Crosman Air Pistol Owners Forum

Crosman air pistol - General => Crosman air pistol - General discussion => Topic started by: Cowray on May 11, 2012, 03:45:15 PM

Title: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: Cowray on May 11, 2012, 03:45:15 PM
Sorry about the crappy phone picture but I had to show off my newest toy. Got it last night. Only shot it once, but it is very cool.

[attachment deleted by forum software]
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: breakfastchef on May 11, 2012, 03:55:00 PM
Nice find. Let us know how it shoots after you have time to put a tin through it. I have read very mixed reviews on this pistol.
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: sandpiper on May 11, 2012, 03:57:12 PM
Nice find, have fun with it.
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: cmj21973 on May 11, 2012, 04:00:41 PM
Mind if I ask how much it was?
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: arkmaker † on May 11, 2012, 04:05:36 PM
I've always like those pistolas!! Happy shooting. Let's see if you can hold it straight in a few of the monthly comps!! I don;t think we have had any Skanaker comps shot yet that I can remember..............GO 4 IT

Rich
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: BDS on May 11, 2012, 04:10:26 PM
Skanaker, Crosmans attempt at Olympic class shooting, and many were excellent pistols.

If it's a good one, it will likely out-shoot your capabilities (one hole at 10 meters) I know it would for me! ;)
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: Cowray on May 11, 2012, 05:10:25 PM
What makes a bad one?
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: breakfastchef on May 11, 2012, 06:43:42 PM
Quote from: Cowray on May 11, 2012, 05:10:25 PM
What makes a bad one?

The cons of the Skanaker I have read about on the Internet...

It is loud
It shoots a bit too hard (600fps) causing some degree of recoil. Not what one wants in Olympic competition
The barrel has to be moved to reload every shot which could, in theory, cause accuracy issues
The trigger was not on par with the competition (i.e. FWB or Walther)
The adjustable grips sometimes did not fit the shooters hand well
Many leaking cylinders
Rear seal popping out of the gun and the lever not locking the barrel down tight enough
And, today, parts availability are pretty slim to non-existant

Mac1 used to do modifications of the Skanaker with a longer barrel and in .22 for field target. If you have any problems or questions, perhaps Tim would be the guy to call.
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: arkmaker † on May 11, 2012, 06:56:25 PM
Does anyone know where the name came from or what it means??  ???

I can't even say it, never mind tell you  :D
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: 1377x on May 11, 2012, 07:09:52 PM
congrats!
nice looking shooter!
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: BDS on May 11, 2012, 07:31:03 PM
Quote from: arkmaker on May 11, 2012, 06:56:25 PM
Does anyone know where the name came from or what it means??  ???

I can't even say it, never mind tell you  :D

Ragnar Skanaker was a Swedish Olympic shooter waaaay back in the day. He helped develop some of the "oddities" we now see as std on many Olympic style pistols.
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: breakfastchef on May 11, 2012, 07:32:24 PM
Quote from: arkmaker on May 11, 2012, 06:56:25 PM
Does anyone know where the name came from or what it means??  ???

I can't even say it, never mind tell you  :D

The pistol was named after Swedish free-pistol champion, Ragnar Skanaker, from the late 80's. I assume he must have had input into the design and features.
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: cmj21973 on May 11, 2012, 07:34:13 PM
Quote from: arkmaker on May 11, 2012, 06:56:25 PM
Does anyone know where the name came from or what it means??  ???

I can't even say it, never mind tell you  :D


Ragnar Skanåker
http://www.shootingwiki.org/index.php?title=Ragnar_Skan%C3%A5ker (http://www.shootingwiki.org/index.php?title=Ragnar_Skan%C3%A5ker)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragnar_Skan%C3%A5ker (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ragnar_Skan%C3%A5ker)

Here you go.
http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2006/03/skanaker-crosman-pistol-you-may-never.html (http://www.pyramydair.com/blog/2006/03/skanaker-crosman-pistol-you-may-never.html)
http://www.crosman.com/pdf/manuals/crosman/88/C88-OM.pdf (http://www.crosman.com/pdf/manuals/crosman/88/C88-OM.pdf)
http://www.crosman.com/pdf/manuals/crosman/88/C88-EVP.pdf (http://www.crosman.com/pdf/manuals/crosman/88/C88-EVP.pdf)
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: Cowray on May 11, 2012, 08:10:41 PM
Quote from: cmj21973 on May 11, 2012, 04:00:41 PM
Mind if I ask how much it was?

$325.00
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: 1377x on May 11, 2012, 08:13:57 PM
Quote from: Cowray on May 11, 2012, 08:10:41 PM
$325.00
not bad!
i have seen them going for more!
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: cmj21973 on May 11, 2012, 08:54:35 PM
Not bad at all, for that price. :-*

Have fun with it!
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: BDS on May 11, 2012, 09:18:48 PM
Rule #1, don't believe everything you read on the internet, including a long lists of "cons" about your pistol.

I have known 2 fellas (years back) who had owned these pistols and they really liked them. No, they are not a Steyr or Anschutz with the most modern era design but... compared to the high production air pistols most of us shoot, the triggers don't need grinding  :o and new axle pins and the sights actually work like, well...real sights! ;) ;D Also, with patience and some reasonable woodworking skills, you can re-form the pistol grips to more closely resemble your grip and hold requirements, there is  a lot of wood there to work with and adjustability too.

Even if Tim McMurray no longer works on these pistols, he is a fountain of info if you can nail him down for 5 minutes or so. Put together a short list of questions, some good photos, serial number and send an email or even snail mail to Tim in L.A. He will get back to you, he loves this stuff.
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: Cowray on May 11, 2012, 10:29:12 PM
Quote from: BDS on May 11, 2012, 09:18:48 PM
Rule #1, don't believe everything you read on the internet, including a long lists of "cons" about your pistol.

I have known 2 fellas (years back) who had owned these pistols and they really liked them. No, they are not a Steyr or Anschutz with the most modern era design but... compared to the high production air pistols most of us shoot, the triggers don't need grinding  :o and new axle pins and the sights actually work like, well...real sights! ;) ;D Also, with patience and some reasonable woodworking skills, you can re-form the pistol grips to more closely resemble your grip and hold requirements, there is  a lot of wood there to work with and adjustability too.

Even if Tim McMurray no longer works on these pistols, he is a fountain of info if you can nail him down for 5 minutes or so. Put together a short list of questions, some good photos, serial number and send an email or even snail mail to Tim in L.A. He will get back to you, he loves this stuff.

I spent about 45 minutes on the phone with Tim about a month ago, when I started looking at these. Very interesting guy. He knows these things well. He said he wouldn't buy one for someone in serious competition because there are limited parts and it could take time to get one fixed. I'll probably do 1-2 matches a year with it at most, so it is perfect for me.

I wouldn't buy this for my son because he shoots like crazy. Probably 2000-2500 rounds through his gun and 8 matches since the first of the year.

I also like shooting a C02 guns because so many people say you need PCP to be competitive. I'm an engineer, I understand the issues with C02, its limitations and it benefits. I kind of like competing with something different than everyone is using.
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: quickster47 † on May 11, 2012, 10:59:39 PM
Who cares about the price, that a great gun and a great piece of Crosman history.

Carl
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: BDS on May 11, 2012, 11:34:59 PM
Quote from: Cowray on May 11, 2012, 10:29:12 PM
I spent about 45 minutes on the phone with Tim about a month ago, when I started looking at these. Very interesting guy. He knows these things well. He said he wouldn't buy one for someone in serious competition because there are limited parts and it could take time to get one fixed. I'll probably do 1-2 matches a year with it at most, so it is perfect for me.

I wouldn't buy this for my son because he shoots like crazy. Probably 2000-2500 rounds through his gun and 8 matches since the first of the year.

I also like shooting a C02 guns because so many people say you need PCP to be competitive. I'm an engineer, I understand the issues with C02, its limitations and it benefits. I kind of like competing with something different than everyone is using.

Good deal, Tim's a character and a living historian of Crosman stuff :-* ... same here, mech engineer, and co2 is fine for the window or operating range it is most efficient in. Before PCP (air) became so popular, the high-end Anschutz, Walther and Steyr co2 pistols were shooting one-hole, 10 meter olympic matches all day long, so well in fact, that they were part of the influence to reduce target sizes and scoring ring sizes due to the tremendous accuracy of those near zero recoil pistols and the shooters that mastered them.  :)
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: cmj21973 on May 12, 2012, 03:42:47 AM
Quote from: quickster47 on May 11, 2012, 10:59:39 PM
Who cares about the price, that a great gun and a great piece of Crosman history.

Carl

I do he decides to sell it down the road! ;D :-*

Highly unlikely though. :(
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: Cowray on May 14, 2012, 05:43:00 PM
I cleaned up the Skanaker and refinished the grip. It looks new. I am getting my co2 bottle filled today, should be shooting this evening, if all goes well.

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Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: KevinP on May 14, 2012, 06:57:44 PM
Man ... That looks nice ... :-*
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: quickster47 † on May 14, 2012, 07:04:26 PM
Great clean up job.

Carl
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: BDS on May 14, 2012, 07:29:50 PM
Quote from: Cowray on May 14, 2012, 05:43:00 PM
I cleaned up the Skanaker and refinished the grip. It looks new. I am getting my co2 bottle filled today, should be shooting this evening, if all goes well.

Yup, looks good. How are you filling your co2?
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: Cowray on May 14, 2012, 08:30:11 PM
Quote from: BDS on May 14, 2012, 07:29:50 PM
Yup, looks good. How are you filling your co2?

The Skanaker came from the factory with a fill kit. You screw the adapter on the tank valve on your co2 tank, screw the gun cylinder into the adapter, open the tank valve, and check the weight. Each gun cylinder (it came with two) holds 40 grams. I have a 5 lb co2 tank being filled right now.
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: breakfastchef on May 14, 2012, 09:35:24 PM
Is this pistol purely for one-hand shooting only? I am not versed on target comp pistols, but the grips look like they would only be one-hand friendly.
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: quickster47 † on May 14, 2012, 09:57:53 PM
Quote from: breakfastchef on May 14, 2012, 09:35:24 PM
Is this pistol purely for one-hand shooting only? I am not versed on target comp pistols, but the grips look like they would only be one-hand friendly.

Yep. Most match target pistols are single hand as that is only what the rules allow.

Carl
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: Cowray on May 15, 2012, 01:00:46 AM
Quote from: breakfastchef on May 14, 2012, 09:35:24 PM
Is this pistol purely for one-hand shooting only? I am not versed on target comp pistols, but the grips look like they would only be one-hand friendly.

It's designed for olympic style, also called international style, which is one handed. It's fun but difficult.
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: arkmaker † on May 15, 2012, 01:12:31 AM
She do look sweet! Show us some shot up targets and numbers when you get a chance. Always good to see the results of a nice gun!!
Title: Re: Got a new (to me) Crosman 88 Skanaker
Post by: Cowray on May 15, 2012, 01:48:21 AM
Quote from: arkmaker on May 15, 2012, 01:12:31 AM
She do look sweet! Show us some shot up targets and numbers when you get a chance. Always good to see the results of a nice gun!!

Will do.