Winchester precision air rifles and pistols.

[flogger]

I have just acquired a number of gun books,amongst them is THE HISTORY OF WINCHESTER FIREARMS 1866 TO 1975. Isee in 1969 Winchester Western brought out 10 different models of air guns citing the absence of recoil and noise. incorporating 8 rifles and 2 pistols.All the rifles bar one are break barrel type and pistols are break barrel. Model numbers are 416 smooth bore .177. m/velocity at muzzle.363. M/N.422.177 m/v.480. M/N.423 .177 m/v.480. M/N 525 .22 m/v.543. m/n.427 .22 m/v. 660. M/N.435.177 m/v.693 ft/sec. 435 is theonly one which is a under-leaver fixed barrel type resembling a Diana model fifty. M/N. 333 .177 target model. m/v.576. ft/sec.
The 2 pistols M/N/ 353 .177 AND .22. M/N/363 .177 m/v.both 378. The Winchester air guns were dropped from the line in 1975. I wonder if any of you collectors out there own or have come across any of said models.
The reference book is by WATROUS never seen this one before, what a lucky gift.

[WebleyWombler]

I bought a Winchester 363 off a US airman that was based at Burtonwood about 30 years ago. It is a rebadged Diana model 5
I think all the airguns sold as Winchester at that time were made by Diana. Only difference is the badge

[ccdjg]

I have just acquired a number of gun books,amongst them is THE HISTORY OF WINCHESTER FIREARMS 1866 TO 1975. Isee in 1969 Winchester Western brought out 10 different models of air guns citing the absence of recoil and noise. incorporating 8 rifles and 2 pistols.All the rifles bar one are break barrel type and pistols are break barrel. Model numbers are 416 smooth bore .177. m/velocity at muzzle.363. M/N.422.177 m/v.480. M/N.423 .177 m/v.480. M/N 525 .22 m/v.543. m/n.427 .22 m/v. 660. M/N.435.177 m/v.693 ft/sec. 435 is theonly one which is a under-leaver fixed barrel type resembling a Diana model fifty. M/N. 333 .177 target model. m/v.576. ft/sec.
The 2 pistols M/N/ 353 .177 AND .22. M/N/363 .177 m/v.both 378. The Winchester air guns were dropped from the line in 1975. I wonder if any of you collectors out there own or have come across any of said models.
The reference book is by WATROUS never seen this one before, what a lucky gift.

I think there is a little confusion here, as it was Daisy that used the brandname "Winchester" for imported airguns. The two pistols you mention, which they sold as the Winchester Precision Air Pistol Mpodel 353 and Model 363 were in fact the rebranded Diana Model 5 and Model 6.

[coburn]

I bought a Winchester 363 off a US airman that was based at Burtonwood about 30 years ago. It is a rebadged Diana model 5
I think all the airguns sold as Winchester at that time were made by Diana. Only difference is the badge

I have an article in October 69 edition of Guns & Ammo about them, all are rebadged Diana's, the writer nicknamed them "Windchesters"

[Geezer]

Dianas indeed. Here’s one:

https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2012...-rifle-part-1/

[flogger]

I think there is a little confusion here, as it was Daisy that used the brandname "Winchester" for imported airguns. The two pistols you mention, which they sold as the Winchester Precision Air Pistol Mpodel 353 and Model 363 were in fact the rebranded Diana Model 5 and Model 6.

Yes indeed looking at the pics. in the book the two pistols most certainly look like model 5 and 6 Diana as does number 450 rifle looks like a Diana 50.

[Geezer]

Yes indeed looking at the pics. in the book the two pistols most certainly look like model 5 and 6 Diana as does number 450 rifle looks like a Diana 50.

My hazy recollection is that if you delete the first number from the “Winchester” numbers, you get the Diana ones, at least in respect of the rifles - 16, 22, 23, 25, 27, etc.

[draitzer]

Geezer has it right for most of them; for 416,422,423,425,427,435,450 drop the '4'.
333 rifle = Mdl 65
353 pistol = Mdl 5
363 pistol = Mdl 6

As I recall, sometimes the rifle sights could be different in detail from the corresponding Dianas (e.g., plastic v metal).

Don R.