Category: Challenger Arms Corporation

The Challenger Arms Corporation Plainsman Air Rifle (Pneumatic) (1948 to 1951)

Back in October of 2017, I came across this Challenger Arms Corporation Plainsman pneumatic air rifle in a closed bid auction. The condition was unknown, however, as I already have a few Challengers in the collection and had recently written about the rifle in the pneumatic pistol article, I thought I would have a punt. The trouble with closed auctions is that you just don’t know if someone has bid more than you. So, as the days passed and the closing date drew closer I wondered if I would be outbid. Well, as you know, I was successful!

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At the range with the Challenger Arms Corporation Plainsman (pneumatic) Air Rifle!

Down at the range today putting this 70-year-old Challenger Arms Corporation Plainsman pneumatic rifle through her paces. I was actually very pleased with how the restoration has turned out. She is grouping within a 50 pence piece at 25 yards with open sights. That’s not bad considering her age and my poor eyesight!

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Challenger Arms Plainsman CO₂ Gas Pistol… resealed!

I recently got the Challenger Arms Plainsman CO2 gas pistol back from being resealed a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, the paint that I had used to restore it reacted badly with the oils used during the service. Not to worry, over the last couple of weekends I have repainted it with automotive satin black rather than acrylic paint. The finish is even better than before! I am yet to paint the inlet lettering white. I may try a different technique of wax crayon instead of paint which if not carefully applied can remove the black paint in the process!

Until next time, happy shooting!

Jimmie Dee

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The Challenger Arms Corporation Plainsman (CO₂) Pistol (1954-1958)

In a previous article, I wrote about the Challenger Arms Corporation Plainsman “pneumatic” air pistol. That article described how the pneumatic Plainsman was effectively a further development of the Apache air pistol. Both pistols were designed by Albert Dale Fogel who was a financial partner and Vice President of Design and Production at the National Cart and Challenger Arms Corporations. [1]

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The Challenger Arms Corporation Plainsman Pistol (Pneumatic) (1949-1951)

The Challenger Arms Corporation was a subsidiary company of the National Cart Corporation.  If you have been following our articles it will come as no surprise to you that the National Cart Corporation also produced the Apache range of air pistols and air rifles. After designing the Apache air pistol, Daniel Fogel, the Vice President of Design and Production at the National Cart Corporation, developed a .28 calibre air shotgun sometime mid-1948. But rather than add it to the Apache line Charles Burhans, the president of the National Cart Corporation, decided to market it via a separate company called the Challenger Arms Corporation. Perhaps Burhans had already realised that the Apache airgun range along with its high failure rate and free lifetime warranty was already doomed. Or perhaps they had not managed to productise the new air shotgun by the time the Apache and production tools had been sold to SIMCO. Whatever the reason, as far as Burhans and his associates were concerned, the Apache era was over and the Challenger range of air guns had begun! [1][2][3]

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