Victor air rifle (Daisy export?)

Topic starter 23/02/2024 22:44:49

With thanks to Johnny. He said on the Vintage American Airgun forum:

I have a BB gun which I would like to learn more about. Perhaps some of you will be familiar with it. It is a single shot with a cast iron cocking lever and looks very much like a Daisy no 12 or model H. The gun is blued with an overall length of about 31” and a removable shot tube 8 1/4” in length. On both sides of the receiver are stamped “TRADE MARK” with a dog’s head in a circle between the two words. The top of the receiver is stamped “SINGLE shot VICTOR Manufacturing Co. Model 30”. I was told it was obtained from Daisy.
The attached paper tag says on one side:
Jap. #2593
August 1, 1936
Japanese copy
#12 Daisy
From Karachi, India
Muller Maclean & Co.
The other side says:
Selling Price
C. I. F. Indian
$4.35 Pr. Doz
15 Yen at 29¢
Our Price
F.O.B. New York $7.00 per doz
I believe C.I.F. stands for Cost, Insurance, and Freight and I found a 1929 Muller Maclean & Co. Letter which states they are “Exporters and Manufacturers’ Agents” with at least 14 offices in diverse places such as Karachi, Osaka Japan, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Borneo, New York, etc. so they could have been distributers for a BB gun manufactured almost anywhere.
My efforts to learn anything more have been fruitless. So, if anyone could add to my limited information, I would appreciate it.
Thanks, Johnny

Wes replied:

Very neat and rare gun. Daisy used the Victor name on other models. I believe Victor marked guns were for export. The gun I have pictured I saw in the gun vault of the Smithsonian Museum. It is a Daisy model B 1000 shot. The gun is marked. Mod 50. Victor Air Rifle Manufacturing Co. 1932. Established. Years earlier Daisy marked some 20th Century guns Victor