MARKHAM-KING

The Markham Air Rifle Company has been credited with the development of the first commercially successful toy BB airgun. Dunathan’s American BB Gun (1971) reported two BB rifles with the Challenger name as the first models made by Markham. However, the gun listed there as an 1886 Challenger actually represents only a single patent model without any markings and almost surely not made by Markham. The second gun, listed as an 1887 Challenger, actually was marked "Challenge" and was made in small numbers, but, again, probably not by Markham. There seems to be no justification for referring to either one under the Challenger name or as Markhams. The Chicago model, which appeared about 1887, made mainly of wood, probably was Markham’s first real model.
The story of how the company grew to producing over 3,000 guns per day in 1916 is one of the great stories of airgun development and production. However, the company did little promotion and eventually was absorbed into the emerging airgun giant, Daisy. The history and models of Markham-King and Daisy became inseparably intertwined for a quarter of a century. Although Daisy ownership began in 1916, the Markham-King models continued for decades and the sub-company gradually became known as King.  In 1928, Daisy officially changed the company name to King. The advent of WWII probably caused Daisy to issue the last King price list on Jan. 1, 1942. Much of the model information in Dunathan’s book has now been superseded, but this pioneering work absolutely is still required reading.
There are many variations of the early Markham air rifles. All minor variations cannot be covered in this guide. Variations may include changes in type or location of sights, location and text of markings, muzzle cap design, etc.
The authors and publisher wish to thank Robert Spielvogel and Dennis Baker for their assistance with this section of the Blue Book of Airguns.
Previous manufacturer located in Plymouth, MI circa 1887-1941. Purchased by Daisy Manufacturing Company in 1916.

MARKHAM-KING Airguns Models

MODEL C (REPEATER) Image

MODEL C (REPEATER)

BB/.180 or .177 in. lead air rifle shot cal., SP, BC, gravity-fed 500 shot storage. Smooth contour Polley patent sheet metal frame wraps around wrist, barrel shroud with step, nickel finish, walnut stock with oval profile and deep crescent...

CHICAGO Image

CHICAGO

- .180 large BB cal., darts, BC, SP, SS, exterior all maple wood with rosewood stain, double cocking rods pass through the stock. Stock stamped: "Chicago Air Rifle – Markham's Patent" on two lines. 9.8 in. brass barrel liner. 32 i...

1890 KING Image

1890 KING

-.180 large BB cal.,darts, BC, SP, SS, cast iron frame, brass barrel, screw-on muzzle cap, button barrel release on side of receiver, nickel finish. "KING" cast in grip frame, 31 in. OAL. Mfg. circa 1890-1893.

MODEL C (SINGLE SHOT) Image

MODEL C (SINGLE SHOT)

- BB/.180 or .177 lead air rifle shot cal., SP, BC, SS, smooth contour Polley patent sheet metal frame wraps around wrist, barrel shroud with step, nickel finish, walnut stock with oval profile and deep crescent butt, domed muzzle cap allow...

1892 KING Image

1892 KING

- .180 large BB cal., darts, BC, SP, SS, sheet metal frame, brass barrel, screw-on muzzle cap, barrel release button on side of receiver, flat sided stock with oval King logo, 31 in. OAL. Mfg. circa 1892.

MODEL D (REPEATER) Image

MODEL D (REPEATER)

BB/.180 or .177 in. lead air rifle shot cal., SP, BC, 350 shot gravity-fed magazine, 9.5 in. barrel, barrel tube removes to load, shot tube with oval cap, smooth contour Polley patent sheet metal frame wraps around wrist, barrel shroud with...

1896 NEW KING SINGLE SHOT  Image

1896 NEW KING SINGLE SHOT

.180 large BB cal., darts, BC, SP, SS, sheet metal frame, sheet metal barrel shroud, metal patch soldered over seam under shroud, muzzle cap over barrel shroud. Red stained stock stamped: "New King Patent Number 483159" in oval lo...

MODEL D (SINGLE SHOT) Image

MODEL D (SINGLE SHOT)

- BB/.180 caliber or .177 in. lead air rifle shot cal., SP, BC, muzzle loading SS, 9.5 in. barrel, barrel tube retained by spring clip, muzzle cap not removable, smooth contour Polley patent sheet metal frame wraps around wrist, barrel shro...

1896 NEW KING REPEATER Image

1896 NEW KING REPEATER

.180 large BB cal., BC, SP, sheet metal frame, 150 shot magazine, domed muzzle cap lever allows BBs to be fed one by one from magazine to shot tube. Barrel release button on top of frame. Soldered patch under full length of barrel shroud. S...

MODEL E (REPEATER) Image

MODEL E (REPEATER)

- .180 large BB cal., darts, BC, SP, Model D frame with straight (no step down) Prince type barrel, muzzle lever repeater, gravity-fed, smooth profile (Polley Patent) sheet metal frame, sheet metal barrel shroud, full length solder patch, w...

1900 NEW KING SINGLE SHOT  Image

1900 NEW KING SINGLE SHOT

.180 large BB cal., darts, BC, SP, SS, first use of "friction latch barrel": a section of rear frame snaps over raised part of trigger guard part of frame – holding gun together by friction; this replaced barrel release button of...

NUMBER 1 Image

NUMBER 1

.180 large BB cal., darts, BC, SP, SS, similar to Model D, removable shot tube, barrel marked "KING NO. 1", 31 in. OAL. Mfg. 1910-1914.

1900 PRINCE SINGLE SHOT  Image

1900 PRINCE SINGLE SHOT

- .180 large BB cal., darts, BC, SP, SS, sheet metal frame, sheet metal barrel shroud, friction barrel latch, marked "Prince", nickel finish, no trigger guard, walnut stock with oval profile, crescent butt. Ref: AR4. (Sears Roebuc...

NUMBER 2 Image

NUMBER 2

.180 large BB cal., darts, BC, SP, 350 shot repeater, loading port below front sight, side of grip stamped "KING 350 SHOT NO. 2", 31 in. OAL. Mfg. 1910-1914.

NUMBER 4 Image

NUMBER 4

.177 lead air rifle shot cal., SP, lever action, gravity-fed 500 shot magazine, one-piece sheet metal frame and half-round, half-octagonal barrel shroud, frame with scroll stamping "King 500 Shot" with Markham address and patent d...

NUMBER 5 LEVER ACTION  Image

NUMBER 5 LEVER ACTION

.177 lead air rifle shot cal., SP, LA, gravity-fed 1000 shot magazine, one-piece sheet metal frame and half-round, half-octagonal barrel shroud, blue or nickel finish, walnut stock with deep crescent butt, 36 in. OAL, 2.5 lbs. Mfg. circa 19...

1900 PRINCE (TRIGGER GUARD MODEL) Image

1900 PRINCE (TRIGGER GUARD MODEL)

.180 large BB cal., darts, BC, SP, SS, sheet metal frame wraps completely around wrist, sheet metal barrel shroud, separate sheet metal trigger guard. Variant: Marked "Boy's Own", premium gun. Mfg. circa 1900-1907.

1900 QUEEN Image

1900 QUEEN

.180 large BB cal., darts, BBC, SP, SS, removable pins were substituted for rivets to allow gun to be taken down to three pieces, no trigger guard, similar to 1900 Prince Single Shot, circular markings on wrist: "Markham Air Rifle Co....

1903 NEW KING SINGLE SHOT Image

1903 NEW KING SINGLE SHOT

.180 large BB cal., darts, BC, SP, SS, friction barrel latch, fixed muzzle cap within barrel shroud, stamped "New King" on one side and patent dates on other side of slab sided stock, nickel plated, 31 in. OAL. Mfg. circa 1903-190...

1904 SINGLE SHOT Image

1904 SINGLE SHOT

.180 in. large BB cal., BBC, SP, SS, friction barrel latch, domed muzzle cap with sight. Patch under barrel shroud. Slab sided stock marked "King Markham Air Rifle Co." Later versions with oval shaped stocks, without markings. Ear...

NUMBER 5B SPECIAL LEVER ACTION  Image

NUMBER 5B SPECIAL LEVER ACTION

- .177 lead air rifle shot cal., SP, lever action, gravity-fed magazine, one-piece sheet metal frame and half-round, half-octagonal barrel shroud, frame with scroll stamping "King 1000 Shot" with Markham address and patent dates,...

1904 REPEATER Image

1904 REPEATER

- .180 large BB cal., BBC, SP, friction barrel latch, spring release at muzzle like 1896 New King Repeater. Later versions had oval-shaped stocks without markings. Mfg. circa 1904.

NUMBER 5 SLIDE ACTION Image

NUMBER 5 SLIDE ACTION

- .177 lead air rifle shot cal., SP, sixty-shot gravity-fed magazine, six-groove wooden cocking slide, pistol grip stock, 36 in. OAL (same design used by Daisy for Daisy No. 105 Junior Pump Gun and Daisy No. 107 Buck Jones Special). Mfg. 19...

NUMBER 10 JUNIOR Image

NUMBER 10 JUNIOR

- .177 air rifle shot cal., SP, BC, SS, sheet metal frame, flat sided walnut stock with crescent butt. Cast iron trigger guard (E.S. Roe patent) extends into wrist and provides cocking action fulcrum. Nickel or blued finish. 29 in. OAL. Var...

NUMBER 11 JUNIOR (THREE IN ONE GUN) Image

NUMBER 11 JUNIOR (THREE IN ONE GUN)

.177 air rifle shot or darts cal., or corks fired with shot tube removed, SP, BC, SS, sheet metal frame and straight one-piece barrel shroud, flat-sided walnut stock with crescent butt, cast iron trigger guard (E.S. Roe patent) extends into...

NUMBER 17 BREECH LOADER Image

NUMBER 17 BREECH LOADER

.177 lead air rifle shot or darts cal., SP, SS, 12 in. barrel, sheet metal frame and barrel shroud, blued finish, BC action with two external cocking rods similar to Chicago Model, 31 in. OAL. Mfg. circa 1917-1932.

NUMBER 21 SINGLE SHOT Image

NUMBER 21 SINGLE SHOT

.177 lead air rifle shot or darts cal., SP, SS, removable shot tube, lever action, cast iron lever, sheet metal frame and barrel shroud, blue or nickel finish, "NO. 21, KING MANUFACTURING Co., PLYMOUTH, MICH., SINGLE SHOT" plus pa...

MODEL 21-33 SINGLE SHOT Image

MODEL 21-33 SINGLE SHOT

.177 lead air rifle shot or darts cal., SP, SS, removable shot tube, lever action, cast iron lever, sheet metal frame and barrel shroud, blue finish. Barrel marked "KING MFG. CO" and with Markham address, 31 in. OAL. Mfg. circa 19...

NUMBER 21-36 SINGLE SHOT Image

NUMBER 21-36 SINGLE SHOT

.177 air rifle shot cal., SP, SS, cast iron cocking lever, sheet metal frame and barrel shroud, removable shot tube, blued finish, straight grip stock, 32 in. OAL. Mfg. circa 1936-1941.

NUMBER 22 REPEATER Image

NUMBER 22 REPEATER

.177 inch air rifle shot cal., SP, same as Number 21 gun but with 500 shot gravity-fed magazine repeater, lever action, cast iron lever, sheet metal frame and barrel shroud, blue or nickel finish, Markham address on barrel, loading port bel...

NUMBER 22-33 REPEATER Image

NUMBER 22-33 REPEATER

.177 air rifle shot cal., SP, 500 shot gravity-fed magazine repeater, lever action, cast iron lever, sheet metal frame and barrel shroud, blue finish. Marked "King", Markham address on barrel, loading port on RH side, 32 in. OAL. ...

NUMBER 22-36 500 SHOT REPEATER Image

NUMBER 22-36 500 SHOT REPEATER

.177 lead air rifle shot cal., SP, lever action, gravity-fed magazine, one-piece sheet metal frame and barrel shroud, cast iron lever, blued finish, straight grip wood stock, Daisy design influence, replaced King Number 22-33, 32 in. OAL. M...

NUMBER 23 KADET ARMY Image

NUMBER 23 KADET ARMY

.177 air rifle shot cal., SP, gravity-fed 500 shot magazine repeater, lever action, cast iron lever, sheet metal frame and barrel shroud, nickel finish, frame marked "King Kadet", Markham address on barrel, military type rear sigh...

NUMBER 24 NEW CHICAGO Image

NUMBER 24 NEW CHICAGO

.177 lead air rifle shot or darts cal., SP, SS, BC. Barrel marked "New Chicago Number 24" and Markham address, bolt action locking device, blued finish, 36 in. OAL. Mfg. 1917 only. Ref: AR 2.

NUMBER 55 REPEATER Image

NUMBER 55 REPEATER

.177 lead air rifle shot or .174 in. steel BB cal., SP, lever action, gravity-fed 1000 shot magazine, one-piece sheet metal frame and barrel shroud, cast iron lever, blued finish. Markham address on top of barrel. Variation one: straight wa...

NUMBER 55-32 SINGLE SHOT Image

NUMBER 55-32 SINGLE SHOT

.177 lead air rifle shot or 174 in. steel BB cal., SP, lever action, one-piece sheet metal frame and barrel shroud, cast iron lever, blued finish, pistol grip wood stock, used Number 55 frame, loading port LH side, 35 in. OAL. Mfg. 1932 onl...

NUMBER 55-33 1000 SHOT REPEATER Image

NUMBER 55-33 1000 SHOT REPEATER

.174 steel BB cal., SP, lever action, 1,000 shot gravity feed magazine, new frame with Daisy-type spring anchor and rear sight, straight grip stock, blued finish, 35 in. OAL. Mfg. 1933-1935.

NUMBER 55-36 1000 SHOT REPEATER Image

NUMBER 55-36 1000 SHOT REPEATER

- BB/.174 cal., SP, lever action gravity-fed magazine, one-piece sheet metal frame and barrel shroud, cast iron lever, blued finish, pistol grip wood stock, Daisy design influence, similar to Daisy Red Ryder and Number 155, 36 in. OAL. Mfg....