Original Diana Model 50

[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.