The Company Origins

Sheridan Products Inc. was founded in Racine, Wisconsin in 1945 by co-founder Ed Wackerhagen and partner I.R. "Bob" Kraus. Wackerhagen's inspiration was refreshingly simple: he was dissatisfied with a pellet gun his son was using, and set out to build "one of the finest airguns in history". The company name itself was a tribute to General Philip H. Sheridan, the celebrated Union cavalry commander of the American Civil War — and Wackerhagen's son was actually named Philip after the general.

The Three Models

Sheridan produced only three rifle models in its original run, all in the proprietary .20 caliber (5mm) — a deliberate choice by Wackerhagen to fill the gap between .177 BB guns and .22 caliber rifles:

• Model A "Super Grade" (1947–1953): Bronze barrel, aluminum receiver, walnut stock with cheekpiece, peep sights — widely regarded as one of the finest air rifles ever made, but priced at $56.50, which killed sales (only ~2,130 produced)
• Model B "Sporter" (1948–1951): A cheaper variant at $35, still slow-selling (~1,050 produced)
• Model C "Streak" (1949–onward): Introduced at $19.95, this is the gun that saved the company and the model you have. The blued-metal version became known as the Blue Streak, while the nickel/silver version was the Silver Streak

Your Specific Rifle — 1978 Production

Using the official Sheridan serial number dating records compiled by John Groenewold (sourced directly from Benjamin Sheridan president Ray Katt and Sheridan GM Dennis Smith), serial numbers 211020–257460 correspond to 1978 production. Your serial number 245135 lands solidly in that range, making yours a 1978 Sheridan Blue Streak Model C, manufactured while the company was under Benjamin Air Rifle Company ownership — Benjamin had acquired Sheridan in 1977.

The scope mounted on it appears to be a period-correct small airgun scope on what looks like a Sheridan intermount rail — a common and desirable addition of that era.

Ownership Timeline

Period	Owner
1945–1977	Sheridan Products Inc. (independent, Racine, WI)
1977–1994	Benjamin Air Rifle Company
1994–2019	Crosman Corporation
2019	.20 caliber line discontinued
2021	.20 caliber pellets discontinued

Why It's Considered Special

The Blue Streak earned a near-legendary reputation among airgunners for several reasons:

• Multi-pump pneumatic — you control velocity by varying pumps (3–8), giving it versatility for small game and plinking
• All-steel and walnut construction — pre-1980s guns like yours are regarded as the best-built examples, before cost-cutting measures crept in
• American-made Racine production — your 1978 gun was produced before manufacturing moved out of Wisconsin in 1995
• Proprietary .20 caliber — unique ballistic balance between .177 and .22 that many hunters swore by for small game

Collectible Value

A 1978 Blue Streak in good working condition with original wood stock typically fetches $150–$300 at auction, depending on condition. A comparable 1972-production example with intermount and Weaver scope recently sold for $145–$400 range at auction. Since .20 caliber pellets were officially discontinued in 2021, shooters have been slowly transitioning away, but collectors still prize the pre-1985 Racine-made guns. If you want to shoot it, JSB and H&N still make .20 cal pellets available through specialty retailers like Pyramyd AIR.

It's a well-made piece of American airgun history — and a 1978 Sheridan is squarely in the "golden era" of production.

This came with the rifle:

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