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LOT 270
Rare and Documented 18th Century Silver Inlaid Girardoni System Repeating Over/
Under Stock Reservoir Sporting Air Rifle by Ernst Eckardt of Bamberg, Germany - NSN,
10 mm , 30 1/4 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened finish, walnut stock. 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 over/under sporting example is
silver inlaid with the maker name “E Eckardt a Bamberg” on top of the barrel at the breech. Ernst
Eckardt (1774-1842) is listed as an active gunmaker out of Bamberg, Bavaria. The rifled upper
barrel and smoothbore lower barrel are both chambered in approximately .38 caliber/10 mm.
The upper rifled barrel utilizes the Girardoni repeating system, and the lower smoothbore barrel
loads from the muzzle end. Beaded blade front sight, flip-up notch rear sight, leather bound
metal stock reservoir, and a walnut stock. The cocking lever is an imitation flintlock cock. Circular
brass collection tag marked “R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/2908” hanging from the trigger
guard. This exact example is pictured and described on page 599 of “Blue Book of Airguns,
Thirteenth Edition”.
CONDITION: Fine, with 20% original brown finish strongest in protected areas, nearly all of the
silver inlay, strong case colors on the lock under mild freckling/brown patina, and bright golden
patina on the brass. The wood is also fine with numerous scattered scratches, a repaired section
visible on the left above the sideplate, and solid overall figure. The leather stock reservoir cover
is very good with scattered scuffs, an absent section on the rear, and general age related wear.
The air valve is detached/loose inside of the stock reservoir, otherwise mechanically fine. Absent
ramrod. Throughout our years of operation, Rock Island Auction Company has only ever had the
privilege to offer less than a handful of Girardoni system rifles of any kind, and we cannot stress
enough how rare of an opportunity this is to acquire hands down the most desirable type of air
rifle ever made!
Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection; Property of a Gentleman.
Estimate: 12,000 - 18,000
Lewis and Clark are believed to have
carried a similar air rifle on their
expedition to explore the American West.
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