Diana Model-26

Diana Model-26 - 1930s.

Diana Model-26 - Pre WW1.

Note the MGR marking to the breech block.

With thanks to Frank for these excellent pics:

Diana Model-26 - 03/1937.

Here's some pics of a nice condition late model 26. It has much of its original finish left and an very clear date, 3.37, stamped in the butt.

It has a keeper screw on the loading tap cover, unlike the other 1930s mod 26 pictured on this thread.

As a friend said recently, this must be one of the most over-engineered youth rifles ever made!

Here it is alongside its big brother, Diana's DRP model 45:

And here are the rest of the pics:

Diana Model-26 - 12/1935.

Here is another mod 26 underlever, dating from December 1935.

This example is in superb original condition and appears to have been rarely used. The
quality of these little rifles can't be overstated. Few concessions on attention to detail
appear to have been made for the fact it was a rifle aimed at the youth market.

I suppose the beech stock is one compromise, perhaps to help keep the cost down and
provide some distance in price between the mod 26 and the much larger break barrel mod 35,
which had a walnut stock and cost only five marks more (rifled).

It's interesting to note that the similar-sized break barrel mod 27 had a walnut stock
and cost under two marks less than the far more complicated mod 26.

Here are the pics:

Diana Model-26 - First Pattern underlever 

With many thanks to Frank for these fantastic pics.

Note the rear cylinder plug rather than knurled screw cap, which was present on the later models. Also, there is no keeper screw on the loading tap cover plate.

Diana Model-26 - 09/1937.

With thanks to Brucieboy for these pics:

Diana Model 26 pre-WW1 MGR 

Pics copyright Holts Auctioneers.

Diana Model-26 review (video) 

With thanks to Paul.

I think he is not correct about the stock being walnut - it's beech.