What is likely the most-famous BB gun ever made — the Daisy Red Ryder — will be reissued in 2020 as a special-edition commemorative to celebrate its 80th anniversary.
According to a Daisy release, the special edition will feature “engraving on the forearm and a commemorative medallion in the stock, in addition to all of the features that made this gun the all-time No. 1 American Christmas present.”
Daisy introduced the Red Ryder air rifle in 1940 with a wood stock and forearm, sturdy lever action, a saddle ring and a real leather thong.
The Daisy Model 1938 Red Ryder has remained mostly unchanged for 80 years — there have been a few cosmetic changes, a couple internal improvements, and a tiny bit of tinkering for performance, but I would be hard put to point out the changes.
Many shooters learned some sophisticated lifetime lessons with Red Ryders:
- Because the copper-coated BBs were visible in daylight, it was possible to see the curved trajectory of the projectile and understand how much holdover was necessary to hit a floating battleship in a pond.
- It was easy to see the relationship (or lack of) between point of aim with the open sights and point of impact on the target.
- Because the Red Ryder was easy to cock, the young shooter could keep the rifle up and on target as he or she cycled the action.
What’s your best Red Ryder memory? Please share it in the comments section below.