What air-rifles and air-pistols do you have or have had?

[Crete]

Nikos,

That is an absolutely fascinating air-pistol and I would very much like to have some photographs of it for my collection, when you are able to take them.

Thanks.

Mack The Knife

Yes, I have a pic of my LP53, which I can send you via email. Just send me a private message with your email address and I shall emailyou you a pic pronto.

Cheers,
Nikos

[mehulkamdar]

Nikos,

Are most guns in Crete illegal? I have seen all sorts of stuff and even police people seemed to have full autos in your part of the world. Will see if my wife brings back some of my old albums from India when she returns in November. I have some pictures taken there.

I agree that full autos are hopelessly inaccurate and a waste of ammunition. That said, I do admire countries that allow their ownership for the high standards of freedom that they permit their citizens. One of the members on another forum used to post a line frm Nikos Kazantzakis about how Cretans would make their god listen to them with the sound of their guns. I shall locate the line and post it here if I find it. If you have it, please do post.

Cheers!

Mehul

[Crete]

Mehul,

I know the quote but can't remember where it came from.

You see, before the Metaxas dictatorship 1936-1940, most all weapons of small caliber like 6 m/m Flobert and .22 Long Rifle were like airguns are today. Other larger calibers were widely available, like Mannlihers, Gras and Mausers, as they had shaped the country's recent Balkan wars and some had been kept by former soldiers as trophies when taken from the cold hands of the enemy. Then, in 1936 all firearms were registered for the first time in a National Firearms Registry and were returned to their owners who were allowed to keep them dashing fears of confiscation. Yet, just before the Second World War started, in 1938 all gun owners were asked to surrender their legally-owned weapons including Floberts and .22 LR rifles and Pistols (even airguns were confiscated). This bitter experience coincided with the invasion of Greece by Fashist Italy in 1940 and Nazi Germany in 1940. The counry's surrender was followed by the invasion of Crete in May 1941. As soon as the German paratroopers' equipment landed the Cretans got hold of rifles and whatsnot for the first time since 1938. They used them against the occupation forces of Italy, Germany and Bulgaria and during the Civil war 1946-49. When they were asked to surrender them in 1949, most did. But not the Cretans, which perhaps explains (in part), why there is so little serious crime on the island nowdays, compared to the rest of the country and other Western European countries!

Cheers,
Nikos

[Crete]

Oops, Germany invaded in 1941. I got thick thumb syndrome...

Cheerio,
Nikos

[eljefe]

Have a movie about the gauls and military and spies and not feature the mat49?sacre bleu.
Sure it must have featured in Day of the Jackal, Nikos.
the last time a Thomson 45 made it to the Indian news papers was when a leopard got into a village near a wild life sanctuary and the cops went in to get it-I dont know about the tranquilizer dart gun, but 2 of them had thomsons in 45 and came out with a very dead leopard.
I still see Thomsons in 9mm-WW2 issue- being carried by Police here in Noida, on BG duty.Lots of weapon sighting for the interested lot in my hospital-Saw a thomson 3 days ago...and Glock 9's are getting popular too with the police,AK fixed stock is a routine carry-I pity the poor quartermaster and armourer
Well, about the spray and pray, its just that...the world believes in maintaining firepower superiority!
The description of your air pistol is fascinating-lo power bounces pellets off a sheet of paper? Amazing precision and engineering.Would like to see the snaps and discuss with Mack The Knife when I meet him next.
I have a Indian Hume springer, courtesy Dev, who read my post about advice on airguns and decided to help me out with his springer in 177.Another offer was from camerags-too far for me and I was happy with one airrifle.
It has a scope on it and I am yet to try its zero-got itlast week and thought I'd check during the week long holiday break.
Best
Axx

[Mack The Knife]

Yes, I have a pic of my LP53, which I can send you via email. Just send me a private message with your email address and I shall emailyou you a pic pronto.

Thanks, Nikos. I have seen pictures of the Walther LP53. It is the French air-pistol that interests me.

Thanks all the same.

Mack The Knife

[Crete]

Axx and Mack The Knife,

I will make sure you'll see the French air pistol next month or in December, when I get close enough to take a pic...

Now, how about some info on the Indian-Made Diana 35-clone in .22 cal. called "CDM-45", if I remember correctly. I used it in Kerala earlier this year w/Indian-made pointed pellets (in paper carton, can't remember maker) and had 10 crows go meet their maker when they were shot @ 25yards or so. I liked the folding rear peep sight mounted on the stock just behind the compression chamber. What other airguns in .22 cal. are made in India? Prices?

Thanks,
Nikos

I am interested in the Indian-made

[Mack The Knife]

Hi Nikos,

This is the first I am hearing of a CDM-45. This may come across as snooty but I just don't have the time for Indian made airguns.

The largest manufacturer of air-rifles/pistols in India is most probably the Indian Hume Pipe Co. http://www.indianhumepipe.com/index1.html Their airguns go by the brand name of National.

From what I am reliably told they bought their machinery from Diana, Germany.

Other manufacturers that come to mind are Tommy, Aimco, Canon and Cisco. There are more but at present these are the one's that I can recall.

Mack The Knife

[Crete]

Ok, thanks for the link Mack The Knife.

It is the one in the middle here: http://www.indianhumepipe.com/index1.html named I.H.P 35 Air Rifle. That's the one that has a forward-pointing arrow with the initials "CB" in a maze, marked on top of the the receiver and below the arrow the inscription "CLASSIC CDM-45". Now I know that it is indeed a Diana 35 copy. It shoots pretty well and if the Law allows I would buy one next time in India (in a few months).

I've seen a few more airguns in Chennai and Trivandrum gun shops. Some looked Chinese copies of rather poor quality. The National CDM-45 was far better made, by comparison, and shot just fine.

I am sure that a Maccari spring with heavy tar and a new breech and piston seals it would rock!

The pellets could do w/some lubricant as they were turning gray from lead corrosion. Nothing to it as a drop of parafin would revive them in a jiffy,

Cheers and kind thanks for the Indian Hume Pipe link,
Nikos

[Mack The Knife]

Hi Crete,

I don't think it would be problem taking an airgun from India but aren't the French authorities unnecessarily strict where airguns are concerned?

Mack The Knife

[Crete]

Mack The Knife,

Yes, indeed.

If, however, half of it is in the suitcase (the stock) and the other half (the action) is shipped, all is well with Customs.

Even if the rifle is packed in the checked luggage disassembled in half and w/all its purchasing papers, but NO air pellets, it can travel in the chute (NOT in the passenger's cabin).

Also, as long as an air rifle w/more than 7.5 Joules power is declared within a month of acquisition all is fine and dandy (and legal).

Air pistols are a No-No, as always.

Best regards,
Nikos

[mehulkamdar]

Mack The Knife/Nikos,

The TVS company in Chennai made a small lot of air rifles for a British brand name. IThese were very nice guns, but then, TVS have a reputation for efficient manufacturing.

For some reason the Brits did not allow TVS to sell any of these air rifles in India, though, if someone took the initiative, they would be able to buy these from TVS with their British partners' permission. This was world class stuff. Any of the entrepreneurs on the IFG interested in talking to TVS for a group buy?

A lot of the Chinese junk came into India in the late 90s when air pistols were sold on the street markets at China Bazaar in Chennai for Rs 50 or 75. There were rumours that someone had imported these as scrap metal and then found that they could make better money selling them as they were without dismantling and melting them down. I remember thinking that the "scrap metal" designation for this stuff was very apt.

Cheers!

Mehul

[Mack The Knife]

Mehul,

As discussed earlier, it was most probably for John Cooper's Falcon Pneumatic airguns, now part of Air Arms. They made components rather than entire air-rifles. Well, that's what the rumour said.

As for the Chinese scrap metal, I am afraid our stuff really isn't any better, whilst the Chinese are now building airguns of a far superior quality....even if they happen to be unlicenced copies of Weihrauchs and Daystates. I really wonder how they get away with it.

Mack The Knife

[Grumpy]

Same reason as they get away with all the other things that they rip-off - because the Chinese authorities allow manufacturers to get away with making unlicenced products and ignore international law.
So Falcons` use of Indian sourced parts was a rumour was it ? I thought it was established fact.

[Mack The Knife]

So Falcons` use of Indian sourced parts was a rumour was it ? I thought it was established fact.

Let's just say, they were rumours from rather authorititive sources. Ofcourse, if you know otherwise, please do tell. Not to forget Pakistan, mind. They too were rumoured to have made parts for the Falcon airguns.

Speaking of TVS, some years back when Airgun World celebrated it's Golden Jubilee, they stuck a faux gold plated allen key on their cover as a gift (terribly generous, aren't they?). Imagine my surprise when I saw TVS stamped on it! They make fastners amongst other things. Which reminds me, their fastner division or at least part of it is now based in......................China!

Mack The Knife