinishing the stock..


This is another type of rearsight used on the 50, This one is on a type 01 though..


If you know anyone that can tig weld, I think your foresight could be extended uppards!!

EDIT- I just Googled images for Original mod50E, Not a single one had your style of rearsight, They were all farther back on the cylinder, The one on my type 01 is closer to the location of yours but is a completely different sight



John

[Geezer]

That’s an M&G Diana Original model 50E.

The E either stands for export, or England.

As I understand it, the E was a no-frills model (also sold to the British colonies branded as a Gecado) made expressly for the U.K. market from around 1952-60something.

It had M&G’s simplest and cheapest stock, and simple cut-price sights, unlike the fancier stocks and complicated front and rear sights of the mainstream M&G Dianas.

I believe the aim was to match the features and performance of the Mk1 BSA Airsporter and Webley MkIII at a lower price, albeit without the fine finish of the Webley.

Which it did rather well - and they are not uncommon in the U.K., suggesting that M&G got the formula right.

[johnbaz]

I had a Gecado mod50 many years ago, I gave £30 for it as a non shooter from the free ads paper that came out on fridays, I stripped it down and there were only two balls in the trigger, I took all sorts of stuff to bits to find a ball to fit, Eventually and old push mower had the correct size in, I put it back together with the greased balls and it worked fine, I then sold it for £30!!

I found out later that cycle wheels had the correct size and could be bought by the dozen from any cycling shops!!, Can't for the life of me recall what type the sights were, It was pre digi cam days too!


John

[Sunbeam]

It's a very early model 50 you have there as it has the solid steel billet cocking lever and the foresight base brazed onto the barrel but the foresight should be a bead not a blade.
You will find one like yours here but marked Gecado. https://forum.vintageairgunsgallery....iana-model-50/

[Lakey]

Maybe a new bead could be made and the sight repaired. Here is a similar fix being done on an old BSA Air rifle

https://forum.vintageairgunsgallery....qs-2/#post-498


Lakey

[Arminius]

My thanks to those with such in depth knowledge who have given their advice here. I will try to find a gunsmith to help me dig weld a bead onto the blade of the sight. I hope to post successful photos in due course.

[johnbaz]

Looking at it again, I think Knibbs have some foresights for the pre war BSA Standard rifles that look taller, If the dovetails measure the same you could just swap it!

Theirs are- 9mm dovetail front to back (approx), 13mm side to side (approx),
14.5mm high (approx), Maybe if they're a bit larger at the dovetail it could be filed to fit, They're £22.50+ P&P

CLICK ME FOR KNIBBS FORESIGHT

Good luck getting it sorted


John