Help IDing Diana Model 50

[Lakey]

I am confused by these early Diana Model 50's. I recently picked up an older Diana model 50 ( under the Original name, for UK sale), with a hand checkered stock. I am not sure of the date , but reckon it has to be quite early. The rifle does have a plastic trigger with a small screw in, and a single hole though the trigger guard.

[45flint]

I am confused by these early Diana Model 50's. I recently picked up an older Diana model 50 ( under the Original name, for UK sale), with a hand checkered stock. I am not sure of the date , but reckon it has to be quite early. The rifle does have a plastic trigger with a small screw in, and a single hole though the trigger guard.

I found these model 50s to be very confusing given many different names, variations. Took me a day of internet searches to feel confident about when mine was made. Does yours have a serial number or date number etched in? Love the checkered stock.

[Lakey]

I found these model 50s to be very confusing given many different names, variations. Took me a day of internet searches to feel confident about when mine was made. Does yours have a serial number or date number etched in? Love the checkered stock.

Yep, having read this thread, I has a real good look and found a tiny little date stamp just above the woodwork. 04/66 as the date, so april 1966. Funny I thought the graduated "bump" type stocks such as this were a bit earlier than that ?

Great guns these, not power houses, but pretty near to tack drivers. VERY accurate.


Lakey

[JACK RATT]

I am confused by these early Diana Model 50's. I recently picked up an older Diana model 50 ( under the Original name, for UK sale), with a hand checkered stock. I am not sure of the date , but reckon it has to be quite early. The rifle does have a plastic trigger with a small screw in, and a single hole though the trigger guard.

I have a very similar rifle, same stock but with the dioptre rear sight and flip/rotating front sight. There is no cheek piece on the stock and the stamping just says Original Model 50. I've always thought it was an early 50M but this is a purely speculative. I'll see if I can get some photos

[JACK RATT]

I have a very similar rifle, same stock but with the dioptre rear sight and flip/rotating front sight. There is no cheek piece on the stock and the stamping just says Original Model 50. I've always thought it was an early 50M but this is a purely speculative. I'll see if I can get some photos

Here's some pics I took today. My rifle has the aluminium trigger with 2 adjuster screws. I can't see a date mark but it's stamped MADE IN GERMANY.
It's 0.22 and shoots very smoothly. I don't have a chrono so I don't know it's power.
https://imgur.com/a/ZNVxfcj

[45flint]

Here's some pics I took today. My rifle has the aluminium trigger with 2 adjuster screws. I can't see a date mark but it's stamped MADE IN GERMANY.
It's 0.22 and shoots very smoothly. I don't have a chrono so I don't know it's power.

Can't get the photos to load from my lap top.

You need to host the pics on a site like Imgur and then post link. If you want you can send pics to my email address in my profile and I can do it for you.

[JACK RATT]

You need to host the pics on a site like Imgur and then post link. If you want you can send pics to my email address in my profile and I can do it for you.

Thank you, just added the link

[Lakey]

Thank you, just added the link

Wow !! What a magnificent gun. Thanks for posting the pictures.

Seems we are both in quite a small club

Lovely guns these....

ATB

Andy

[MDriskill]

Here's some pics I took today. My rifle has the aluminium trigger with 2 adjuster screws. I can't see a date mark but it's stamped MADE IN GERMANY.
It's 0.22 and shoots very smoothly. I don't have a chrono so I don't know it's power.
https://imgur.com/a/ZNVxfcj

Very nice! That gun is an example of the model 50/b. It was built later than the 50/b with plain stock that began this thread, but earlier than the later one (stock similar to yours, and plastic rear sight) that was also posted.

Just to confuse matters further (!), the one I once owned was identical to yours, except for having a tunnel type front sight, in lieu of the rotating 4-post type. It must have been manufactured in between your rifle and the plastic sight one.

It would be interesting to know if the production period of this improved version of the 50/b overlapped with the 50M? Or if perhaps the former succeeded the latter by, in effect, merging the previous 50/b and 50M into a single model with features of both. Anyone out there have some old catalogs or adverts that would shed some light?

[Drew451]

I am confused by these early Diana Model 50's. I recently picked up an older Diana model 50 ( under the Original name, for UK sale), with a hand checkered stock. I am not sure of the date , but reckon it has to be quite early. The rifle does have a plastic trigger with a small screw in, and a single hole though the trigger guard.

I would say that the stock pre dates your '66 action. Certainly, that pattern stock is usually seen on earlier models. The trigger blade is probably stamped steel rather than plastic but a cast trigger blade would be more commonly seen in a 50 fitted with that stock.

[MDriskill]

I am confused by these early Diana Model 50's. I recently picked up an older Diana model 50 ( under the Original name, for UK sale), with a hand checkered stock. I am not sure of the date , but reckon it has to be quite early. The rifle does have a plastic trigger with a small screw in, and a single hole though the trigger guard.

This gun is a later example of what Diana called the “model 50/b.” It’s probably from around 1962, but I’d be interested to know if this one has a date stamped on it? The plastic trigger blade is probably original; these were used for a few years in between the earlier solid aluminum, and later stamped steel ones. The earlier solid steel cocking lever has also been replaced by the later heavy stamped one.

Early versions of the 50/b, intended as a dual-purpose sporter/target rifle, used the same stock as the standard model 50, but for a short period they acquired this lovely upgraded wood. It was detailed much as a slimmed-down version of the heavier 50M stock.

By this time, the previous rotating front sight, two-function rear sight, and twin mounting rails had gone away. The sights are the same as the standard model 50 sporter of the day—tunnel-type front, and mostly-plastic click-adjusting rear (also seen on the model 50’s barrel-cocking cousin, the model 35). For target shooting, you upgraded to the optional Diana Diopter 60 match sight on the rear rail.

I believe this may be the rarest version of these target Dianas (possibly excepting the first-variant 50M with two-part cheekpiece). Quite a beautiful and desirable air rifle with that amazing stock in my opinion, and this is a VERY nice example!

Dennis Hiller’s book ,“The Collector’s Guide to Air Rifles,” has some excellent material on Dianas of this period.

[Lakey]

This gun is a later example of what Diana called the “model 50/b.” It’s probably from around 1962, but I’d be interested to know if this one has a date stamped on it? The plastic trigger blade is probably original; these were used for a few years in between the earlier solid aluminum, and later stamped steel ones. The earlier solid steel cocking lever has also been replaced by the later heavy stamped one.

Early versions of the 50/b, intended as a dual-purpose sporter/target rifle, used the same stock as the standard model 50, but for a short period they acquired this lovely upgraded wood. It was detailed basically as a slimmed-down version of the heavier 50M stock, that was intended for dedicated match shooting.

By this time, the previous rotating front sight, two-function rear sight, and twin mounting rails had gone away. The sights are the same as the standard model 50 sporter of the day—tunnel-type front, and mostly-plastic click-adjusting rear (also seen on the model 50’s barrel-cocking cousin, the model 35). For target shooting, you upgraded to the optional Diana Diopter 60 match sight on the rear rail.

I believe this may be the rarest version of these target Dianas (possible excepting the first-variant 50M with two-part cheekpiece). Quite a beautiful and desirable air rifle with that amazing stock in my opinion, and this is a VERY nice example!

Dennis Hiller’s book ,“The Collector’s Guide to Air Rifles,” has some excellent material on Dianas of this period.

Wow ! Thanks for the very comprehensive reply, on my rifle. I certainly love it, and wouldn't hesitate to buy another of the many variations of this fine rifle. Sleek beautiful lines and super accuracy - whats not to like

Thanks again for your wonderful reply. Every day is a school day in this wonderful collectors section.

Kind Regards

Andy

[MDriskill]

Andy, it’s my pleasure...I’m a big fan of the model 50. It’s wonderful to have this place where my odd little obsessions have an audience!

I’d be interested to know if you found a serial number or date on that rifle. Years ago I briefly owned a model 50 with that stock (still kicking myself for selling it), which was .22 caliber and had “Original” markings. IIRC, it had the solid metal trigger, so may have been an earlier example.

[45flint]

Andy, it’s my pleasure...I’m a big fan of the model 50. It’s wonderful to have this place where my odd little obsessions have an audience!

I’d be interested to know if you found a serial number or date on that rifle. Years ago I briefly owned a model 50 with that stock (still kicking myself for selling it), which was .22 caliber and had “Original” markings. IIRC, it had the solid metal trigger, so may have been an earlier example.

The Stoeger Peerless connection fascinates me as well. I have two prewar Stoegers now, a Tell 2 and a Webley Straight Grip Senior. Did they customize any of the Diana’s or are they just rebranded? I think every gun I buy seems to open up a new obsession! Lol

[air-tech]

Date stampings seem to have started late 1966 (reports) otherwise early 1967 (definitely)

Serial numbers not sure when but in some countries such as the UK only later guns and in some cases it appears that the importer (probably) serialised the guns as the numbering is quite amateurish.