Crosman Series 10x
Crosman 108 'Town & Country' YouTube video
With thanks to Steve for this video.
Crosman 101 1949 model
This example spotted by D T Fletcher on Ebay in the US. He says: "The 1949 model of the 101 is one of the few, if not the only, model of the 101 that can be precisely dated. Crosman made a series of changes: the new rear sight (same as the model 107/108) and the crinkled paint are both 1949 only. It's been suggested that the crinkle paint was for the guns sold to Sears but I don't think there is any positive proof of that.
Another feature that is distinctive to 1949 is the diabolo bolt handle cocking knob. Sometimes they're there, sometime they're not. My guess is that with the CG guns being discontinued that Crosman used up those special cocking knobs on standard 101 guns. But, again, there is no known paperwork detailing any of that.
This is a nice example. The metal parts with the rear sights are in great shape. The flakey paint seems to come with the crinkle paint. Certainly not a gun to refinish. But might be a great shooter. Every 1949 gun that I've come across have been particularly nice guns."
Custom Crosman 101
With thanks to Steven.
He said on the AVA: "Thought I'd share some photos of this interesting custom 101. Someone really liked this rifle and took some time making the custom rear sight mount. More rings have been added to the cocking knob. Actually does help with grip. The peep sight functions well. It adjusts for both windage and elevation. The slot for the bolt and handle are nicely machined. Aperture is located in a perfect location when brought up to fire. The flat rails along each side of the barrel look to be brass and soldered onto the pump tube to hold in place. They even notched for easy installation of the front sight pin spring retainer. It looks like the rifle was painted Army Green before it was black. You can see the green in the worn areas of the forearm."
D T Fletcher replied: "Seen a lot of 101 craziness over the years but this one takes a prize. Wow! The railing support for the barrel is unique. But, this makes so much sense in making the 101 a truly durable gun. With those soldered on railings, you could use the gun as a club and not have a problem. The front and middle barrel castings are two of the weakest points. With that railing, the barrel is entirely reinforced, taking the fragile castings out of the equation. Brilliant, I think."
Crosman 'OSS' 102
Built in 1942 and adapted to fire round .22 balls. 1000 (2000?) purchased by the US Government.
Crosman historian DT Fletcher said of this model:
[Crosman Arms Co president Philip] Hahn's determination to keep Crosman Arms going was inexhaustible. Since materials could only obtained with a government contract then the answer would be a government contract. Hahn made several trips to wartime Washington, D.C.with his son P.Y. Jr. The meetings took place in the old munitions building on Connecticut Ave. Against the odds, life-giving government contract was obtained. Interestingly, Hahn always referred to it as the "Marine contract." However, the source of the contract was the Office of Strategic Services (OSS). The OSS built up the ability to supply all sorts of odd and interesting weapons including gift weapons of 500 Civil war era muzzle loading rifles for the Kachin tribesmen of Burma.
How the 1000 Crosman model 102 airguns from contract #623 were used is open to question but where they ended up isn't, since 957 model 102's are counted in a January, 1945, inventory of OSS Calcutta stock. If any of the airguns were actually distributed is not known. But, the order for the airguns was certainly a well considered purchase as evidenced by the ammunition specified in the order. The .22 caliber round ball shot was non-standard wares for Crosman and Crosman had to special purchase shot and size it to meet the government specifications. This seems to indicate that these guns were intended to be used! Making it easy to let the imagination run wild with romantic ideas of a thousand silent airguns lurking behind enemy lines creating terror, inflicting small-scale sabotage. Or, the airguns could have been used by the Island Watchers. The OSS had the responsibility of supplying the Pacific and Indian ocean Island watchers. The chore of living on a island completely held by the enemy would be, of course, extremely difficult. One of the requirements would be to live off the land as much as possible and use of regular firearms would be restricted, due to the noise. A Crosman Silent Rifle model 102 would have been perfect for the job of filling the evening stew pot even under the harshest conditions. Although any such combat role is very much open to question, the Crosman model 102 status as a war veteran is secure.
(U.S. archive information is from correspondence from Dr. John W. Brunner in preparation for his book OSS Weapons)
Philip Hahn wrote in 1969:
Pics of the only known example:
With thanks to Dave.
Fixing Crosman 108 Town & Country 'bolt flop' (video)
With thanks to Steve.
Removing Crosman Series 10x pump forearms
With thanks to Steve.
Steve says:
Followed Crosmans instructions. I pinned a piece of pine against the back of the arm and put the arm in my wood vice with a little leather protecting the other face. Cranked it down and used a punch to drive the pins through to the other side. Some tear out that was retained and I think I can push back and with a little wood filler it should look pretty good I think for what it is. With the pins out you can see I was driving blut end pins through that old wood! Sure could have been worse I think.
Crosman Series 102 (OSS round ball conversion?, factory chequered)
With thanks to Keith for the heads up.
Is it a fake or homemade conversion? Hard to tell.
See also:
https://forum.vintageairgunsgallery.com/crosman-rifles/crosman-series-100/#post-7303