100 years of Air pistols video, Part 1

[mrto]

Great video and very interesting to see some of the rarer and more quirky vintage and antique design of pistols being cocked and fired! Predictably the pop out pistol design became an object of ridicule!

Thanks for posting.

[ccdjg]

Excellent work Matt. Just the sort of advertising our hobby needs - it is bound to encourage newbies into the fascinating world of vintage airgun collecting.

Thanks,
John

P.S. I particularly liked your take on the Briton. The "ridiculousness" of the pop-outs is part of their charm and makes them even more collectable, in my view. Did you know that Diana actually made a prototype pop-out incorporating the Giss recoilless system? It is exists in a private collection now.

[Binners]

Nice job that, not bad shooting either...

[DrGunn]

Great video! I’m just starting out with pre war pistols so this was particularly relevant. I’m currently rebuilding a very used / abused Diana model V, it’s never going to be a looker but hopefully I can get it shooting well again. I really like the look of the Haenal 28 - I’ll have to start looking for one of them next.

Did you know that Diana actually made a prototype pop-out incorporating the Giss recoilless system? It is exists in a private collection now.

I’d love to see that, I’m a big fan of the Giss system. Are there ant pictures available?

[Abasmajor]

Hi Matt,
Another excellent introductory video to the world of vintage air pistols which entertains as well as educates. I have been collecting old spring powered air pistols for many years and hadn't realised that the cocking pin on the Tinplate Diana Mk1 remained extended after cocking until I saw the video. It's always nice to see the pistols cocked and fired to fully understand the design and functionality.
Look forward to seeing the rest of the videos planned for the series.

Brian

[45flint]

Awesome! Does makes me wish I would have bit the bullet and paid the price for a Wesley Richards that auctioned off over here last year.

[ptdunk]

Thanks chaps,
Good to hear it’s already been of use to someone starting to collect prewar pistols

ccdjg, I was determined to show that it was possible to shoot a pop out with something approaching accuracy, but it wasn’t to be. The next episode will feature a 1958 English Diana mod 2 (if it behaves itself)

I had heard tell of the Giss pop-out, probably from you. Does it ‘pop out’ front and rear? That’s the only way I can see it cancelling out the recoil?

I didn’t know it had surfaced, maybe it was when all the prototypes and cutaways were sold off in 2018 (that’s where my factory cutaway Mod 6 came from)

Would love to see it.

Cheers,
Matt

[Josie & John]

Hi Matt,

Excellent video, made all the more interesting with your phenomenal level of accuracy.

I remember testing a Britannia pop out for AGW some years ago, taking a shot from 3 yards, aiming off and promptly missing! I like the way you handled the situation!

Kind regards,

John

[Lee5159]

I enjoyed that, look forward to part 2

What does “highest possible“ refer to on the Westley Richards, is it highest possible quality?

[ccdjg]

"Did you know that Diana actually made a prototype pop-out incorporating the Giss recoilless system? It is exists in a private collection now."

I’d love to see that, I’m a big fan of the Giss system. Are there ant pictures available?

Umfortunately for some reason the owner is a bit reticent about putting his pictures on the internet, but I can say that it looks virtually identical to a post-war ridged wood grop Diana Model 2, maybe slightly wider diameter cylinder. I don't know the full mechanical details, but this is what I have been able to glean from the photographs I have seen .The cog(s) are in the area in the trigger housing above and forward of the trigger. The barrel shrowd has ridges that contact the cog and as it and the barrel leap forward the cog rotates. Unlike a normal popout the cylinder is a separate entity and moves freely in the housing, It too has ridges and is pushed rearwards on firing by the rotation of the cog(s). I am not sure how the cog(s) are arranged so as to get the synchronised opposite movement of cylinder and barrel. The pistol is cocked in the usual way and the pellet is also loaded via the usual breech pin.

[DrGunn]

Umfortunately for some reason the owner is a bit reticent about putting his pictures on the internet, but I can say that it looks virtually identical to a post-war ridged wood grop Diana Model 2, maybe slightly wider diameter cylinder. I don't know the full mechanical details, but this is what I have been able to glean from the photographs I have seen .The cog(s) are in the area in the trigger housing above and forward of the trigger. The barrel shrowd has ridges that contact the cog and as it and the barrel leap forward the cog rotates. Unlike a normal popout the cylinder is a separate entity and moves freely in the housing, It too has ridges and is pushed rearwards on firing by the rotation of the cog(s). I am not sure how the cog(s) are arranged so as to get the synchronised opposite movement of cylinder and barrel. The pistol is cocked in the usual way and the pellet is also loaded via the usual breech pin.

Thanks for the description, it sounds like a fascinating contraption and using the compression cylinder as the counter weight is ingenious - I guess this means the already meagre swept volume is not reduced much further. It is any more accurate than a standard pop out? Did they go as far as to fit it with a rifled barrel?

[ccdjg]

Thanks for the description, it sounds like a fascinating contraption and using the compression cylinder as the counter weight is ingenious - I guess this means the already meagre swept volume is not reduced much further. It is any more accurate than a standard pop out? Did they go as far as to fit it with a rifled barrel?

Those are intriguing questions I have asked myself. If I could get more details about the inner workings I wouldn't mind having a go at making one just to answer them.

[reg357]

Excellent video, great shooting too ! My Dad, Reg And me, Peter really enjoyed the video. It inspires me to keep collecting air pistols. Thanks for the production, we both look forward to part 2. Peter

[micky2]

Those are intriguing questions I have asked myself. If I could get more details about the inner workings I wouldn't mind having a go at making one just to answer them.

Now that would be an interesting project.