Sheridan C9 Blue Streak

[ratbuster2240]

Sounds like it had valve lock from over pumping. They can be left for a while and hope the pressure reduces however the Benjamin sheridans and Crosman multi pumps I've had seem to hold air forever. The gunsmith probably removed the end cap, hammer and spring, inserted a rod of some sort onto the valve stem and gave it a wack to release the air.

Keep it stored with a pump and the pivot points lubed and they seem to go on forever.

Seems there's some love out there for this type of rifle, and thanks for the history lesson. I've not really looked in to the origins of them before and it's interesting to know there was a bit of history to the model.

I'm thinking I'll probably leave the metalwork as is for now. The brass is showing in a few places but given that it seems sound mechanically it seems daft to strip it down and risk disturbing something. The wood will definitely get some attention though. Still need to run it over a chrono as well. I do remember it locking up once when, as foolish teens, we tried to give it more than the recommended 8 pumps. Not entirely sure what the gunsmith did to sort it out but after a stern talking to by dad we never tried more than 8 pumps again and generally gave it 6 at most.