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LOT 3271
Desirable Game Scene Engraved Girardoni System Repeating Stock
Reservoir Sporting Air Rifle with Case Inscribed “F. Baring” and Air Pump - , checkered/carved walnut stock.
This Girardoni pattern repeating air rifle is signed “Herzberg am Harz” on the lock, indicating the lock was made by an unknown
German gunmaker. The screw-off buttstock air reservoir is signed “REILLY 316 HOLBORN LONDON IMPROVED” around the threaded joint
section in reference to London gunmaker Joseph Charles Reilly listed as active at that address between c. 1837-1847. The Girardoni (sometimes
spelled “Girandoni”) is easily the most famous early air rifle or windbuchse largely thanks to the fact that for many years it has been associated with
Lewis & Clark and their famous Corps of Discovery Expedition. It is widely believed that they either had a Girardoni or a very similar design by Isaiah Lukens of
Philadelphia. The Girardoni was designed by Bartolomeo Girardoni around 1779 and is also significant as one of the first widely used repeating martial arms, with a magazine tube on the right side of the barrel for use with lead balls and a breech block that is able to be pressed sideways against spring pressure for loading/repeating capability. They were notably used by Austrian sharpshooters from 1787-1815. Because the air tanks took around 30 minutes of pumping by hand to bring to full pressure, the riflemen had assistants that repressurized the reservoirs initially and later also had more efficient wagon mounted pumps. “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 attractive example is chambered in approximately .40 caliber/10 mm and features an octagon barrel with eight-groove rifling, blade front sight, two leaf notch rear sight, high quality engraving with a game scene on the top of the gold finished frame and a star pattern motif on top of the breech, a walnut stock with carved patterns along the sides of the ramrod channel and checkering beneath the grip area, horn forend tip, and a shagreen wrapped metal buttstock air reservoir. Includes a period
fitted wooden case with green felt lined interior, brass handle and plaque on the lid inscribed “F. Baring” and containing an air pump. Included consignor notes indicate the inscribed name on the case may belong to a Captain Francis Baring, Fusilier Guards, Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General, attached to the Light Division. More information on Girardoni air rifles can be found on pages 598-601 of the book “Blue Book of Airguns, Thirteenth Edition”.
CONDITION: Fine, with scattered moderate freckling on the iron surfaces with smooth gray patina on the balance, highly attractive bright original gold finish on the brass frame, and defined engraving and markings. The refinished walnut stock is very good, with crisp checkering and carvings, a chipped section visible ahead of the lock, and
a small chip in the left of the forend tip. The buttstock air reservoir has some cracking and separation in the shagreen outer wrapping. The threaded buttstock air reservoir easily loosens, otherwise mechanically fine. Case is good with mild age related wear, handling marks, and a few absent corner sections of wood.
Estimate: 9,500 - 16,000
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