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French Reservoir Type Air Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:850.00 USD Estimated At:1,700.00 - 2,400.00 USD
French Reservoir Type Air Rifle
Auction Location:

16600 Aston Street
Irvine, CA
French Made Giffard Single Shot Reservoir Type Air Rifle, by St. Etienne, #6464, 8mm ball, 25'' round rifled barrel, blue finish, lightly foliate engraved, with straight checkered walnut stock. French engineer Paul Giffard came from a family with a history of experimenting with compressed gases. His older brother Henri was instrumental in the development of air ships and is credited for having made the world's first powered flight in a derigible in December 1852. Paul Giffard held approx. 200 patented inventions from the pneumatic telegraph to the pressurized tubes once used in drive-in banks and other businesses for fast delivery of documents. During the 1850s, Giffard patented this single shot pneumatic breechloader, featuring a stirrup pump and air reservoir located beneath the barrel. This early specimen was not commercially successful simply because each compressed air cylinder released the entire propellant charge with every shot, which made it necessary for th!
e user to endure the laborious process of installing a new cylinder with each shot. Later versions produced in England overcame this disadvantage, which permitted the shooter to fire 40 to 60 shots before recharging. At the time, these guns caused quite a stir in scientific and military circles, with some thinkers suggesting that their silent deadliness might play a major role in the conduct of future wars. Many gun companies feared that powder-burning arms would become obsolete. Colt's Mfg. went so far as to pay $1 million dollars to purchase the American right to produce these guns. Unfortunately for Giffard and Colt stockholders, these firearms never really caught on. It is interesting to note that the company's trademark found both on the breech and hard rubber buttplate was Paul's brother Henri's first derigible so often reproduced in publications on the history of flight. Condition is fine to near excellent. Gold St. Etienne markings are crisp with no losses. !
Barrel retains approx. 98% blue. Changeable gas cylinder sho!
ws thinn
ing and toning from use and constant change. Frame with only light high edgewear. Stock with light scuffs and minor darkening near upper tang. Hard rubber buttplate shows one small chip at heel. Action is crisp and functioning, bore should clean to at least very good. Est.: $1,700-$2,400.