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LOT 3409
Rare C. Bunge Geneva, New York, Marked Side Crank Lever Revolving Air Gun - , 28 , 18 3/8 inch
round bbl., bright/nickel finish, walnut stock. Charles Bunge was an innovative gunsmith in Geneva, New
York, in the last half of the 19th century and is noted as a manufacturer of revolving rifles, pistols, and air
guns. He patented the design for this “Revolving Spring Toy-Gun” on August 31, 1869, which he indicated
was designed to hold six balls per chamber for seventy-two balls in a 12 chamber gun. Similar examples are in
Cody Firearms Museum (accession numbers 1993.8.12, 1993.8.13, and 1993.8.14 ). The gun features a smoothbore barrel with
a brass blade front sight and notch rear sight. The left side of the brass lug is marked “C. BUNGE GENEVA. N.Y.” There is a large cocking
lever on the right side with a handle, and it is mounted with a smooth walnut buttstock with brass furniture.
CONDITION: Fine. The cylinder retains 85% nickel plating, the barrel and crank have smooth gray and brown patina, and the brass displays attractive aged patina. There are some general minor marks and scratches. The stock is very fine and has smooth oiled finish, a few scattered minor dings and scratches, and attractive grain. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Mark Aziz Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 3410
Documented 19th Century Upstate New York Side Lever Revolving
Cylinder Gallery Air Gun - NSN, 28 , 18 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. Air
guns of this style were used primarily for indoor target shooting. “Wind guns” had several advantages over conventional firearms including that
they were quieter, smokeless, quicker to reload, and they also required less cleaning since they did not require corrosive black powder. This exact gallery air gun is
photographed and described on page 99 of “Blue Book of Airguns, Thirteenth Edition” in which it is called an “Upstate New York” air gun as produced for gallery target shooting sometime
during the Civil War era by an American gunsmith, and the book states, “A small, special group. The main feature is a hand-operated revolving cylinder and barrel which is attached to the receiver with a pin, wedge, and bottom strap in a manner and styling very similar to an open-top Colt revolver.”This example has no visible maker markings, is chambered in approximately .28 caliber/7.5 mm
with a smooth bore, and has a bead front sight, fixed notch rear sight, and is mounted with a walnut buttstock with a checkered wrist. It functions through the use of a right side mounted
lever that is pulled back for cocking in order to fill the cylinder reservoir, and upon pulling the trigger the spring loaded piston releases, and has a 12 shot cylinder that loads from the front.
Circular brass collection tag marked “R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/479” hanging from the trigger guard.
CONDITION: Very good with some scattered light pitting/freckling on the iron surfaces, a mix of attractive golden aged and bright patina on
the brass. The refinished stock is good with a partially reattached split in the wrist, and a few scattered light scratches and handling marks.
Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection.
Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
a smooth bore, a blade front sight, and is mounted with a
walnut stock with pewter end cap, German silver patchbox
and accent on the buttstock, brass trigger guard and brass buttplate. Absent rear sight with two empty mounting holes on top. It
functions through the use of a right side mounted lever that is pulled back for cocking in order to fill the cylinder reservoir, and upon pulling the trigger the spring loaded
piston releases. The barrel twists to a loose position for loading at the breech. Circular brass collection tag marked “R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/081” hanging from the
trigger guard.
CONDITION: Fine, with scattered light freckling on the otherwise bright iron surfaces, and attractive golden aged patina on the brass. The stock is also fine with scattered light scratches and dings, and defined edges. Cracks visible on both sides of the pewter end cap. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection.
THESE TWO LOTS ARE PICTURED AND DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK BLUE BOOK OF AIRGUNS, 13TH EDITION BY BEUNING, ADLER, GAYLORD & BEEMAN
LOT 3411
Documented 19th Century New England Side Lever Gallery Air Gun - NSN, 22 , 20 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock.
Air guns of this style were used primarily for indoor target shooting. “Wind guns” had several advantages over conventional firearms including that they were quieter, smokeless, quicker to reload, and they also required less cleaning since they did not require corrosive
black powder. This exact gallery air gun is photographed on page 99 of “Blue Book of Airguns, Thirteenth Edition” and described on page 100 where it is called a “New England” type air gun, as produced for gallery target shooting sometime during the Civil War era by an American gunsmith. It has no maker
markings and chambered in .22 caliber/5.5 mm with
234 Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500