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LOT 369
Unique Unidentified 19th Century European Stock Reservoir Muzzleloading Air Gun - NSN, 38 , 29 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. “Wind guns” had
several advantages over conventional firearms including that they were quieter, smokeless, quicker to reload, and relatively unaffected hey also required less cleaning since they did not require corrosive black powder. This example has no maker markings visible but
appears to be from the early 1800s. Features a round barrel that loads from the muzzle with the walnut ram rod, bead front sight, walnut front stock, lock with beveled edges and a large cocking lever, iron frame, and a metal buttstock air reservoir. Circular brass
collection tag marked “R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/2288” hanging from the trigger guard. CONDITION: Good, with scattered patches of dark colored light to mild pitting on the iron and a mix of brown and gray patina on the metal stock reservoir. The wood is also good with numerous scattered mild dents and scratches, a few chips, and a few discreet filled in repairs. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection.
flats and some floral carvings at the edges, a horn end cap, with floral engravings on top of the brass wrist plate and light border engraving on the brass buttplate. Part of the trigger guard/ grip section is broken off but included separately. Absent ramrod and front screw on the left
sideplate. Circular brass collection tag marked “R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/079” hanging
from the trigger guard.
CONDITION: Good with a mix of an old applied brown finish on the barrel with brown and gray patinas on the balance, traces of an old refinished blue finish on the lock and its components with brown patina, some scattered patches of light pitting, and attractive golden aged patina on the brass with crisp engraving. The stock is also good with scattered scratches and handling marks, a few chips and cracks, and defined carvings. Mechanically fine. Broken trigger guard piece and a few absent components as mentioned above. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 371 19th Century Brass Barrel Cylinder Reservoir Air Gun - NSN, 30 , 21 3/4 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. An 18th century air gun such as this would have been used primarily for indoor target shooting. No maker markings visible. The brass round barrel loads at the top of the breech with a sliding brass breech cover, chambered in approximately .30 caliber/7.5 mm (possibly for use with 7 mm darts with a hair tail), post front sight, an empty hole where a rear sight likely once resided on top of the rear barrel band, a winding mechanism accessible from the left that cocks the piston inside the brass cylinder air reservoir located behind the barrel (requires a key for cocking, not included), and fitted with a walnut stock. Circular brass collection tag marked “R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/2102” hanging from the trigger guard. CONDITION: Fine, exhibits attractive golden bright lightly aged patina on the brass. The wood is very good with scattered scratches and handling marks, an absent sliver on the bottom front edge of the left wood cover, some chips and cracks, and remains solid. Mechanically untested. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection. Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
LOT 372
18th Century Relief Carved Bohemian Crank Handle Tip-Up Barrel Air Pistol by
Georg Lippert of Eger with Crank Handle - NSN, 6.5 mm , 7 1/4 inch flat top round bbl., blue/bright
finish, hardwood stock. “GEORG LIPPERT IN EGER” inscribed on the top flat of the barrel. Georg Lippert is listed as an active maker
located in Eger, Bohemia, circa 1720-1750. Air guns of this style were used primarily for indoor target shooting. This air pistol has a sliding flat top round barrel chambered in approximately .25 caliber/6.5 mm with a smooth bore. It functions through the use of the included hand crank that is inserted in the right side for cocking, using the trigger guard that
doubles as a large spring. Upon pulling the set trigger, the spring trigger guard, attached to the internal piston, releases and pushes the internal piston forward in the cylinder reservoir which pushes a rush of air into the breech. Fitted with a hardwood stock with floral relief carvings. Circular brass collection
tag marked “R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/467” hanging from the trigger guard.
CONDITION: Very fine, retains 70% original blue finish with scattered moderate brown freckling on the
balance and sharp barrel markings. The brass exhibits an attractive golden aged patina. The stock is also very fine with scattered light scratches, a few small chips in the forend, and defined recut carvings and edges. The set trigger functions fine, but the gun will not properly cock and mechanically needs work. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection.
by rain. T
Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 370
18th Century Engraved and Relief Carved European “Flintlock” Stock Reservoir Air Gun - NSN, 42
, 38 inch part octagon bbl., brown finish, hardwood stock. Though this example offered looks like a flintlock long arm, it is actually a smoothbore muzzleloading air gun with a concealed stock reservoir that has a trapdoor on the buttplate for filling access. Air
guns of this style were used primarily for hunting. “Wind guns” had several advantages over conventional firearms including that they were quieter, smokeless, quicker to reload, and relatively unaffected by rain. They also required less cleaning since they did not require corrosive black powder like the flintlocks that
this example is modeled after. Blade front sight, scooped rear sight integral to the brass breech tang, lock with beveled edges and a goose neck cock. Fitted with a hardwood stock with relief carved teardrop
278 Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000