Dave from the U.S. here. I live about an hour from Springfield 😉. I own a 77a and a tin of original Smith & Wesson pellets that is in perfect mint condition. It's one of my favorite guns. I lent it to Nibs of the Walnut & Steel channel to make a couple of videos and you can see it there. Yes, it must be cocked first to set the hammer and valve. BTW, the 77a was not subbed out but built by Smith & Wesson in their own firearms factory.
To my knowledge most 70’s and early pump up crosmans you had to cock before pumping, which always seemed a bit dangerous As some load them at time of cocking before pumping. Love the videos
If it's similar to the Sharps Innova and Ace, it could be that the relief valve is not allowing more pumps to build up pressure and allowing more power. It's a novelty though and probably intended for the U.S. market.
Your rifle is just like mine. The owners manual says not to exceed 20 pumps and some owners say they can get 16fpe from their rifles. I usually just use seven or eight pumps... I don't know if the 52 year old seals would hold full pressure. I do have to cock my rifle before pumping. In 1973 scope rails were added sometime during the year. My rifle was made earlier in the year and has no rails but later ones did... so your rifle is 1971-73.
I recall wanting that when I was in my late teens, mainly because it was sold as a S&W. As I recall they had a pistol too. Never did get one, though. You may have missed it on Tom Gaylord's blog about this (he has 4 total pages, which can be hard to find sometimes on that site), but he wrote that the need to cock it before pumping was normal. I also read on the last page of his report and on other sites that the 77A was listed as having a maximum of 20 pumps in the original manual.
I have a Canyon 77, I believe is Korean, a pump up rifle, well the best I can do is 7 pumps. 177 pellets Brass barrel Plastic receiver. I used it for fun in a few shoots in UK at Worcester air gun club. Jim Tyler put a photo of me in the magazine, pumping it. Not up to full UK level power, but fun to shoot. Around thr garden, shooting old oranges etc, 5 pumps is plenty, and not so tiring . Its is harder and harder to pump with every stroke. Maybe when you visit Torrevieja you can have a look at it. I've had it best part of 30 years now.
These were a adult sized pnuematic. I had 2 of them. Both had dovetails for scope mounting. Mine shot mid weight pellets accurately and with a good punch. Shot a bit few feral pigeons with it.
I never had to cock my 766 or my Remington copy of the 2100 before pumping it, but when you buy an overhaul kit for them they come with a new valve spring as well as the seals, I'm guessing that the valve spring may have weakened over the years? I'd pump it up and leave it overnight to see if the valve seals are leaking, just don't forget about it like you did with the cocked spring gun......
Remember seeing it in Wesley’s book in the library in 1978. Never actually seen one in real life though. Not as rare as that Daisy caseless ammo airgun firearm thing but nearly.
I have 5 of these, you cock it before pumping. You can pump up to 20 pumps, with power similar to a sheridan blue/silver streak.Early versions don't have dovetail on receiver later ones do. Most were built in Springfield, but a few were made in Tampa Florida. I absolutely love these rifles.
I really like the looks, it's a shame that pump ups aren't more popular, and yes in terms of practicality they are limited hunting or plinking, but generations of our American Cousins were brought up on them, I'm a fan having a 1966 Blue Streak and Benjamin 347, 😊
That thing is cool. I'd like a decent multi-pump pneumatic, unfortunately the likes of the Daisy 880 and Crosman 760 are mostly plastic these days and to buy new in the UK they're overpriced.
Would be cool if they would build this days a new version of it but with easyer pump mechanics. 🤔 Beside that, I'm still waiting for a Winchester underlever version thst is pcp and working Mechanic for reloading the next pellet(Multishot Magazin or like the real one that charges over the tube) and not a BB gun again with crab sights and don't shoot straight.
Walther lever Action already fills that gap. It isn‘t PcP but can be powered by 12gramm or 88gramm CO2 cardriges. Reality well manufactured and fun to shoot
@ CO2 guns are fun, PCP has some performance advantages compared with CO2, many airgun shooters would probably appreciate not needing to order and dispose of the capsules.
It's better looking than a Sheridan, but a Sheridan is a much better rifle. The 77a has that clam shell style receiver and it's a b!tch to reassemble. The Sheridan is more powerful, more efficient, has much better wood and is more compact. The only thing the 77a really has over the Sheridan are dovetails.
Dave from the U.S. here. I live about an hour from Springfield 😉. I own a 77a and a tin of original Smith & Wesson pellets that is in perfect mint condition. It's one of my favorite guns. I lent it to Nibs of the Walnut & Steel channel to make a couple of videos and you can see it there. Yes, it must be cocked first to set the hammer and valve. BTW, the 77a was not subbed out but built by Smith & Wesson in their own firearms factory.
To my knowledge most 70’s and early pump up crosmans you had to cock before pumping, which always seemed a bit dangerous As some load them at time of cocking before pumping.
Love the videos
What a beauty great find never heard of one before in 🤔 1994 I had a sharps ace made in Japan that was a grat pumper 🙌 fantastic to shoot 🤗
Didn’t know about the 77a at all 3 months ago but now I have had two in my garage since then
If it's similar to the Sharps Innova and Ace, it could be that the relief valve is not allowing more pumps to build up pressure and allowing more power. It's a novelty though and probably intended for the U.S. market.
I had no idea Smith & Wesson made air guns. This looks like an interesting rifle to use.
Your rifle is just like mine. The owners manual says not to exceed 20 pumps and some owners say they can get 16fpe from their rifles. I usually just use seven or eight pumps... I don't know if the 52 year old seals would hold full pressure. I do have to cock my rifle before pumping. In 1973 scope rails were added sometime during the year. My rifle was made earlier in the year and has no rails but later ones did... so your rifle is 1971-73.
I recall wanting that when I was in my late teens, mainly because it was sold as a S&W. As I recall they had a pistol too. Never did get one, though.
You may have missed it on Tom Gaylord's blog about this (he has 4 total pages, which can be hard to find sometimes on that site), but he wrote that the need to cock it before pumping was normal. I also read on the last page of his report and on other sites that the 77A was listed as having a maximum of 20 pumps in the original manual.
I do love that one Nick. Would jump to have one myself.
I have a Canyon 77, I believe is Korean, a pump up rifle, well the best I can do is 7 pumps.
177 pellets
Brass barrel
Plastic receiver.
I used it for fun in a few shoots in UK at Worcester air gun club.
Jim Tyler put a photo of me in the magazine, pumping it.
Not up to full UK level power, but fun to shoot.
Around thr garden, shooting old oranges etc, 5 pumps is plenty, and not so tiring .
Its is harder and harder to pump with every stroke.
Maybe when you visit Torrevieja you can have a look at it.
I've had it best part of 30 years now.
Never seen one before. Looks fun. I want one lol
There was one at Kempton Park arms fair in 2023.
These were a adult sized pnuematic. I had 2 of them. Both had dovetails for scope mounting. Mine shot mid weight pellets accurately and with a good punch. Shot a bit few feral pigeons with it.
I’m going to suggest that it supposed to work like that, and as S&W’s airgun devison was purchased by Daisy they may have made a version.
That is a class rifle. Good one Nick. Keith
A rare bird indeed. Great video.
Awesome video !
Early versions did not have scope grooves, later versions did. But i cant answer when they added them.
I never had to cock my 766 or my Remington copy of the 2100 before pumping it, but when you buy an overhaul kit for them they come with a new valve spring as well as the seals, I'm guessing that the valve spring may have weakened over the years? I'd pump it up and leave it overnight to see if the valve seals are leaking, just don't forget about it like you did with the cocked spring gun......
I've seen only one here in Australia and that was in pieces.
Remember seeing it in Wesley’s book in the library in 1978. Never actually seen one in real life though. Not as rare as that Daisy caseless ammo airgun firearm thing but nearly.
Its a Posh Daisy!👍😆😆
I have 5 of these, you cock it before pumping. You can pump up to 20 pumps, with power similar to a sheridan blue/silver streak.Early versions don't have dovetail on receiver later ones do. Most were built in Springfield, but a few were made in Tampa Florida. I absolutely love these rifles.
Love it 👍
I really like the looks, it's a shame that pump ups aren't more popular, and yes in terms of practicality they are limited hunting or plinking, but generations of our American Cousins were brought up on them, I'm a fan having a 1966 Blue Streak and Benjamin 347, 😊
That thing is cool. I'd like a decent multi-pump pneumatic, unfortunately the likes of the Daisy 880 and Crosman 760 are mostly plastic these days and to buy new in the UK they're overpriced.
My Titan Mohawk pump up rifle & my Daisy 717 pistol both have to be cocked before you can pump them.
I had one long ago.
Would be cool if they would build this days a new version of it but with easyer pump mechanics. 🤔
Beside that, I'm still waiting for a Winchester underlever version thst is pcp and working Mechanic for reloading the next pellet(Multishot Magazin or like the real one that charges over the tube) and not a BB gun again with crab sights and don't shoot straight.
A lever action magazine fed PCP carbine looking like a Winchester or Marlin would sell.
Walther lever Action already fills that gap. It isn‘t PcP but can be powered by 12gramm or 88gramm CO2 cardriges. Reality well manufactured and fun to shoot
@ CO2 guns are fun, PCP has some performance advantages compared with CO2, many airgun shooters would probably appreciate not needing to order and dispose of the capsules.
Outdated design from Crosman. You have to cock it first to remove the hammer from contact with the valve.
Similar to a Sheridan?
It's better looking than a Sheridan, but a Sheridan is a much better rifle. The 77a has that clam shell style receiver and it's a b!tch to reassemble. The Sheridan is more powerful, more efficient, has much better wood and is more compact. The only thing the 77a really has over the Sheridan are dovetails.