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LOT 3240
Engraved Bates Marked Flintlock Style Ball Reservoir Air Gun - NSN, 10 mm , 32 inch part octagon bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. This sporting air gun shows the classic look of some of the earliest ball reservoir pattern air guns to find popularity in the United Kingdom around the late 18th century and was manufactured or retailed by Bates of London. 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. Ball reservoirs were in use since the late 17th century and had the added advantage of being easily swapped out. This piece has a small blade front sight, notch rear sight, swamped part octagon barrel with a wedding band transition, two silver bands at the “breech”, and silver inlaid “BATE/LONDON” marking ahead of the rear sight. Floral and stand of arms engraving on the “BATES” marked lock, sideplate, trigger guard, and buttplate tang; a 3 1/2 inch in diameter ball shaped air reservoir, and a finely figured smooth full length stock.
CONDITION: Very good, showing mostly a bright grey patina with some scattered light pitting and mostly well-defined engraving. The cock has a brazed and filed repair. The wood is good with multiple visible splices, primarily around the reservoir port, some showing slightly separating seams, a few other minor cracks, and otherwise generally minor handling marks. The item has not been pressure tested, otherwise appears to function fine.
Estimate: 4,000 - 6,000
LOT 3241
Engraved Simmons Marked Breech Loading Smoothbore Ball Reservoir Air Gun - NSN, 11 mm , 30 1/2 inch part round bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. This sporting air gun follows the classic breech loading ball reservoir pattern popular in the United Kingdom in the early 19th century and was manufactured or retailed by Simmons, most likely around the early to mid-19th century. Air guns of this style were used primarily for hunting. “Wind guns” had several advantages over conventional firearms including that they produced quieter, smokeless, quicker to reload, and relatively unaffected by rain. They also
required less cleaning since they did not require corrosive black powder. Ball
reservoirs were in use since the late 17th century and had the added advantage of
being easily swapped out. This piece has a small post front sight, low notch rear sight,
round barrel with under rib terminating in a short octagonal section at the breech, floral and stand of arms engraving on the action, trigger guard, and buttplate tang; “SIMMONS” on the left side of the action, a left side
lever for rotating the breech block, a 4 inch in diameter ball shaped air reservoir, smooth forearm with horn tip, and buttstock with a checkered wrist.
CONDITION: Fine, retains half of the period refinished blue finish on the barrel, reservoir, and trigger guard with the balance mostly a smooth grey patina and some light pitting scattered throughout, including under the reapplied finish. Probably originally with a “flintlock” style cocking lever to the action, this has been replace with a percussion style hammer. The buttstock is fine with some minor dings and scratches scattered throughout and otherwise well-defined checkering, the replacement forearm is very fine with some light chipping near the barrel keys and otherwise minimal handling marks. The item has not been pressure tested but otherwise appears to function fine.
Estimate: 3,000 - 5,000
LOT 3242
Unique Continental European Style Exposed Lock Butt Reservoir Air Gun - NSN, 11 mm , 39 inch round bbl., brown/bright finish,
metal stock. In the late 18th century air guns were not only seen as a novelty item but also a useful hunting and military weapon, with a somewhat similar
design by Girardoni being adopted by the Austrian military. This example is also likely of Austrian or German origin and features an exposed lock, giving it a similar look to
the more standard flintlock arms of the time. The left side of the lock is lightly engraved with a crown crested coat of arms, but the piece is otherwise devoid of markings. The barrel is
finished in brown lacquer and the reservoir has a fitted suede sheath.
CONDITION: Very good, the exposed iron showing mostly a smooth grey patina with some scattered patches of mild pitting, slightly softened engraving, and the barrel retains most of the reapplied brown lacquer finish with some scattered minor flaking. The leather gaskets appear to be replacements and the reservoir sheath is of recent manufacture. Mechanically untested, though the lock appears to function correctly. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
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