Plastic-Grip Stock No. 25s

Plastic Stock Variation 1

Plastic Stock and Pump Handle

(1952)

In 1952, Daisy made a very significant change to the No. 25.  They changed both the wood stock and pump handle to plastic.  Whereas, Daisy had always proudly advertised the solid wood stock in previous years, no such proud mention was made of the change to plastic.  The pistol grip was now checkered and the butt had the non-slip grooves, the Daisy Pledge, a representation of a boy with a gun. 

First plastic stock and pump handle No. 25.

This first plastic variation of the No. 25 did not yet have register numbers.  Evidently this version had a very short life span because by December 1952, Daisy was putting register numbers on all its No. 25s.

First plastic stock No. 25.  Also has the 12-groove plastic pump handle.

Pump handle changed from the wooden 6-groove to a plastic 12-groove.

The gun was still 37 inches long with a blued, fully engraved frame that continued to have the gold fill.  The plastic stock had a checkered pistol grip and the butt stock had the Daisy Pledge and sure-grip grooves.  The gun had a twelve-groove plastic pump handle. 

Markings remained the same.

Features:  Blued finish.  Fancy frame engraving. Screw-elevated rear sight. Fixed front sight. Medium take-down screw. Blued trigger.  Plastic stock and pump handle.

Plastic Stock Variation 2

First Register No. Guns

(late 1952 – Fall 1953)

This variation is identical to the one above except that by at least December 1952 each air rifle was being stamped with a register number. 

It is appropriate at this point to discuss the method of assigning register numbers to the No. 25.  There is some confusion on this point.  All Plymouth No. 25 guns have a register number that begins with either the letter K or L.  The subsequent production number of the gun follows the letter.  The later method of coding the month and year into the register or lot number did not exist at this point. 

The earliest register number recorded by Daisy was K004350.  Interestingly, one of the authors has a pump gun with an earlier number (see photo below).  Perhaps the idea of keeping a list of dated numbers was born after the practice began.

Based on Daisy’s production records, we believe the last K-series register number is K999999, and the first Plymouth L-series number is L000001.  Production records also show the last Plymouth pump gun register number to be L772633; this gun was made April 29^th, 1958.

Based on the guns we have examined, it appears that the Daisy began using the small take-down screw during production of this variation.  In other words, some of these guns will have the medium-sized screw and some will have the small one.

Markings changed to include Register Number:

Register number that pre-dates Daisy’s earliest recorded register number.

Features:  Blued finish.  Fancy frame engraving. Screw-elevated rear sight. Fixed front sight. Medium or small take-down screw. Blued trigger.  Plastic stock and pump handle.  Engraved “K” series register numbers.

Plastic Stock Variation 3

First Painted Gun

(Fall 1953 – February 1954)

As early as October 1953, and possibly a bit earlier, Daisy elected to begin painting the metal parts of the gun in lieu of the bluing process.  With the exception of the 1986 Centennial Collectors Edition, the No. 25 would never be blued again.  The gun still had the fancy engraving and was still advertised as “gold” filled. 

Features:  Painted finish.  Fancy frame engraving. Screw-elevated rear sight. Fixed front sight. Small take-down screw. Blued trigger.  Plastic stock and pump handle.  Engraved “K” series register numbers.

Plastic Stock Variation 4

Less Elaborate (Simple) Engraving/Screw-Elevated Rear Sight

(February 1954 – March 1955)

The only change in this variation is that the stamped engraving is less elaborate than that which the gun had previously possessed in all years since 1936.  Additionally, it was only on the upper part of the frame and not on the indented part forward of the trigger.  We call this “Simple” engraving.  This was short lived, beginning in February 1954 and only running until approximately the summer of 1954.

The screw-elevated rear sight remained the same. 

No. 25 now has “simple” engraving.

Features:  Painted finish.  Simple engraving. Screw-elevated rear sight. Fixed front sight. Small take-down screw. Blued trigger.  Plastic stock and pump handle.  Engraved “K” series register numbers.

Plastic Stock Variation 5

Combination rear sight; ramp front sight; bright trigger; and changed patent numbers

(approx. May 1954)

There were four changes associated with this variation.  The rear sight changed from the screw-elevated type to a combination two-leaf V notch and peep sight that was adjustable for windage and elevation.  The front sight was changed to a type called the ramp sight.  The trigger became “bright” as opposed to blued.  Also, the patent numbers changed.  They are now 1136470, 1220649, 1573383, 2204370, and 2204372. 

New ramp front sight as compared to previous sight below.

This photo shows the combination rear sight and the bright trigger.

New markings:

Features:  Painted finish.  Simple engraving. Combination two-leaf V-notch and peep sight adjustable for windage and elevation. Ramp front sight. Small take-down screw. Bright trigger.  Plastic stock and pump handle.  Engraved “K” series register numbers.  Updated patent numbers.

Plastic Stock Variation 6

Frame Scope Mounting Holes and Barrel Oil Hole

(Winter 1955 until move to Rogers and later)

The frame of this variation had two pre-drilled holes on the right side of the frame to accept the No. 303 scope.  It is interesting to note that this scope, designed to fit any Daisy air rifle, was actually available before the arrival of the pre-drilled frame holes.  Daisy originally sold the scope with a template for the owner to use in drilling the scope holes. 

Pre-drilled scope mounting holes on right of frame.

No. 25 with mounted No. 303 scope.

Coincidentally with the arrival of the scope holes, Daisy added an oil hole in the barrel so the gun could be easily lubricated. 

Features:  Painted finish.  Simple engraving. Combination two-leaf V-notch and peep sight adjustable for windage and elevation. Scope holes. Oil hole. Ramp front sight. Small take-down screw. Bright trigger.  Plastic stock and pump handle.  Engraved “K” series register numbers. 

Variation 6.5 (?).Has “Pump Gun” silk screened in front of trigger guard.

May be a production changeover.

Plastic Stock Variation 7

Patent Number Update

( Early 1956 – early 1957)

The patent numbers were the only change.  They are 2204370, 2204372, and 2724897.

Features:  Painted finish.  Simple engraving. Combination two-leaf V-notch and peep sight adjustable for windage and elevation. Scope holes. Oil hole. Ramp front sight. Small take-down screw. Bright trigger.  Plastic stock and pump handle.  Both “K” and “L” series register numbers.

Plastic Stock Variation 8

Patent Number Update

(Early 1957)

Again, patent numbers were the only change.  They are 2,204,370, 2,204,372, 2,224,897, and 2,758,586.

Features:  Painted finish.  Simple engraving. Combination two-leaf V-notch and peep sight adjustable for windage and elevation. Scope holes. Oil hole. Ramp front sight. Small take-down screw. Bright trigger.  Plastic stock and pump handle.  “L” series register numbers.

Plastic Stock Variation 9

First Silk-Screened Model

(mid 1957)

In the spring of 1957, Daisy presented another major cosmetic change.  The frame engraving was replaced with silk-screening.  The first silk-screening was the most elaborate ever produced.  It had scrollwork on the frame, both above and in front of the trigger area.  The area just in front of the trigger had scrollwork and a banner that said “DAISY PUMP GUN.”  Some guns also had silk-screening on the top of the barrel just in front of the frame. 

It is easy to tell from a picture whether a gun has engraving or silk-screening.  If the birds are pointing toward the hunter, the gun has engraving.  If the birds are flying away from the hunter, the gun is silk-screened.  Engraved markings remain unchanged.

1957 Silk-screening

Black was the normal color, but some came in other colors, like this brown gun.

Features:  Painted finish.  Fancy silk-screening. Combination two-leaf V-notch and peep sight adjustable for windage and elevation. Scope holes. Oil hole. Ramp front sight. Small take-down screw. Bright trigger.  Plastic stock and pump handle.  Engraved “L” series register numbers.  Patent numbers remain the same.

Variation 10

No Silk-Screening and Patent Number Change

(late 1957 – early 1958)

This gun appears to be identical to the previous variation except that it has no silk-screening and the patent numbers changed.  They are 2,724,897 and 2,758,586.

Last known Plymouth variation – No silk-screening.

Markings on last Plymouth variation.

This gun was produced in January 1958.

Although this was the last variation to be produced at Plymouth, Michigan, production of the Model 25 Pump Gun continued for another 20 years after Daisy moved to Rogers, Arkansas.  The No. 25 pump gun’s production spanned more than 60 years.

Continue To No. 25 Target Outfits and Accessories