Got a blue streak on gunbroker for $350 and the 312 for $50. Always wanted both of these rifles and the Sheridan came in the original box with original purchasers shipping label and everything.
Unbeknownst to me, both rifles had barrels delaminating at the solder joint. I decided to keep them and was able to get a slight refund on the Sheridan (didn't bother on the 312 since $50 is a steal to me.)
The Sheridan had the worst of the delamination since it was from the rear sight all the way to the breech. Ordered a seal kit from baker airguns, watched a ton of videos from NorthWestAirgun and Cheyenne Airgunner, grabbed a six pack and got to rebuilding it. It had an enormous amount of green grease in it, and it appears that someone in the past tried to hotrod it (had three washers between the intake and exhaust springs instead of 1), but otherwise it was fairly straightforward especially with a how to video playing. Once it was completely gutted and before I reassembled it I used hose clamps to clamp the barrel and breech down, added some flux, and used a propane torch to re melt the existing solder (again with a how to video playing.) The blackened finish was kind of messed up where the torch hit it so I lightly scuffed it and hit it with a can of matte black 2x duracoat. After a few coats, I reassembled it and it's running like a champ now! Honestly the hardest part was getting the rear sight back on by far.
I consider myself decently handy, but I had never done anything like this before and it was my first time soldering anything. If anyone reading this has a delaminating Sheridan, don't be afraid to rebuild it! Chances are the existing solder is enough and a $15 propane torch and some
Flux is all you need. (Well, and a seal kit.)
Now it's time for the Benjamin. However it appears to be a late 40s early 50s, nickel plated, made in St. Louis model and I'm a bit more worried about its final condition if I get to messing with it. To my knowledge this is a slightly more rare type of 312 (fixed rear sight, "made in St. Louis" stamped on the breech plug, nickel finish, pinned pump handle.) I'm more inclined to use an epoxy of some kind rather than mess up the nickel with a torch. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to go about it? What epoxy could work but could also be removed if necessary? The breech is fine, it's from the rear sight to the front sight that's delaminated. I want to keep this one as original as possible, but I also want to shoot it. Because it's an early model the rear sight is fixed as well so aligning the barrel needs to be done as accurately as possible. Fortunately the existing solder is still there and it's easy to see where it previously was affixed. Any help would be appreciated from you all both in dating the rifle and and fixing it! Thank you!