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.