That's a great, hard to find rifle in excellent shape (except for the D&T ). I have a M28, but it's nowhere near as nice, or as solidly built as the M37.

 

M37

Thats a beauty.
Is this not the model with the very small diameter bolt body with exposed firing pin?
We all thought that Swindlehurst was a new idea.

I had an opportunity to buy one a few years ago and passed. What a mistake.

bjm

 

Yes, odd bolt shape, and front sight mount. Any idea of the vintage on this gun, ser# 2259? I'm sort of confused by the plastic trigger guard and the roll stamp that says "Original Sportsbuchse Model 37"...nobody thinks to call an original "Original" until it's RE-introduced decades later, right?

Help me with some basic history on this weapon, please.

Thanks!

 

Re: "Original" I don't know in the case of Gustav Genshow (GECO), but after WWII, the machinery from Diana Werke was shipped to Scotland, where MilBro started making "Diana" air rifles. When the German firm Mayer & Gramspacher went back into production, they couldn't call their products "Diana" any more, so they became "Original" brand air rifles.

I guess when MilBro ceased production, M&G got their brand back, so we have "Original Diana" guns.

 

The Model 37 indicates the year it was introduced (1937), so this is definitely a pre-war rifle. I doubt if production ever resumed after the war.
The "Original" is a common German term (it's a German word too , by the way) used to signify that it is a company's design, so there is no issue with reintroductions, etc.
So your rifle was produced sometime between 1937 and the very early 40's when sporting rifle production was no longer a priority.
If you're rally interested in pre-war German sporting 22's, you should get Jon Speed's book on Mauser Sporting rimfires. It covers a lot of the other German companies too, such as GECO.

 

Trigger guard

One doesn't consider plastic as pre-war but it was there.
Pre-war Walther Sportmodel-5's in several variations had plastic trigger guards.

bjm

 

One doesn't consider plastic as pre-war but it was there.
Pre-war Walther Sportmodel-5's in several variations had plastic trigger guards.

bjm

Butt plates were plastic, why not trigger guards?

 

Geco 37

I have one almost exactly like yours. Mine has the exact same grip cap and trigger guard. Shoots fantastic too;not many around,only seen one other like it besides yours on the internet. Will try to post a picture.:bthumb:

 

Geco 37

I will try a picture again

[/URL][/IMG]

 

Anyone else have one of these to show off?

 

Mine doesn't have checkering but does have the same grip cap, trigger guard and butt plate. Though it has some pitting in small areas on the barrel the bore is perfect.

 

great, love to see pictures.

 

I bought one today. It has a cracked trigger guard, hard to notice. My friend might make trigger guards on his 3d printer. anybody want one? Looking...the trigger guards look alot like one from a ruger american rimfire.