Diana Model-58

Diana Model-58 & Model-45 DRP.

With thanks to a collector friend for letting me photograph these beauties.

Diana model 58 DRP (the third and final pattern):

Models 45 and 58 together:

Diana Model-58 - DRP Third Pattern.

With thanks to Randy for permission to use these pics of this immaculate 58 DRP:

Diana Model-58 - First Pattern.

With many thanks to Frank for permission to post these pics:

Diana Model-58 - - Doug Law's DRP.

With thanks to Doug for these pics of this rare rifle. It's in .177 cal. He reports that the stock was damaged and repaired at some point before he took possession of it and that there is no buttplate. The rifle lacks a rearsight too.

As you will see, there's a strange '106' stamp to the right of the DRP marking on the rear left of the cylinder. According to Doug this doesn't correspond with the possible serial number stamped around the loading tap, which he says is "a three digit number under 300".

Doug's website is:
http://www.bigspringguns.net/

Diana Model-58 DRP.

Unusual to see a 58 DRP without chequering on the pistol grip.

Diana Model-58 DRPa - Patent Pending.

Here's a transitional third series DRPa mod 58. With thanks to Mike for the pics.

Diana Model-58 - Second Pattern.

This example has some good points but has stock repairs, a chunk missing from the right tip of the fore stock and holes drilled through the top of the trigger block and cylinder. Presumably at some point someone attempted to fit a scope to it.

With thanks to LS for these pics.

Diana Model-58 DRP.

Here are some pics of another 3rd series mod 58 in fantastic condition. Again in the US. Possibly serial #57.

Many thanks to Matt for these pics.

Diana Model-58 DRPa - Serial No.25.

This example is in decent original condition, apart from ancient
rust-scarring on the right side of the barrel which has patinated
with surrounding metalwork. Its loading tap, tap cover and breech
block all carry the serial number 25, although strangely on the
reverse (blank) side of the breech block the number 21 is stamped.
Several of these third series mod 58s seem to have unusual markings
for some reason.

Diana Model-58 - All three patterns.

With thanks to LarryH for permission to reproduce these fantastic pics:

Patterns one, two and three:

Two first pattern rifles:

Patterns two and three:

Diana Model-58 - Second Pattern 1928.

This example has a January 1928 date stamp and what looks like a (serial?) number 11 on the inside edge of the loading tap.

With thanks to a collector friend for letting me photograph this rarity.

Diana Model-58 DRP - In very good condition.

With thanks to a collector friend for letting me take these pics of this magnificent example.

Diana Model-58 DRP - Serial No.205.

with many thanks to Mike for supplying these pics of his newly-resurrected model 58.

Note the new piston seal that he made himself.

See below for more pics of the nearly finished rifle.

Edit:

Mike has written the following and added more pics:

<b>"Diana Mod. 58 - #205 was purchased from the local classifieds, where it was listed as a vintage BB gun. This was verified by a dozen or so BB's that had been sucked into the compression tube, necessitating a complete disassembly. Here is what I discovered.....

A few of the screws slots were a bit worse for wear due to a partial dissasembly prior to my ownership. The tap lever had what looked to be plier marks. These too were there when I purchased the 58. It was also missing the rear site, cocking lever latch, a small return spring in the trigger mechinism and was in need of a new piston seal and attachment screw. Luckily the BB's caused no compression tube damage.

Also fortunate was the fact that all the components,including screws, appear original to this particular Diana Mod. 58 with matching number 205 / 58 clearly stamped on the breech, tap, and tap cover. Diana factory original it seems.

My plan was to keep it original as possible, while being functional. This meant complete, careful disassembly, cleaning internal /external parts, and re-assembly. I also knew I would be fabricating a new piston seal and trigger spring. I took extreme care not to further mar anything on the gun or damage any original component during the process.

I fabricated a new leather seal and screw assembly, staking / pinning them as Diana originally had done. I also replaced the missing return spring in trigger assembly. Internal parts were cleaned,lubed and re-assembled. Some of the internals displayed patina, which was left intact.

Externally the gun was left as found. The exterior metal was wiped down with Ballistol numerious times. Even the wood is as found, only wiped down with a dry cloth.

I met my goals and now have an original, functioning Diana Mod. 58. It is shot reguarly and is a true pleasure. It has a character and spirit unique unto itself. Everyone should be so lucky as to shoot / own such a gem! Wish they still made them like the 58.

Specifications for Diana Mod. 58 - #205

- .22 caliber
- 540 + fps. with Hobbies. (Breaking in nicely. I believe it is capable of considerably higher velocity.Do not want to stress it to find out!)
- 3 1/2 lb. trigger pull. ( I left trigger as found, even though it can be adjusted much lighter)
- very short first stage. A little bit of creep, but then a crisp, clean and consistant break.
- did I mention the trigger is awesome!
- 8 1/4 lbs.overall weight ( shoulders and handles well)
- Shooting and cocking cycle very smooth
- Accurate and straight shooting"</b>

The target group picture is a measured 20yds, rested 5- shot group with Meisterkuglen 14g wadcutters.

Diana Model-58 DRP - Third Pattern.

With thanks to Tim a http://www.timdysonairguns.co.uk/ for these pics.

Diana Model-58 - Second Pattern - David Swan Collection.

With thanks to Rod Meek of Anderson & Garland Auctioneers (www.andersonandgarland.com) for permission to post these pics of a gun auctioned in 2015.

Auction blurb:

"A rare Diana Model 58 Luft-Gewehr air rifle, .22 cal., with tap loader and under barrel lever, set trigger with walnut stock and fore-end complete with chequered pistol grip and steel butt cap, 47in. long overall, c. 1922-35.

Hammer Price: £1,300.00"

Diana Model-58 - First Series - Diana Collectors Challenge.

Diana Model-58 - Series Three and equivalent BSA Standard parts.

Several of the BSA parts seem to be near identical... as if a BSA rifle was reverse engineered.

Here are some pics of BSA parts against a complete Diana 58 third series. The cocking lever, cocking link, loading tap cover and loading tap seem near identical in dimension, if slightly different in profile.

The Diana 58 had a half stock, whereas the BSAs had a buttstock, of course, and the profile of the cocking link on the Diana is flat sided, to accommodate the tapped lugs for the front stock screws.

The loading tap cover has a central retaining screw to stop the two cover screws coming loose - another example of Diana refining the BSA design.

Diana Model-58 - First Series on eGun.

With thanks to Dan for these pics.

Diana 58 third series serial no. 15 

Sold on eGun.de in May 2015.

Diana Model 58 second series - US auction 

Diana Model-58 series 2 with double set trigger

With thanks to John for these pics.

He said on the AVA:

"I picked up one of these today that seems a bit unusual, although I don't know enough to know if it is. Hoping one of you might. The tap assembly is the 1st/early 2nd version type, has the second version cocking knob, and the standard checkered grip walnut stock and appears to be .177. I was told it would cock and fire but I haven't tried yet as it looks a little dry inside.

What seemed unusual to me is that the only markings I can find on the gun are DIANA-LUFT-GEWEHR on top of the barrel in front of the rear sight, an upright 22 and a smaller upside down 2 on the back of the keyhole shaped plate below the tap lever, and an upright 48 with another smaller upside down 2 on the back of the tap lever, there is also a very small 2 stamped on the inside of the buttplate.

Nothing else on the metal, no Diana logo, no model #, no caliber, ect. . The stock has the letters BT stamped behind the trigger guard on the bottom of the grip, and a 2 on the end of the butt under the plate. It also has double set triggers and the trigger guard seem a bit bigger to accomadate them, the cocking knob and triggers/trigger adjustment screw function fine. The seller told me it was a WW2 bring-back, found in a box car in France that was full of civilan guns sometime after D-Day, and it was gifted to him several years ago by the serviceman who found it. All of these I've found so far online seem to have more markings than this one and I haven't been able to find any others with the double triggers."

For what it's worth, my guess is that the double set trigger is probably factory and that M&G experimented with set triggers as an option before settling on the double pull trigger for its entire range of larger rifles. The timing would be right, since this happened during the production of the second pattern model 58.

Diana Model-58 series 2 

With thanks to John for these pics.

Diana Model-58 series 3 in vgc 

With thanks to Matt for the heads up. Spotted on eGun.de.

Diana Model 58 - second pattern in vgc 

With thanks to Steve for these pics of a magnificent air rifle.

 Edit: Note: The date is stamped November 1931 and the goddess symbol is the earlier 'leggy' one. This is the latest example so far. 

Diana Model 58 - third pattern stripdown (late model DRP) 

Diana Model-58 - second and third patterns compared 

With thanks to Steve for these pics.

Diana Model-58 2nd series (replacement stock) 

With thanks to Steve for facilitating.

Diana Model-58 DRP third pattern 

With thanks to Dave.

Diana Model-58 series 2 serial no. 180 

With thanks to Peter.

Diana Model-58 Third pattern DRPa 

Spotted on eGun.de

Diana Model-58 - first pattern 

Spotted on vzduchovka.info.

Diana Model-58 third pattern 

With thanks to Eberhard.

Diana Model-58 third series 

Pics copyright Holts Auctioneers.

Diana Model-58 first series 

With thanks to Eberhard for the heads up.

Sold on 17.04.22 at auction for approx. £1,400.

The auction blurb is as follows:

     

I am selling a Diana model 58 from my private collection. It is the 1st variant from 1915, which was built in an edition of only 1000 units (test series) during the First World War.

The air rifle was intended as a training rifle for recruits, so the trigger was equipped with a cocking mechanism using a repeating lever. Only when the lever is moved is the trigger pre-cocked and the shot can be fired. In this way, the aim was to prepare the recruits for operating the rifle 98. The rest of the operation corresponds to a normal under-lever clamp LG.

I took this copy myself from Diana's factory collection in 2016 as part of the "Collector's Challenge" auction series. It was probably there 100 years earlier - a remarkable story!

The example is in very nice condition with high-gloss metal surfaces and a flawless barrel. There are only minor signs of age. I think the photos speak for themselves. The rifle works perfectly. Caliber is 4.5mm.

The documents shown are also part of the auction. There are original, old photos of the Diana factory, the original manual for the rifle, a spare parts list and advertising leaflets. Everything also comes from the fundus of the manufacturer himself!

The Mod. 58 / 1915 is EXTREMELY rare! Here is the unique opportunity to get a top piece with history. Diana collectors should definitely grab it!

The pics of this rifle when it was first sold by the Diana factory are here:

https://forum.vintageairgunsgallery.com/pre-war-diana-air-rifles/diana-model-58/#post-2509

Diana Model-58 third series 

Pics copyright Holts Auctioneers.

Diana Model-58 1st series (Beeman Collection) 

Pics copyright Rock Islands Auctions.

Diana Model-58 series 1 

Diana Model-58 second series 

With thanks to Hector.