Old Crosmans and purcupines
I have been on a nostalgia kick lately. I have been looking at Crosman 101’s and 150’s, both of which I had 50 years ago as a 10 year old boy growing up on a ranch in central Oregon. They are both .22.
My biggest prey was porcupines. I killed my first one with the 101, about pumped myself to death. Next one I killed, I climbed up on the same limb with it and shot it to doll rags with the 150. Took several shots, several charges stopped with head shots.
5 years later I bought my first Ruger standard auto and climbed up on a limb to shoot a porcupine. One shot and it died, that was a let down.
So this weekend I was the wining bidder on a 101 on gunbroker, I got it for $78.00 and will need to get it resealed, then I will repaint it. Wood looks terrific on it.
I am high bidder still on a 150, that will also need resealed. Mine that I had as a kid was the Sears Ted Williams, it had the venelated rib that even as a kid I thought looked cheezy.
Today I will call Dave Gunther and see if he is still in busines and if he will reseal the 101, if not I will see if Mac-1 does that. I read that they do reseal the 150’s. Does any body here know anything about their “hot valve”?.
Roachcreek
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Viewing 13 replies - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)
😀 Pictures please when done! 😀
Larry in Yorba Linda
Gunby,
Yes I have been busy. I have sanded and steel wooled the metal, probably a smoother finish that it ever had. Then I went after the stock. Mine is Maple, with just a little bit of grain to keep it from being too plain.
I had to stop on the stock sanding, that stain had gone too deep and if I went further, I would have to reshape metal where it met the stock.
And bottom line, it is a mass produced airgun that was not too well finished compared to the Winchesters and Remingtons of the day. Having said that, it is like I said, smoother than it has ever been.
I have now two coats of true oil on the Maple stock and forenend, and two coats of primer and one coat of Gloss Black Rustoleum on the metal.
It looks great, but I have 48 hours before I will handle it and put a second coat on the metal.
About 6 weeks from now I should have two 1949 vintage Crosman air guns that shoot and look like they did 60 years ago.
That will be the end of my vintage adventure I believe. Although at times I get the urge for one of the 600’s.
Roachcreek
Wow, sounds like you have some hobby work to do.
You might consider one of those “Gun Kote” bake-on paint finishes sold by Brownells.
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=1150/Product/GUN_KOTE_trade__OVEN_CURE__GUN_FINISH
I hear it is very hard, durable and thin.
I’m going to give AB Airguns a try for resealing my 101. Thanks for the tip.
Well I got the 101 in the mail. It is tired, the stock and metal were refinished probably by a 12 year old boy in 1965.
The paint scratched off easily with my thumbnail, the stock has been sanded cross grain after trying to tiger stripe it with a burning technique and a dark stain applied.
So I went after the metal with 0 grit steel wool and then while at it, removed casting marks and scratches with 400 emory cloth from maybe the kid or the factory filer on the reciever. Factory filers were workmen who filed the fins and other imperfections off of cast parts in the old days.
After finishing with 000 steel wool and polishing, I now have the metal so bright it is a shame to paint it, I am tempeted to clear laquer it and let it stay that way, with bright aluminum reciever and brass barrel and pump tube, but lacking a pimp ride I will first primer and then use gloss black Rustnoleum.
These guns were painted, some early ones were nickeled. It is a 90 dollar gun that has been poorly refinshied, so there is no collector value to destroy.
The stock is a different chore. It will require finese that I do not take the wood below reciever level while sanding and try to get the scratches out, plus it appears the kid tried to get the tiger stripe finish by burning the stock with a candle wick. The theory was you could get the tiger stripe figure by wrapping the stock with a candle wick 1 inch apart and then burn it off. The wood is relieved a little where this happened and needs “leveling” with a sanding block. Then I will apply a clear finish to the maple stock like it came from the factory probably 70 years ago.
After this is done, I will send it and the 150 to ABairguns to be resealed, they are very reasonable, have a quick turn around, and get this, you don’t pay if you do not like their work. The BOI on the yellow has nothing but praise for them.
Sad thing was that after buying the 101 and before it got to me, there was a cherry 101 that pumped up on the Gunbroker auction, but without seeing this one first, I was hesitant to press the buy now button, the gun had a reserve, I did not bid high enough.
Day late and a dollar short. But I am having fun refinishing it.
Roachcreek
Gunby,
I called Mac1, they only do the reseal on the 101’s that have the smaller knurled cocking knob.
Gunther said their is a difference in the rilfes and powerplant, he charges more for the one like our, but he still does them.
There is anotheer 101 on Gunbroker I might buy and then sell the one I have coming if it does not work. The one on GB does hold air and is much nicer thatn the one I bought.
Roachcreeek
Gunby,
I called Mac1, they only do the reseal on the 101’s that have the smaller knurled cocking knob.
Gunther said their is a difference in the rilfes and powerplant, he charges more for the one like our, but he still does them.
There is anotheer 101 on Gunbroker I might buy and then sell the one I have coming if it does not work. The one on GB does hold air and is much nicer thatn the one I bought.
Charlie
Gunby,
Those dogs sure get addicted to bouncing/chasing balls.
I broke down and bought that 150 yesterday on Funbroker, I read the add and it did not say it leaked. With frieght I will have $72.00 which is not bad.
Maybe I will run out of patience and call Mac 1 on that 101 reseal.
Toys!
Roachcreek
I have the records somewhere, but it was close to $100.
I may also try Mac I. I’ve been over to his shop a couple times and he helped reseal a Crosman 130 one afternoon. Really nice guy.
Also, he has this cool old dog at the shop that really knows how to bounce a ball. The dog brings it out of the back in his mouth, then whips his head down letting loose of the ball making it bounce on the ground and to me. We went back-and-forth doing this for some time.
Gunby,
Nice gun mine has a little more brass showing on the barrel but not bad. Yes 6 months and yes you have to cock it to pump. I may try Mac 1 and see if they rebuild them also.
I see I am out bid on that 150 it is now 61.00 I think. It is 90 % or better, but it does have pitting on the tube. Don’t know if I want to go higher, but it is only got 2 more hours, so I need to decide. I would ike t oget one closer to what ou have, what did you pay for that 150?
Roachcreek
Six months? Yikes. Mine will take one pump and shoot, but if you try to put two pumps in, the air is released when you pull the handle down to start the 2nd pump. Note- if I remember correctly, the gun needs to be cocked before pumping.
I have a Pact MKIV chrono but haven’t ran the Crosman 150 over it. Maybe I can get to that this weekend and report back.
Here is my Crosman 101. I got mine on Gunbroker also (Larry H) and I think I paid $81. You might not want to re-paint it, destroys the collector value by 90%+.
I really like the feel of the 101, slim and nimble. The peep sight is just perfect for my old eyes.
Gunby.
What kind of velocity do you get from your 150?
I called Dave Gunter about resealing my 101. He sid he could however he was about 6 months back, he had dislocated the tip of his right index finger, what a injury for a gunsmith to have.
Sounds like your getting quite the collection.
Roachcreek
Let me know how it works out. I have a 101 that still need seals
Here’s a 150 I got months ago. Like brand new and shoots great.
Benn buying up old Crosmans and Daisys. Must have close to 30 now including 3 Crosman 600s, 2 Crosman 400s, V300, Trapmaster 1100, 147BP, Daisy model 25s, Mark II…
This is on the way right now.
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Crosman 101 recently refinished and Crosman 150 ready to ship to ABairguns for resealing.
Roachcreek