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My early Silver Streak

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By B.B. Pelletier

A LOT of you own Sheridans, so today I’d like to share one of my favorites with you.

A LONG run!
The Sheridan Silver Streak is the longest-running model that a company ever made. First production began in 1949, after the company discovered that people just weren’t going to spend $56.50 for an airgun. The model A, or Supergrade as it is now known, is a wonderful air rifle, but Sheridan managed to cut the price back to $19.95 and put out a pretty good gun, just the same.

Silver-Streak-web
My early Silver Streak is a classic!

My gun is very early
In Ronald E. Elbe’s book, Know Your SHERIDAN Rifles & Pistols, my gun is shown to be early. Several features mark it as before 1960 and possibly as early as 1951. With the information in the book, there’s no way to pin it down more accurately than that, but I have a suspicion mine was made before 1955.

Streak-Williams-web
Two early indicators are the round bolt knob on a straight stem
and the screw that holds the receiver tube to the tang.
The Williams peep sight turned out to be a special surprise!

My gun has a Williams peep sight, which was always an option on Sheridan Blue and Silver Streaks. You bought the sight and put it on yourself or had a gunsmith do it for you. What I didn’t know until reading Elbe’s book very carefully was that there was once a special version of the Silver Streak that came ONLY with the Williams. It had no open sight in the rear. My gun shows no marks where a rear sight was ever attached, so mine is that special model.

Streak-fnt-sgt-web
My front sight is the second-earliest profile.
Notice that the barrel does not go all the
way to the end of the pump tube cap.

What keeps my gun from being a VERY EARLY 1940 or 1950 model is the lack of four screws to retain the pump lever/forearm. I have the two roll pins that Sheridan soon used for this purpose on all their guns.

Thumb-safety-web
The thumb safety has to be held down to shoot.
It was inconvenient for most people and
was often jammed down permanently.

Here is what I like best about this old gun. After being resealed recently, it shoots as hard as any Blue or Silver Streak ever made. Even though it’s an oldie, I can still enjoy it like the person who owned it first, so many years ago. I think that’s neat!

64 thoughts on “My early Silver Streak”

  1. Got my silver streak in 1954 for Christmas. I killed many a rabbit and a few squirrels with it, and stopped in their tracks numerous menacing beverage cans.
    In about 1986 my gun dealer sent it away for a rebuild. The bolt handle broke and the forearm was cracked. The gun came back as good as ever. In a fit of poor judgement, i gave the gun to my youngest son. It got stolen shortly after. I miss that Sheridan and hope to buy another one day soon.

  3. That was a interesting story,thank you,I like reading about the older guns and the history of the blue streaks!I currently shoot a newer blue streak and love how they perform!I like mine cuz there great road huntin guns and can easily fly out the window to deal with crows,starlings,and of course rabbits and tree rats!

  4. I’m with you on the old guns. I love ’em and can’t get enough. My Blue Streak is one of my four or five go-to guns, and it was the first one I ever had.

    Maybe this next week I’ll do another post for guys like us.

    B.B.

  5. I could never understand the angst some shooters had over the “thumber” safety. It never gave me a bit of trouble on my vintage 1959 Blue Streak. Still today, it does not seem at all inconvenient to hold down while shootin.

    Regards,

    Fred

  6. Fred,

    As one who has the angst, I can tell you that my thumb definitely does not reach far enough to hold down the safety and still maintain a comfortable grip on the rifle. I end up with my shooting hand too high and too far forward to maintain good trigger control.

    Is it possible you have large hands and the safety is in the right place?

    Thanks for commenting,

    B.B.

  7. B.B.,

    This is surprising to me. I read that the Sheridan was designed for use by adolesents and up. I had no trouble at all with its ergonomics as an adolesent and the stock always seemed a little smallish to me in my adult years. I regard myself as pretty average in my personal dimensions. It seemed to me that most of the objection was bacause the shooter could not “choose” to have it on or off …… the safey was always on unless you held the release lever down while firing.

    Regards,

    Fred

  8. Hi Folks,
    My stepfather just gave my son a 392P… I am guessing circa 2000 or so the serial # is 094702395 – if anyone knows what year that is please tell me. I am guessing at 2000 based off the info on the Crosman site. (and yeah I read Boy’s Life too and used to dream about this gun while watching my Red Ryder bb’s drop so darned quick!)ha! Anyway – would any of you happen to have an owner’s manual or know where I can get one for this gun? It’s the 392P .22 before the longer more rounded looking pump stocks I see at Crosman etc now.

    Thanks a lot,
    Jim Summer
    http://tentonweb.com/
    jimsummer@tentonweb.com

  10. I just received a Sheridan Silver Streak and was wonderig if you could assist in identifying it’s vintage. This is my first airgun and it looks to be fairly seasoned. Seems to function just fine.

    Thanks you in advance,

    Keith

    Oh.. almost forgot.. the serial #(?) on the barel is 004525.

  11. Keith,

    I can’t tell if the number you’ve given is the serial number of not, because the serial number belongs on the receiver, not the barrel. What you have given sounds like a part number, issued from the drawing.

    How does the safety work on your gun?

    B.B.

  12. B.B.
    My mistake on the location of the number. I guess it’s the pump tube? I’m a newbie here and “barrel” just kind of rolled out. The number in question, the only number visible with the rifle assembled, is about 2″ forward of the “SILVER STREAK” engraving on the left side of the tube. (No i have not disassembled the rifle.)

    The safety is the rocker style. the front sight is a serated slope not like the sight you have pictured with the cutaway and the bolt handle is curved and the knob is dimpled. The only thing engraved on what I guess is the reciever is the letter “D”.

    Thanks again for your help.

    Keith

  14. Howdy the group,

    My Sheridan Silver Streak, SN 144882 just quit, and the factory says they cannot help me with parts or repair.

    It only holds one pump of air, if that.

    Can someone here point me to some help?

    Thanks,

    Jim

  16. I just bought a sherida silver streak C9,i was told it was from the 50’s,it has a push pull safty located at the end of the barrel on top of the stock,is that a 50’s mod.i can give you more info.if thats not enough

    Dan

  17. Dan,

    This style was made from 1949 to 1963. Look at the rifle in the post, above. Does your front sight look like that? There are several details that can be used to determine approximate age, and I listed them in the post. Compare your gun to the one pictured above and tell me how it differs.

    B.B.

  18. I, too, had an early Silver Streak as a youth around 1951. I managed to get a pellet stuck in the barrel (probably two pellets). No presence of mind to simply tap the stuck pellets back into the chamber. No-o-o, the kid in me decided to disassemble the entire rifle.

    I recently purchased a Blue Streak of the same vintage and a slightly newer Blue Streak with the curved bolt. Both shoot great; aluminum adult beverage cans are goners @ 40 yards. I am still on the lookout for an old Sinver Streak.

    Mike P.

  20. It’s too late in the year for Santa to arrive, but I might be old enough.

    I do have a Silver Streak (?? 50’s) in my storage.

    I have had it for several years & don’t even remember where I got it.

    It is in very good condition without noted rust, but it is also very dirty with years of dust.

    I don’t know how to take good care of them, so I haven’t oiled or cleaned it.

    It pumps and shoots a “puff”.

    Sounds to me as though it needs either oiled or rebuilt.

    If someone (Maybe Mike) wants it, just write to me at: budnewhawk@comcast.net
    Make a reasonable offer, and it can be yours.

    Ho, Ho, Ho !!

  21. Since Feb, I have purchased two Silver Streaks, a late one (mfg 1978) and a really early one. This one has the forestock held in place with 4 screws instead of roll pins, and the rear sight base is soldered to the barrel & has thumb screws for adjusting the windage instead of slotted screws.

    The later Streak cleaned up easily and shoots well. The early one will need to have seals replaced.

    I find all of the needed replacement parts & reseal kits from Bryan & Associates (no affiliation, just a satisfied customer).

    Mike P.

  22. I have just purchased 2 more Sheridan CB models. One, from about 1963, must have gone from new-in-the-box to the closet, as the only thing on it was dust on the rear sight & the trigger guard. Otherwise, like new. I couldn’t say “Sold” quickly enough when I was told the (low) price.
    The second rifle, from about 1966, included a original factory Weaver scope on a Sheridan mount. The grain in the walnut is really pronounced, similar to tiger maple. This rifle wasn’t so cheap but it was a good buy nonetheless. Both rifles shoot really well.
    Mike P.

  24. B.B. – I’m still looking for that Model C or CB with a factory-installed Williams peep sight like your have. It’s out there for me somewhere.
    Meanwhile, I just purchased a clean Daisy 25 (wood furniture, not plastic) for “a bit” more than my original one my parents purchased in the late 1940’s (that I gave away in about 1959).
    Mike P.

  28. My father passed his boyhood Silver Streak to me when I was young. I packed it away when I went to college and just stumbled across it. Four screw attach the fore stock, thumb safety, round lever on straight bolt, open sights. Any idea when it was made? By the way, it still works. Where can I find the pellets?

    Thanks

  29. According to Ron Elbe’s book, “Know Your Sheridan Rifles & Pistols,” your Silver Streak was made in either 1949 or 1950 – the first two years of production. The screws holding the forearm are the detail that proves that.

    B.B.

  31. Before you send the gun out to get it checked, how is it doing right now? Have you oiled the pump head with Crosman Pellgunoil? Has the rifle been stored with a pump of air in it?

    Your rifle should bury a .20 caliber pellet beyond the base in soft pine. I didn’t tell you where to get .20 caliber (5mm) pellets, but right here at Pyramyd AIR is a good place.

    Here is a good repair center:

    B.B.

  32. In reading you article ,it got me wondering just how old my Sheridan was.As far as I can tell theres no serial number and looks similar to the picture you posted.It has the two roll pin forarm,thumb safety,front site profile,and ball end bolt ,but mine is shaped downwards.Any help determining its age would be appreciated.
    Thanks, Steve

  34. B.B.,
    I too have a Silver Streak but was not so fortunate as to have the Williams peep. Nice. I received the gun from my father and over the years of use and abuse from a young lad, teen and much later the gun claimed many scars which could paint a colorful picture. Of course all were cosmetic and none ever messed with the functionality of the gun. I had just recently sent it in to have it re-sealed, cleaned and given a once over as my son’s birthday is coming up and he’s been keeping an eye on that gun. He has graduated out of the Red Ryder stage of responsibility in gun handling and I thought that he would like to enjoy it as well. Upon receiving the gun back from the shop, it looked great and I was excited to see how it performed in comparison to before sending it out. My son was home when it arrived and I let him open the returned gun’s packaging. I said “We’ll have to take it out back and see how it shoots.”, as I walked into the kitchen. Little did I know that his ears heard “Take it out back and see how it shoots.” The next thing I know, I’m looking over the rim of my glass of iced tea, wondering why my son is coming toward the patio jamming on the bolt of my trusty streak. He gets to the door and says “Why won’t this bb go in?”. I felt sick. I don’t know the schematics of the gun nor do I know how hard the bb is stuck in the gun. I can see it in the chamber area. I do know that I don’t really want to do anything until I know the right thing to do.
    Is it possible to get it out without sending it in? I believe the bb to be a Crossman Copperhead.

    Any help would be appreciated.

    Jeff

  35. Jeff,

    There is no way that a single BB can be jammed in your barrel, unless it fell into the transfer port. BBs are far too small for the bore. It probably fell through.

    Put a cleaning rod through the barrel from muzzle to the open breech. If it encounters no resistance, there’s no BB. If there is resistance, try to push it out the breech.

    Be careful, because your barrel is made of brass.

    If that doesn’t clear the barrel, I would send it to an airgunsmith and have them look it over. Mac-1 would be good in a case like this.

    B.B.

  36. B.B.,
    Thanks,
    Used my cleaning rod. It came out with some resistance. I put it next to some other bb’s and found that it was larger. I don’t know where it came from but I’m guessing that it came off of the reloading table and wasn’t a factory bb for air rifles. It wasn’t smooth like a regular air rifle bb either. I found several others like it in his bb container.

    Thanks again,

    Jeff

  38. I have a Silver Streak bb gun that was handed over to me to try to repair. It sounds like a 1961-1963 based on the blog, but I cannot seem to find any repair parts or blueprints. Where could I get parts/info on this rifle?

  39. Troy,

    First, stop calling it a BB gun or some fool will try to shoot steel BBs in it and wreck the gun.

    It’s a 5 mm pellet rifle (also known as .20 caliber).

    There are no parts for these guns. You have to get them fixed by repair stations that cannibalize old guns for parts.

    Here is the best one:

    B.B.

  46. Anonymous,

    Re: Oiling the pumphead

    Here’s a link to a good article that B.B. wrote awhile back:

    /blog/2008/09/what-to-oil-part-1-a-guide-to-sealing-pneumatics-and-co2-guns/

    Good luck. If you need more help please join us on the current/active blog. Lot of great airgunners with an enormous amount of knowledge exchanged. Go here:

    /blog//

    Hope to see you there!

    kevin

  48. Just came accross this blog dealing with the older Sheridan .20 cal pellet rifles. I have one from likely the late 40’s or early 50’s owned by my grandfather. I am trying to date it as there is no serial number and trying to have it re-sealed. Does anyone have any suggestions as I live near, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

  50. Thanks B.B. I will contact him and check with the border staff to determine the legal way to get it over the border. I will need to track down Elbe’s book and check it out.

  51. Excuse me B.B., but I was wondering how well would work a Williams peep sight in my new Silver Streak, as the few client feedback is divided, and some say it is too high to set it to less than 20 yards.
    And about the pellgun oil, I have a set of oils from RWS, would one of them work the same for the seal,like a sylicon oil?
    Thanks a lot, this is my first post.

    Ricardo

  52. Ricardo,

    Welcome! You own a fine airgun, the Silver Streak. A classic.

    As B.B. stated in the original article and re-stated in the answers in the above blog comments, the williams peep sight will fit your silver streak. There was a silver streak that came with the williams peep sight instead of a rear sight. If mounted correctly, I’ve never heard that the williams peep sight had problems shooting at less than 20 yards on a silver streak.

    I’m not sure what RWS oils you have but would strongly encourage you to buy some pellgunoil for your pumphead and use it instead. See here:

    /product/crosman-pellgun-oil?a=222

    Remember to always store a pump or two of air in your silver streak when you’re finished shooting.

    Ricardo,

    You’ve posted your question and comments on an article that B.B. wrote back in 2005. There are airgunners from all over the world sharing their airgun stories, asking each other airgun questions and answering each others airgun questions under the most recent article that B.B. has written (B.B. writes a new article every day, Monday-Friday). You can join this great live discussion by copying and pasting the following link, scroll to the bottom of the new article and click on “comments”:

    /blog//

    Look forward to seeing you there!

    kevin

  53. I have LEE MAJORS (Six Million Dollar Man & Fall Guy)old (by checkin gun it has no numbers and push f/s bottom both side for safety) blue streak from 1963? has LEE MAJORS carved on walnut stock!light rust on sight and trigger..walnut stock read nice used condition and has NO splits or cracks! pump weak! Gun was given to me by Lee when he moved from Malibu Ca. to Florida in early 1990's. It is for sale please make a offer! CONTACT: Jori91311@yahoo.com and i will send pictures. Thanx!

  57. Art,

    you aren't going to sell that Silver Streak here. You've posted to a blog that's over 5 years old. Only a handful of us monitor these old blogs. What I'd suggest is posting your for sale at: /blog//

    If this link doesn't take you to the current blog but to Pyramydair's website, just click on "blog" on the banner and then post your comment as you did here. Another suggestion is to post your want to sell (WTS) on the Yellow Forum. Here's the link:

    http://www.network54.com/Forum/79574/

    A photo or two and a better description will help. Good luck, Art

    Fred PRoNJ

  58. hello,i have had my blue streak now for 34 years and it still shoots great , i got this gun new in 1976 when i was 12 years old ,me and my brother got one for X-mas ..puttin oil on it now ,was told when storing for a long time to pump one shot of air in the gun for storage and one drop oil on the pump plunger ,,it seems to have worked good for me ,good luck

  60. I have a "BLUE STREAK" 5m/m CAL. The only number I can find on it is 569 1H. I've had the gun for at least 10 years and I'm not sure how old it really is. It seems to shoot okay and hold air pressure. It's a little worn in places and I'm wondering if this gun would be worth restoring.

  62. So I ran across this old thread and was wondering if you might have any insight on my old Sheridan?
    I bought it from a neighbor in the early 60’s, with money from mowing yards. It has the same front sight as you have on your silver streak and the same orientation with the pressure tube. It’s a blue streak with a straight bolt and the same top thumb safety that you press down with your thumb. I too harvested many a squirrel and rabbit with it and still have it, it still shoots, the wood is rough as I carted it all over the woods near my home back then. Anyway maybe I’ll check out Mr. Elbe’s book. I know this is an old post but so am I (old that is). Regards

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