Diana Luft Gewehr air rifle pellet gun

This is a Diana air rifle, made in Germany.

4.5mm or 0.177" caliber.

Diana model 42E/44/48 (Not really sure which one) from the 1920's or 1930's.

very similar to the rifle described here,

www.network54.com/Forum/662823/message/1341826951/Diana+model+42E+(1931)

The difference is that the number 7.28 or 7.29 is stamped on the barrel under the cocking lever and 450 under the trigger guard. Could it be the 450th of this model made in July 1928 or 1929?

It is not a BSA although it looks just like one.

All the screws excepting one trigger guard screw are present and in good condition.

The rifle cocks and fires perfectly.

This rifle has at some stage been stripped down and the bluing redone. There is some evidence where there was some slight rust pitting, and there are some marks just ahead of the stock where the metal was gripped in a vice to be worked on. This is visible in the pictures where the trigger guard is shown.

The stock has been stripped of varnish and is oiled.

One screw is missing from the trigger guard.

The rear sight blade is not original has not got the elevation adjustment screw anymore.

Accuracy at six meters is not as good as I expected, but if you look at how the pellets were totally demolished on impact you will know that the speed this rifle is shooting at is too high.

Putting a weaker spring into this rifle would be highly recommended and will improve accuracy as well as the long term lifespan of the gun.