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Unique English 19th Century Air Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:2,500.00 - 5,000.00 USD
Unique English 19th Century Air Rifle
In many ways ahead of their time, the black powder era saw the development of several weapons that used compressed air in place of combustible powder to drive the ball, the most famous being the Austrian Girandoni repeater taken on the Lewis & Clark expedition. Blade and groove sights on the brass barrel. Attached to the underside of the lock is a brass gas chamber, measuring 14 3/4 in circumference around the engraved center band, with a percussion-style hammer arrangement to strike the valve release. Smooth full length straight grip stock, with ramrod, brass trigger guard and a lightly engraved brass buttplate. As for this specimen, writer believes it to be of English origin, from the early 1800s. The form of the stock, shape of the furniture and brass barrel all lead up to that conclusion.
BBL: 29 inch part octagon
Stock: walnut
Gauge: 30
Finish: brown
Grips:
Serial Number: NSN
Condition: Fine. The barrel shows a fine aged patina, with a mixed brown and gray patina on the lock. Stock is very fine, with light pressure dents and scratches.