Diana 48/52 history

[ikarma70]

That's quite a catch. I wonder what trigger set up it has? The various iterations of Diana triggers confuse me so I'd guess it would be same as mine.
Out of interest what month/ year is the action stamped?
Dave

11 88

[Geezer]

11 88

“T01” then.

[Geezer]

my three identified minor changes over time (there may be more) are:

- at some point, the front sight/barrel end interface changed;

- at some point, the stock-action bolt, or at least it’s head, grew from (unknown) to 11mm;

- from 2017, the scope rail got longer.

Last two, thanks to Chambers diagrams and listings.

[ikarma70]

“T01” then.

Still has a plastic trigger however it’s still pretty nice to shoot, come across plenty worse than a T01.

[Mr Pusk]

Here's my 52, bought a year or two back from a dealer- described as an "Original" [and yes, it is in inverted commas] CLASSIC Mod 52 in .22 and dated (I think - it's tiny) 05 91.

I haven't found references to one quite like it online. There's no provision for open sights, a barrel sleeve, and a muzzle weight, evidently some sort of UK special - but with a conventional (and rather nice) Walnut stock.

The butt pad isn't contemporary with the piece - it originally had a ventilated "Wiking" pad which was falling to bits. I never thought that finding a replacement could be such a task, or I'd have tried to knock something off the price.... in the end I got a gunsmith to size something down to fit.


https://imgur.com/cpY36PA

https://imgur.com/oneZ4t6

https://imgur.com/gvdvn4M

https://imgur.com/YhWjMO3

[jonnyone]

Here's my 52, bought a year or two back from a dealer- described as an "Original" [and yes, it is in inverted commas] CLASSIC Mod 52 in .22 and dated (I think - it's tiny) 05 91.

I haven't found references to one quite like it online. There's no provision for open sights, a barrel sleeve, and a muzzle weight, evidently some sort of UK special - but with a conventional (and rather nice) Walnut stock.

The butt pad isn't contemporary with the piece - it originally had a ventilated "Wiking" pad which was falling to bits. I never thought that finding a replacement could be such a task, or I'd have tried to knock something off the price.... in the end I got a gunsmith to size something down to fit.


https://imgur.com/cpY36PA

https://imgur.com/oneZ4t6

https://imgur.com/gvdvn4M

https://imgur.com/YhWjMO3

Gorgeous looking gun that. Think they may have done them in a tyro as well with the "classic" moniker.
Dave

[Geezer]

Here's my 52, bought a year or two back from a dealer- described as an "Original" [and yes, it is in inverted commas] CLASSIC Mod 52 in .22 and dated (I think - it's tiny) 05 91.

I haven't found references to one quite like it online. There's no provision for open sights, a barrel sleeve, and a muzzle weight, evidently some sort of UK special - but with a conventional (and rather nice) Walnut stock.

The butt pad isn't contemporary with the piece - it originally had a ventilated "Wiking" pad which was falling to bits. I never thought that finding a replacement could be such a task, or I'd have tried to knock something off the price.... in the end I got a gunsmith to size something down to fit.


https://imgur.com/cpY36PA

https://imgur.com/oneZ4t6

https://imgur.com/gvdvn4M

https://imgur.com/YhWjMO3

Nice. Mine has the same markings, and what looks like the same muzzle device (though mine is definitely a primitive silencer). Is the receiver really not drilled to fit a rear sight? Cool.

[Mr Pusk]

Thank you both. I'm a sucker for a nice piece of wood.

Nice. Mine has the same markings, and what looks like the same muzzle device (though mine is definitely a primitive silencer). Is the receiver really not drilled to fit a rear sight? Cool.

You're quite right, and I wasn't! The receiver is drilled for a rearsight, but the blacking doesn't show any sign of a rearsight having been there, and I don't think the holes have ever had any bolts in them. Plus with the thing on the front, muzzle weight or moderator or whatever it is, there's no foresight. I suppose it could have been added later but it looks all of a piece.

[Drew451]

That is a very nice looking 52. The forend looks very much like the thumbhole version. The angle of the pistol grip looks properly functional.
1991 is late for an Original, i have seen a few early 90s 52's but not the rest of the range. There are reputedly a few even later Original 54 Airkings in circulation, thoigh.

[original45]

Have several of the t.h classic 52s .can't properly see the mod but looks right