Page 274 - 4091-BOOK1

LOT 303 19th Century European Air Gun with Shagreen Wrapped Stock Reservoir - NSN, 10.5 mm , 28 inch part octagon bbl., brown/blue finish, shagreen stock. 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. This unique example has no visible marker markings and has a rotating faucet breech that loads from the top when in full cock. When the trigger is pulled, the faucet breech rotates and lines up with the bore, while simultaneously allowing air to pass through in order to propel the ball. It is chambered in approximately .42 caliber/10.5 mm and features a part octagon barrel, blade front sight and notch rear sight, and a shagreen (shark or stingray skin) wrapped iron stock air reservoir. CONDITION: Very good, retains 50% thinning original brown finish on the barrel and 60% original blue finish on the frame, with smooth brown and gray patina on the balance and scattered patches of light freckling/pitting. The shagreen is fair with mild cracking and age related wear. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection. Estimate: 1,800 - 2,750
LOT 304 19th Century European Stock Reservoir Screw Barrel Air Gun - NSN, 9 mm , 26 inch round bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. This European air gun dates to around the early 1800s and does not have any visible maker markings although it appears to be of Austrian origin. “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. Chambered in approximately .36 caliber/9 mm and features a screw-off round barrel with a smooth bore, iron lock and sideplate, engraved cocking lever, brass frame, a small walnut stock with an “S” carved on the bottom, and a leather wrapped metal buttstock air
reservoir. Circular brass collection tag marked “R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/065” hanging from the trigger guard. CONDITION: Good, with scattered mild pitting on the iron surfaces and bright golden patina on the brass. The refinished walnut stock is also good with scattered flaking of the varnish finish, cracks and scratches. The replacement leather is also good with mild wear and handling. Mechanically very good.
Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection.
Estimate: 1,500 - 2,500
LOT 305 Late 18th/Early 19th Century European Stock Reservoir Air Gun by F. Sterba - NSN, 11 mm , 30 inch part octagon bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. This Austrian air gun dates to around the late 1700s to early 1800s. It is signed with the maker name “F. STERBA.” on the top barrel flat at the breech. No information related to this maker has been found at the current time. “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. This example is chambered in approximately .43 caliber/11 mm and features a part octagon/round barrel with a smooth bore, a German silver bead front sight, notch rear sight, a small walnut stock section, and a leather wrapped metal stock reservoir. CONDITION: Good, with scattered dark colored light to mild pitting on the iron surfaces, faded barrel markings, and golden aged patina on the brass with some soldered repairs visible on the right. The refinished stock is very good with some scattered light scratches. The leather is good with scattered mild age related wear and cracking, with some absent areas on the rear surface. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection. Estimate: 1,600 - 2,500
LOT 306 19th Century European Stock Reservoir Exposed Lock Air Gun by J.H. Caster of Hanau - NSN, 10.5 mm , 34 1/8 inch
part octagon bbl., brown finish, metal stock. “J.H. Caster in Hanau” engraved on the left of the frame. 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. It is chambered in approximately .40 caliber/10.5 mm with a smoothbore part octagon barrel. “#7088” written in black inside the trigger guard. CONDITION: Good, with a mix of smooth brown and gray patina, and some scattered light oxidation. The leather is also good with mild age related wear, separation of the stitching, and an absent rear section. One absent trigger guard screw. Absent air needle, otherwise mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection.
Estimate: 1,400 - 2,250
LOT 307
272
Collector’s Lot of Two 19th Century American Tip-Up Barrel Underlever Gallery Air Guns -A) Gallery Air Gun by William Stein of Camden, New Jersey - NSN, 30 , 22 inch octagon bbl., brown/bright finish, walnut stock. “W.STEIN/ CAMDEN.N.J.” marked on top of the barrel and on top of the brass cylinder reservoir. William Stein is listed as an active maker out of Camden, New Jersey, in the 1860s-1870s. Air guns of this style were used primarily for indoor target shooting. This gallery air gun has a tip-up octagon barrel
that loads from the breech and is affixed with a latch below, and it functions through the use of a trigger guard lever for cocking in order to fill the cylinder reservoir, and upon pulling the trigger the spring loaded piston releases. Chambered in approximately .30 caliber/7.5 mm with a smooth bore. A similar example is photographed and described on page 99 of “Blue Book of Airguns, Thirteenth Edition” where it is referred to as a “St. Louis” type air gun. CONDITION: Fine, with a mix of original brown finish and scattered spotting on the barrel, attractive bright surfaces on the brass, and sharp markings in the metal. Stock is very good with some scattered light handling marks, cracks visible in the wrist and front of the comb, a chipped absent section on the top left of the wrist, and defined edges. Mechanically fine. B) Unmarked American Gallery Air Gun - NSN, 25 , 21 inch part octagon bbl., brown/bright finish, walnut stock. This unmarked gallery air gun has a a tip-up octagon barrel that loads from the breech and is affixed with a latch below, chambered in approximately .25 caliber/6.35 mm with a smooth bore. CONDITION: Very good with brown patina and scattered pin-prick pitting on the iron, and golden age darkened patina on the brass. Wood is also very good with numerous mild scratches and dents and an absent chipped hole on top of the wrist. Mechanically fair, weak air pressure. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500