DIANA MODEL 1
- .177 cal., BBC, SP, SS, similar to pre-WWII German Diana Model 1, removable smoothbore barrel, tinplate construction. Mfg. circa 1949-1959.
MILBRO
The name Milbro is derived from "Millard Brothers," a family owned business founded in 1887; apparently the senior figure was David W. Millard.
Milbro began producing airguns in 1949, using machinery and equipment taken as WWII war reparations from the Mayer and Grammelspacher Company (DIANAWERK) in Rastatt, Germany in 1945. Milbro also received the brand name DIANA and even the Diana logo showing the goddess of hunting, Diana, discarding her bow and arrow in favor of an airgun, held high above her head. This resulted in today’s collectors having both German and British airguns bearing the Diana name and logo! In 1950, DIANAWERK again began the production of airguns in their old factory in Rastatt. They were forced to use names other than "Diana." Within Germany the Dianawerk airguns were sold as "Original." The brand "Original Diana" was used for Dianawerk guns in England. Dianawerk repurchased their trademark in 1984 after Milbro ceased airgun production. After 1984, all Diana airguns were again made in Rastatt, Germany (see Dianawerk section). For greater detail on this aspect, see DIANAWERK in the D section of this book.
Milbro produced airguns under both their own name and the acquired Diana brand. Most of these guns were close copies of the German pre-war models; many bore the same model number as their German pre-war siblings. Meanwhile Dianawerk in Germany had resumed production of some of the same models under the same model numbers (but under the Original or Original Diana labels); some with modifications or improvements! Milbro made airguns for other firms in the shooting trade including Umarex in Germany, Daisy in the USA, and Webley & Scott and Phoenix Arms in England. The Webley Jaguar was manufactured by Milbro and the virtually identical Webley Junior may also have been a Milbro product. Some of the Milbro airguns did not bear the Diana name, but were marked "Milbro Foreign" which indicates that they may have been made for Milbro of Scotland by Dianawerk in Germany in the pre-WWII period when German markings were not in favor in England.
Milbro was sold in 1970 to Grampian Holdings who also owned businesses making fishing tackle, golf clubs, and other items. During the mid-1970s, Milbro sold airguns to mail order catalog retailers. By 1982, despite the advantage of the famous old Diana trademark, Milbro, using Dianawerk´s old machinery and materials, had ceased making airguns. The machinery was sold to El Gamo. Some remaining guns were sold to a Swiss firm for mail order sales.
Milbro began making airgun pellets in 1950. The pellet business was sold to former Milbro employee Jim Mark. Milbro pellets, under the names of Caledonian, Jet, Rhino, Clipper, Match, and TR are still made in Motherwell, Scotland.
The authors and publisher wish to thank Tim Saunders and Jim Mark for their valuable assistance with the following information in this section of the Blue Book of Airguns. Ref.: Dennis Hiller´s British based The Collectors´ Guide to Air Rifles and The Collectors’ Guide to Air Pistols. Much of the following is based on those books. Additional information is actively sought from readers; direct info to [email protected].
Milbro began producing airguns in 1949, using machinery and equipment taken as WWII war reparations from the Mayer and Grammelspacher Company (DIANAWERK) in Rastatt, Germany in 1945. Milbro also received the brand name DIANA and even the Diana logo showing the goddess of hunting, Diana, discarding her bow and arrow in favor of an airgun, held high above her head. This resulted in today’s collectors having both German and British airguns bearing the Diana name and logo! In 1950, DIANAWERK again began the production of airguns in their old factory in Rastatt. They were forced to use names other than "Diana." Within Germany the Dianawerk airguns were sold as "Original." The brand "Original Diana" was used for Dianawerk guns in England. Dianawerk repurchased their trademark in 1984 after Milbro ceased airgun production. After 1984, all Diana airguns were again made in Rastatt, Germany (see Dianawerk section). For greater detail on this aspect, see DIANAWERK in the D section of this book.
Milbro produced airguns under both their own name and the acquired Diana brand. Most of these guns were close copies of the German pre-war models; many bore the same model number as their German pre-war siblings. Meanwhile Dianawerk in Germany had resumed production of some of the same models under the same model numbers (but under the Original or Original Diana labels); some with modifications or improvements! Milbro made airguns for other firms in the shooting trade including Umarex in Germany, Daisy in the USA, and Webley & Scott and Phoenix Arms in England. The Webley Jaguar was manufactured by Milbro and the virtually identical Webley Junior may also have been a Milbro product. Some of the Milbro airguns did not bear the Diana name, but were marked "Milbro Foreign" which indicates that they may have been made for Milbro of Scotland by Dianawerk in Germany in the pre-WWII period when German markings were not in favor in England.
Milbro was sold in 1970 to Grampian Holdings who also owned businesses making fishing tackle, golf clubs, and other items. During the mid-1970s, Milbro sold airguns to mail order catalog retailers. By 1982, despite the advantage of the famous old Diana trademark, Milbro, using Dianawerk´s old machinery and materials, had ceased making airguns. The machinery was sold to El Gamo. Some remaining guns were sold to a Swiss firm for mail order sales.
Milbro began making airgun pellets in 1950. The pellet business was sold to former Milbro employee Jim Mark. Milbro pellets, under the names of Caledonian, Jet, Rhino, Clipper, Match, and TR are still made in Motherwell, Scotland.
The authors and publisher wish to thank Tim Saunders and Jim Mark for their valuable assistance with the following information in this section of the Blue Book of Airguns. Ref.: Dennis Hiller´s British based The Collectors´ Guide to Air Rifles and The Collectors’ Guide to Air Pistols. Much of the following is based on those books. Additional information is actively sought from readers; direct info to [email protected].
Previous trade name of Millard Brothers located in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland.
MILBRO Airguns Models
DIANA G2
.177 cal., pellets or darts, SP, SS, derived from German Diana Model 2, except has black or nickel finish, two-piece black plastic grips, "GAT" style push-barrel cocking. Mfg. 1965-1982.
DIANA MODEL 2
.177 cal., pellets or darts, SP, SS, "GAT" style push-barrel cocking, black or nickel finish, similar to German Diana Model 2 push-barrel pistol, except with wood grips. Mfg. 1949-1965.
DIANA MODEL 15
.177 cal., BBC, SP, SS, similar to pre-WWII German Diana Model 1, tinplate construction, smoothbore barrel. Mfg. 1950s–1980.
MILBRO MK II
.177 cal., SP, TL, SS, based on 1937 patent of German Em-Ge Zenit, single stage trigger, one-piece wooden stock, 11 in. OAL, 1.5 lbs.
DIANA MODEL 16
.177 cal., BBC, SP, SS, similar to pre-WWII German Diana Model 16, tinplate construction, smoothbore barrel, later models with scope ramp spot welded to body cylinder. Mfg. late 1940s-1974.
DIANA MK II (G4)
.177 cal., SP, TL, SS, based on 1937 patent of German Em-Ge Zenit, single stage trigger, one-piece wooden stock with medallion of Diana logo or Diana name, 11 in. OAL, 1.5 lbs.
DIANA MODEL 22
.177 cal., BBC, SP, SS, similar to pre-WWII German Diana Model 22, tinplate construction, smoothbore barrel. Mfg. late 1940s-early 1970s.
MILBRO CUB
2.41mm lead balls (No.7 lead birdshot) cal., fired by a quick squeeze on the rubber bulb in the grip, gravity feed 500 shot magazine, one-piece cast alloy construction; no moving parts, purple anodized finish or polished zinc alloy. Mfg. be...
MILBRO MODEL 22
- .177 cal., BBC, SP, SS, similar to English Diana Model 22, tinplate construction, smoothbore barrel, recognizable by sweeping curve of stock up behind rear of cylinder. Mfg. late 1940s to early 1970s.
MILBRO G10
- .177 cal., SP, slide pulls to load and cock, 20 shot repeater with BBs, SS with pellets or darts, may be various finishes, markings, and accessories. Mfg. 1952-1982.
DIANA MODEL 23
- .177 cal., BBC, SP, SS, similar to pre-WWII German Diana Model 23, solid barrel version of Model 22, 37 in. OAL. Mfg. late 1940s to approx. 1960.
DIANA SP50
- .177 cal., SP, SS, push barrel design, 400 FPS, styled like an automatic pistol, cast alloy frame, darts or pellets loaded at the rear, sold in polystyrene cartons complete with packets of .177 darts and pellets. Mfg. 1970s-1982. 7 in. O...
MILBRO G23
- .177 cal., BBC, SP, SS, similar to English Diana Model 23, 37 in. OAL, 3.5 lbs. Mfg. circa 1970s.
MILBRO COUGAR
- .177 or .22 cal., SP, BBC, SS, similar to BSA Scorpion, grips and barrel pivot cover plates of simulated wood, blue steel body tube and barrel, black finished cast metal receiver, 18.5 in. OAL. Mfg. 1978-1982.
DIANA 25
- .177 or .22 cal., BBC, SP, SS, similar to pre-WWII German Diana Model 25, rifled or smoothbore, 38.3 in. OAL, 5 lbs.
DIANA COMET
.177 or .22 cal., BBC, SP, SS, kit version, similar to pre-WWII German Diana Model 25. Mfg. early 1960s-1963.
MILBRO BLACK MAJOR
.177 or .22 cal., SP, BBC, SS, similar to Milbro Cougar, except has skeletal shoulder stock, reflector sight system. Mfg. 1981-1982.
DIANA G25
.177 or .22 cal., BBC, SP, SS, similar to English Diana Model 25, 38 in. OAL, 5 lbs. Mfg. 1963-1966.
MILBRO TYPHOON
.177 cal., push-barrel, aluminum pistol, similar to Harrington "GAT", beech grip, 6.8 in. OAL. Mfg. 1950s-disc.
DIANA 27
.177 or .22 cal., BBC, SP, SS, similar to pre-WWII German Diana Model 27, smoothbore or rifled barrel, 5.8 lbs. Mfg. circa 1950s-1963.
DIANA G27
.177 cal., smoothbore/rifled barrel, .22 rifled cal., similar to English Diana 27, except with manual safety (early production may lack safety), 41.5 in. OAL, 5.9 lbs. Mfg. circa 1963-1967.
DIANA G36
.177 or .22 cal. BBC, SP, SS, manual safety, 41.5 in. OAL, Mfg. 1966-early 1970s.
DIANA G44 (TARGETMASTER)
- .177 or .22 cal., BBC, SP, SS, similar to British Diana Model 25, rifled or smoothbore, manual safety, aperture sight, 42 in. OAL, 6.3 lbs. Mfg. circa 1967-early 1970s.
DIANA G46 (TARGETMASTER)
- .177 or .22 cal., BBC, SP, SS, similar to British Diana Model 27, rifled or smoothbore in .177 cal., rifled only in .22 cal., aperture sight, manual safety. Mfg. circa 1967-early 1970s.
DIANA 55/G55
- .177 or .22 cal., UL, SP, SS, similar to German Original Model 50, faucet tap loading, 42 in. OAL, 7.2 lbs. Mfg. circa late 1950s-early 1960s.
DIANA SERIES 70
- .177 or .22 cal., BBC, SP, SS. Mfg. circa 1971-1980s.
Model 71
.177 cal., BBC, SP, SS, rear manual safety, deluxe Monte Carlo stock with white line buttpad, checkering, barrel with outer sleeve, 42.8 in. OAL. Mfg. circa 1971-1982.
Model 74 (G74)
- .177 cal., BBC, SP, SS, similar to German Original Model 16 except improved stock, tinplate construction, smoothbore barrel, 32.5 in. OAL, 3 lbs. Mfg. early 1970s-late 1970s.
Model 75
- .177 cal., BBC, SP, SS, similar to Diana Series 70, Model 74 except rifled barrel, tinplate construction, 32.5 in. OAL, 3 lbs. Mfg. circa 1980-1982.
Model 76
- .177 or .22 cal., BBC, SP, SS, semi-tinplate construction, rifled barrel, 400/300 FPS, 37 in. OAL, 5.3 lbs. Mfg. circa 1972-1980s.
Model 77
- .177 or .22 cal., BBC, SP, SS, rifled barrel, 400/300 FPS, 38.5 in. OAL, 6 lbs. Mfg. circa 1972-1980s.
Model 78 (Standard)/Model 79 (Deluxe)
.177 cal., BBC, SP, SS, manual safety on side, 38.5 in. OAL. Mfg. circa 1978-1980s.
DIANA G80
- .177 or .22 cal., BBC, SP, SS, 625/500 FPS, sloping forearm as of 1980, 42 in. OAL, 6.8 lbs. Mfg. early 1977-1982.
DIANA G85 (BOBCAT)
- .177 cal., BBC, SP, SS, smoothbore barrel, 33 in. OAL, 3.8 lbs. Mfg. circa 1978-1982.
MILBRO SCOUT
- .177 cal., BBC, SP, SS, similar to pre-WWII German Diana Model 1 except 2 ball detents to hold barrel shut.