Diana New Champion / 1905 Patent Model

Diana New Champion  / 1905 Patent Model 

This is a restored example of the 1905 model MGR sold in England under the name "New Champion".
It was advertised in the 1907 catalogue of W H Fagan in London.

The gun (in .177 cal smoothbore) was the very first to use Herr Mayer's 1905 patent spring-loaded
detent breech lock (see Patents thread in Resources), which has since been used on millions of air
rifles, right up to the present day.

Note that it has the word "PATENT" and the early MG/R symbol on the breech block. The front and
rear sights are fixed. Unusually, this example has a straight trigger block and a trigger adjuster
screw going vertically up into the trigger. This may be a later modification.

Note also the cocking link guides fixed to the sides of the cylinder around the cocking link slot.
It has "IN GERMANY MANUFACTURED" below the barrel just forward of the breech. The serial number
(not the date) 1930 is stamped into the underside of the breech block.