Benjamin Dates
Benjamin Dates
Compiled by John Groenewold from information received at the Benjamin Sheridan Factory in Racine, WI.
Serial number information on Benjamin airguns is very limited. For models not listed below the reader is referred to The Blue Book of Airguns, the latest edition to find the years a particular model was sold.
While Benjamin was in St. Louis and Racine, no attempt was made to keep track of individual model serial numbers. It appears that serial numbers were not applied to any models prior to the end of World War II (1945). The serial numbers were applied in numerical order, regardless of the caliber for the models 130, 132, 127, 310, 312, 317, 340, 342, and 347. These models were introduced during or at the end of World War II. From the available records, Benjamin began using serial numbers sometime during 1957.
Benjamin model 130, 132, and 137.
YEAR SERIAL NUMBERS
1957 B26700-B33594
1958 B33595-B38400
1959 B38401-B42600
1960 B42601-B47500
1961 B47501-B51373
1962 B51374-B59909
1963 B59910-B63488
1964 B63489-B69742
1965 B69743-B76724
1966 B76725-B84513
1967 B84514-B98875
1968 B98876-B101066
1969 B101067-B111600
1970 B111601-B124412
1971 B124413-B136150
1972 B136151-B150253
1973 B150254-B163506
1974 B163507-B173056
1975 B173057-B184971
1976 B184972-B196617
1977 B196618-B212269
1978 B212270-B229880
1979 B229881-B248722
1980 B248723-B275215
1981 B275216-B279600
1982 B279601-B281000
1983 B281001
Benjamin 310, 312, and 317
YEAR SERIAL NUMBERS
1957 H59440-H87277
1958 H87278-H109211
1959 H109212-H140087
1960 H140088-H160864
1961 H160865-H180815
1962 H180816-H210925
1963 H210926-H244653
1964 H244654-H280935
1965 H280936-H304704
1966 H304705-H329614
1967 H329615-H361783
1968 H361784-H364750 Thru 1974.
Benjamin 340, 342, and 347
YEAR SERIAL NUMBERS
1968 T1000-T5529
1969 T5530-T61352
1970 T61353-T90263
1971 T90264-T113966
1972 T113967-T149534
1973 T149535-T180939
1974 T180940-T210499
1975 T210450*- T247651
1976 T247652-T278399
1977 T278400 -T298241
1978 T298242-T326699
1979 T326700-T359568
1980 T359569-T379500
1981 T379500-T426305*
1982 T425305*-T430000 End of production at St. Louis, MO. Last number is an estimate.
by Dennis Smith, Plant Manager.
Aug. 2, 1982, 100001 109420 Production began in Racine, WI
YEAR SERIAL NUMBER
1983 109421-131130
1984 131131-159640
1985 159641-178080
1986 178081 End of record.
*This is not a typo; it is the info provided by the factory.
Crosman acquired the Benjamin/Sheridan Company in February 1992. After May 1995 all Benjamin’s were made at the Crosman Factory in New York and followed Crosman’s serial number procedure at that time.