This report covers:
- The title
- Be careful when buying online
- Always wanted one
- Online craziness
- Know your airguns!
- Remember the Sheridan Supergrade craziness?
- The point
- More to come
I haven’t written a report like this in many years. I used to write them all the time. A recent advertisement on eBay for a Daisy 107 pump BB gun attracted my attention. I have timed the publication of this report to be after the auction closes.
The title
Here is what attracted me, the title of the item:
Vintage Daisy Model 107 Pump BB Air Rifle Gun No Velocity
I was attracted because this was a Daisy BB gun. I know why 99.999 percent of all Daisy-type BB guns have no velocity. I’ve written about it several times in reports on Daisy No. 25 pump guns. Why do you think there is no velocity? This is a test to see if you’ve paid attention.
This dealer is honest—something you don’t always see from eBay dealers. Read his description.
An old Daisy model 107 BB gun. Estate item , it does show some soiling and wear, scratches and scuffs, etc. Decal sticker on side of stock as shown. It pumps and sounds like it fires as it should, but the bb did not have any velocity, just kinda rolled out, I would assume an easy fix if you know what you are doing. Sold AS IS, with no velocity. Please see the photos and email any questions. Buyer pays shipping. Postage has increased again, so please see cost before bidding, dimensions and/or weight can make it expensive. If you choose ground shipping, please remember it can also be VERY slow sometimes.
It was that description that attracted my attention. Besides the title this description tells me with near-certainty what’s wrong with this BB gun.
Be careful when buying online
You have to watch out when buying something online. Is the dealer honest? Is the item what you want. Sometimes when dealers tell me their photographs are a significant part of the item’s description I won’t bid, but this dealer posted 24 pictures. It doesn’t get much better than that!
Daisy 107 pump BB gun that was advertised on eBay.
The photos were sharp and well-defined. I could tell the condition of the BB gun from them quite well.
Always wanted one
The 107 is a more modern version of Daisy’s Buck Jones pump—a BB gun I have always wanted to try. Instead of wood and blued steel it has plastic and either blued or painted steel. I’ve owned many Number 25 pump guns but never this one whose pump handle comes straight back to cock the gun. And this one might go for cheap because of the description. Or it might not go for cheap because there are many people watching it.
Online craziness
I said be careful when buying online. How does a Daisy Number 40 lever action for three thousand dollars sound? A bit high you say? But it has a bayonet that at least doubles the value. Yes, this $800 BB gun (in very good condition, which this one appears to be) is worth at least $1,600—maybe even slightly more. But as of the date this report was published (April 28, 2025) there’s one on eBay listed for $3000. Oh, and that one is very special because, unlike all other Model 40s, that one is a single-stroke pneumatic, according to the description!
The $3000 Daisy Model 40 from eBay.
Know your airguns!
All of this boils down to knowing your airguns. What’s that? You say this is one on your table was once owned by BB Pelletier? Big Deal! That adds nothing to the value. If it’s an airgun you want—that can add some value. If it’s an airgun you want that’s also one that’s that hard to find like an IZH 46 pistol or an IZH 60 rifle, then, yes, it’s worth more than what the Blue Book of Airguns says.
Remember the Sheridan Supergrade craziness?
Remember a few years ago when Sheridan Supergrades were going for crazy money? Here’s a look at one that sold.
Now look at a Supergrade that’s listed on Baker Airguns.
But BB, I looked into this one and they say it doesn’t work. That may be true. It may also be true that there is a person or persons around the US who can fix it. I’m not saying there is. I’m saying look into it if you are interested.
The point
The point of today’s report is learn about the airguns you have an interest in before you spend your money. I’m currently pinching my pennies because I’m paying for two households until I sell my late sister’s townhome in Tulsa. But the ad that started today’s report was just too good to pass up. I at least had to watch it and maybe buy it if possible.
More to come
A guest blog that touches on this subject is coming. The slant will be slightly different but it boils down to knowing what things are worth.
B.B.
As you have always suggested, go to an Airgun Show!
Sort of separates the wheat from the chaff…
-Yogi
Yogi,
Unfortunately, at airgun shows sellers will usually match closely each other’s prices. As in online bids or auctions, you set your limit of your offer. At airgun shows at least you can dicker sometimes. I have walked away with some great deals. I have also watched as some great deals have walked away from me. Life is like that sometimes.
Tom,
Nice to have and want to have are usually determined by how thin or fat one’s wallet is at the time. Buyer’s remorse only sets in when you don’t invest enough time to research before plunking down your hard earned cash. And hopefully the better half sometimes helps in holding the reins before you go out of control.
Siraniko
Knowing what you are buying, or selling for that matter, is very important. We should also keep in mind what it is worth to us. What is worth a small fortune to BB may not be worth even looking at by me and vice versa.
Do not get me wrong. I “collect” some of these “old gals” because there is nothing like them anywhere anymore. Most of them are also an early example of a certain design “category” that interests me.
As Siraniko has pointed out, the thickness of my wallet at the time that I see what I would like does indeed have a large influence on whether that example goes home with me or not. I have seen some superb examples of airguns that I greatly coveted not go home with me because of that.
Something that should be kept in mind is how much it will cost to reseal/repair a non-working example of your desires. This cost must be factored in. With BB’s example of the 107 it may be a few drops of oil (most likely) or it may need the entire internal mechanism to be replaced. Can you do this yourself or must you send it off to have someone else do it. Fortunately, these things are much simpler than some would lead you to believe.
A prime example of the above is my .20 Condor. The valve was leaking badly. I tried introducing some silicon oil into the tank to see if that would replenish the seal. It did not help. I took the valve apart and replaced an o-ring which had become hard and brittle. It now works great. It cost me less than one dollar to do that because I could do that myself.
I have never worked on a Giss system before, so I sent an air pistol that I had paid very little for off to have it resealed. I spent a lot more on that than I did the air pistol. In the long run it was well worth it, but I will likely try to repair it myself if that situation arises again.
Do your homework. It can save you a considerable amount. We all know how cheap I can be. 😉
“Why do you think there is no velocity? This is a test to see if you’ve paid attention.”
I think there that the piston seal needs oil. That is what you suggested for the old Daisy No 25 that came to reside with me. And that is what worked.
The suspense is palpable, did you win the auction? 🙂
Elmer,
YES! Oil is the answer and we will see if that is correct when I start testing the gun. There is another story there.
BB
Congratulations, we will keep our fingers crossed and look forward to the reports.
BB,
It’s hard to believe that that BB gun could be worth $1,600. Not to me, but to someone who MUST have it. Regarding whether we were listening, yes, the piston could be dry and need oil as Elmer Fudd said above, or the piston is old and brittle and will never seal again. Else, it could be one of those BB guns that shot the oversize lead BBs that they made by dropping molten lead into standing water inside a high tower.
Will
Will,
Is it hard to believe a BB gun could be worth $1,600? What about the one that sold at Roanoke for $48,000? That was back in the ’90s.
BB
Different strokes for different folks.
This type report is one of the reasons I look at this blog everyday. Keep em coming.
D3ck
Correction to my comment above: Molten lead is dropped from the top of the tower, but it solidifies in the air before hitting the water. Molten lead does not hit the water.
FM wishes you victory BB, if you are bidding and also that your prize wends its way to you way faster than FM’s is doing. At least the “tracker” alleges it is still moving. Cliff Clavin, where are you? Cheers!
Basil,
I think Cliff stopped by the bar to show off a potato chip that looks like Richard Nixon.
BB
That trumps everything I’ve heard today, Tom. 😉
Good info and timely reminder as well. I just purchased a 1940’s Hy-Score 801 Belgian in .22 as I had added it to eBay search notifications long ago when I read your blog on yours in .177. This one is nice visual condition but missing some parts that I may never be able to find. I knew that going in but only paid $84 to my door for it. Worth the risk to me at that price. Luckily my seller was also honest in describing it as non working and missing parts in the listing and displayed good photos.
Might as well throw this out there, any suggestions from anyone as to a trigger assembly and linkage arm for it from other guns? Maybe something from Diana?? that would have a good chance of fitting? I have a Diana 25 that looks very close but will have to tear down the 25 to see for sure. It’s a place to start anyway.
Bob
Honest Bob,
This might help: https://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2010/01/hy-score-801-part-1/?srsltid=AfmBOorh7FofWaNPT9AOlfsfFmGeEHerj1cybNKZ-JmONyFy8isl1l_8
David Enoch (a regular here on Tom’s Blog) looks to be someone to reach out too.
shootski
B.B.,
Although i am not a collector of old (previously owned) airguns most of your points are applicable to buying a good or better new gun that could become a collectable at some future date. Some of your points that stand out for me:
This dealer is honest….
I said be careful when buying online.
All of this boils down to knowing your airguns.
What’s that? You say this is one on your table was (Built by Dennis A. Quackenbush or some other builder e.g. Bartolomeo Girardoni*) who’s name will remain known to airgunners through the coming centuries) once owned by BB Pelletier? Big Deal! That adds nothing to the value. If it’s an airgun you want—that can add some value. If it’s an airgun you want that’s also one that’s that hard to find like an IZH 46 pistol or an IZH 60 rifle, then, yes, it’s worth more than what the Blue Book of Airguns says.
Summary:
The point of today’s report is learn about the airguns you have an interest in before you spend your money.
Thank you Tom and a Bravo Zulu to boot!
shootski
PS: If you are really pinched would the mortgage holder of Nan’s home allow you the Executor to suspend payment until the sale is final or forbearance to pay interest/escrow only? Just an idea since i don’t know the numbers you are actually dealing with for now.
* https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartolomeo_Girardoni
The LINK is in German but one of the best factual and complete reports i have found…typical German speaker attention to detail.
shootski,
I’m not the executor. I’m the trustee of a revokable living trust. In other words, I own the home and if I don’t pay they will foreclose.
BB
B.B.,
Your response is an important bit of information for folks that use Trusts to factor into their planning on how to structure funding to bridge the period until the estate/trust is resolved.
shootski
shootski,
Yeah, I learned that with a Trust all probate is avoided. I just stepped in as the owner of everything.
BB
I took a chance when I purchased the .22cal round ball Healthways Plainsmaster CO2 Pistol. Its performance was unknown, and it may never have been shot since the 60’s. It looked NIB. I figured it was rare and had Mr. Beeman Provenance and I had an original Plainsman that I liked and could switch parts with to get it going if necessary.
I emailed the seller, and he was very honest about it and answered all my questions. Got him to lower the asking price some because its operation was unknown. I then looked up his eBay reputation and checked his web site. He was an airgun middleman, and I had the eBay guarantee as well.
As I reported, it did work, but not as i expected so far. It needs looking into, but it is a nice collectable for me and I am not disappointed as of yet. An unusual airgun for sure.
I just found some valuable information for survival if you find yourself in a dangerous situation outdoors.
It’s called the “Rules of 3s and 7s”.
Shootski may be familiar with them or some at least.
You can live:
3 min. without air. (Smoke)
3 hrs. without shelter from extreme cold.
3 days without water.
3 weeks without food.
You have:
7 seconds to make critical decisions.
7 min. to secure safety.
7 hrs. to secure shelter from the elements.
7 days to build stability to survive.
Unusual circumstances can obviously change these rules but it’s nice to know info. And I thought I was cool carrying a morse code alphabet and reflecting mirror.
Bob M,
Those are some good rules of thumb to get folks thinking about how close we are to dead much of the time while on dry land. Adding any moisture to the situation changes some of those radically. An example is falling into 55° F (12.8°C) water can kill in under one minute through Cold Shock, there is a very faulty, but persistent, rule of thumb that is called the 120° F rule that is virtually useless in any situation.
The greatest thing most folks could do is get at least a minimal level of training in Urban and Wilderness Survival skills from a well vetted school/organization and then practice them in BAD conditions. Just reading about survival skills is a start but won’t do much for you when the stuff hits the fan.
In the midterm infections and dehydration caused by uncontrolled diarrhea or salt water ingestion kill the most folks in a survival situation.
shootski