If you have an affection for older airguns, whether it is because you have been around long enough to have actually owned or admired one in your youth, or simply appreciate the lines and mechanics, you may have the need one day to have it restored. Should that be the case, I would like to put in a shameless plug for my friend Tim Smith of Smith Airgun Repair. Tim is the editor and publisher of Airgun Hobbyist magazine, yet still finds time to run Smith Customs and the repair business with the able assistance of his wife Sue. I’ve known Tim for over a decade, yet had not approached him until recently about restoring one of the old, dilapidated specimens I picked up at either a garage sale or gun show somewhere. I decided it was high time to pull the trigger (see what I did there?) on putting the Crosman V-350 in my possession back into shooting shape.
Crosman introduced the V-350 single-shot, Slide Action Barrel Cocking (aka: push-barrel) BB rifle in 1962 when the company was just getting into spring-powered airguns. Up until this time they had been producing CO2 and pneumatic guns since beginning operations in 1923. It was based on an old Quackenbush design and held 22 BBs. It continued production virtually unchanged until it was discontinued in 1969, by which time over a quarter million units had been made. The V-350 was modified with some improvements in 1969, including a Monte Carlo stock, and redesignated the Model 3500, which carried on production until 1975.
The V-350 was in pretty rough shape when I sent it to Tim and Sue. The stock was beat up and most of the bluing was gone and there was some rust pitting on the barrel where the shooter grabbed it to push the barrel back into the receiver in order to cock it. It was also missing its front sight and was basically a mess that needed some tender loving care.
After sending the air rifle off, I put it out of my mind as I was in no particular hurry and expected it would be at least a couple of months before I would be getting it back. To my surprise, after just three weeks it was on its way back to me. I couldn’t believe the transformation and to say I was pleased was an understatement. Not only did it look good, but it was a shooter again and shoots very accurately, for a smoothbore, out to about 30 feet. A complete breakdown of the replaced parts and labor costs is provided on your receipt. Of course, labor accounts for the majority of costs involved and the V-350 will become a wall-hanger, no doubt, since it has more nostalgic value to me than dollar value as a collectible. And, even though it has been professionally restored, the actual collectible value is less than what I have into it. However, if you have a valuable old airgun that you would like to have restored, reach out to Tim and let him know what you have to determine if he can do the work and come up with a cost estimate. He can be reached at: info@smithairgunrepair.com.
Additionally, if you are into vintage airguns, be sure to check out AofA’s available inventory of used and collectible airguns on their website which can be found here. Bookmark the page and refer to it often if you don’t see what you are looking for as they purchase collections, attend airgun auctions and accept trade-ins on purchases, so the available items change often.
I have old crosman rifle needs to be fixed it’s CO2 and have two Daisy BB guns need to be fixed
Hi Phillip, by all means reach out to Tim Smith and let him know what you have.
http://www.smithairgunrepair.com