A friend of mine died recently and his daughter has to dispose of all his guns etc. He had a near mint Diana match air rifle with aperture sights and she would like to know a fair price to ask for this. I would emphasize this is a serious match rifle in near new condition. Thanks in advance for any help.
Diana 100.
- Thread starter DIGAF
- Start date
You could do worse than contacting the gentleman who writes the blog at Pyramyd Air http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/
He also reads the comments and the commentators seem to be a fairly knowledgeable bunch.
My condolences for your loss.
He also reads the comments and the commentators seem to be a fairly knowledgeable bunch.
My condolences for your loss.
The downside to seeking US appraisals is just that. They are US.
The market here is much different and as a result without seeing pictures for condition and figuring it will need a full service. I would put a CANADIAN number of about $1000.00 +- $100.
It MAY fetch more, but doubtful. I would not pay that much unless it is a very fine example.
The market here is much different and as a result without seeing pictures for condition and figuring it will need a full service. I would put a CANADIAN number of about $1000.00 +- $100.
It MAY fetch more, but doubtful. I would not pay that much unless it is a very fine example.
While the Diana 100 is a very nice 10m target rifle, an issue that comes up is the availability of parts. The FWB 300S, a standard by any measure when it comes to 10m air rifles, and for which parts are readily available in Canada, usually sells in good condition for $700 - $800. For a better idea for the value of a Diana 100, contact CGN member and airgunsmith leonardj. He is very knowledgeable. You may pm me for his email if he doesn't frequent this forum.
GN
GN
Careful now.
Len is a gent in every way, but...
Len is not an appraiser much less a "smith" anymore than the 300 is a "standard".
A rifle such as the 100 is many times more rare than the FWB 300. They are not really in the same availability class. You will find 3x the amount of 300s to 100s. Kind of apples to oranges really.
Anyway ,the 300 is very nice, but the 100 is world class. There, that is my opinion and im sure Len would agree.
It can easily be argued that the Diana 75 is more a FWB 300 equal, but that would be silly, as the OP asked for a value on an ultra rare D100 and not an opinion on a mass produced target rifle.
Just sayin'.
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Careful now, indeed. If you allege that he is not a "smith," it would seem that you are not familiar with leonardj's work. I suggested his name because he is familiar with air rifles in general, match air rifles, and vintage air rifles in particular. He may be able to offer the OP helpful advice. If you have a beef with someone, this thread is not the place for it.
As for the assertion that the FWB 300S not being a standard against which to measure 10m air rifles, more knowledge and experience would disabuse anyone of the idea. The venerable 300S was made from 1972 to 1996 and was made obsolete by the advent of PCP 10m air rifles (which is also why D100 production came to an end). In the words of Tom ###lord, the FWB 300 is "considered by many airgunners to be the gold standard of vintage 10-meter target air rifles." Readers can learn more here:
h t t p ://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2012/02/fwb-300s-vintage-target-air-rifle-part-1/
In any case, before you get something tied unnecessarily in a knot, my point was that the Diana 100 is hard to get parts for. Air rifles, even SSP's are more vulnerable to wear and tear and parts replacement needs than powder burners. No one should ignore that factor when assigning a value to an air rifle of unknown condition, "near mint" apparent condition or not. Perhaps it's worth exactly what you say. I don't claim to know. The Diana 100 is not, however, "ultra rare" as it was manufactured over a ten year period, from 1989 - 1998.
sixtalldog
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Essex County, ON
Really ... IMO, and many, many others the Diana 100 is in another class as opposed to the mass produced FWB300. I mean really .. really (!) ... FWB was in the habit of sponsoring shooters as a marketing strategy. Diana never did that. As a result, FWB300 rifles were almost growing on trees at the time. To say the FWB was anywhere near the D100 in accuracy or sophistication is one Hurculean stretch. Oh, and by the way, D100 parts are readily available so stop drinking the FWB kool aid.
Bottom line > the D100 was one of the finest SSP match rifles ever made. Even the Diana 75 surpassed the FWB300 in every important facet. The FWB300 was easier to rebuild but only because of its simplistic design based on the common everyday spring gun.
sillymike
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
$1,000 for a Diane 100 ?... Sounds a little optimistic, unless you stumble upon that one Diana collector that really wants it.
Yes it's a nice rifle, but
- You seldom (if ever) see SSP at any air gun match.
- Assuming someone really wants a SSP instead of a PCP for basement practice, for less $, that someone would be better off with a FWB 600 serie rifle or a Walther LGR
- Trying to get spare parts/seals for this thing will be a challenge and half. If the rifle hasn't been used in years, it will most likely need a re-seal in the near future.
-*-*-
Sorry to hear about your friend passing away.
Yes it's a nice rifle, but
- You seldom (if ever) see SSP at any air gun match.
- Assuming someone really wants a SSP instead of a PCP for basement practice, for less $, that someone would be better off with a FWB 600 serie rifle or a Walther LGR
- Trying to get spare parts/seals for this thing will be a challenge and half. If the rifle hasn't been used in years, it will most likely need a re-seal in the near future.
-*-*-
Sorry to hear about your friend passing away.
I don't check in on this forum very often, but on those occasions when I do, I certainly don't appreciate seeing statements such as those highlighted in the above quote.
What do you base your opinion of my qualifications on? We have never had any dealings or communications.
I have done appraisals on entire collections, and been involved in the disposal of a few collections involving dozens of airguns.
I have been repairing airguns for over 45 years now, and have worked on everything from the simplest of break barrels to state-of-the-art match and FT rifles, and dating from the early 1800s to current day.
A couple samples of my airgunsmithing capabilities can be seen here:
One of the first D-100s that I repaired, and cross referenced replacement seals with readily available ones:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/405945/thread/1352759919
I built a working reproduction of a very rare airgun, from 1910 patent drawings, and a few blocks of steel:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/405945/thread/1436458713/1/Building+a+Replica+Webley-Whiting+Air+Pistol
And last but not least, no, I do not agree with your opinion of the D-100.
Grauhanen has the facts straight.
The D-100 is no more special than any other 10M match rifle. It is indeed more rare than the FWB 300, but sometimes there is a reason for that rarity, and in the case of the D-100, it was bad timing of it's release to the 10M shooting community.
All of these vintage 10M match rifles were world class, and still are.
