Page 224 - 88-BOOK1

LOT 224
Unmarked American Half Stock Ball Reservoir Muzzleloading Air Rifle with Horse Head Patchbox - NSN, 40 , 36 7/8 inch octagon bbl., brown finish, walnut stock. This American muzzleloading air rifle dates to around the mid-19th century. It features an octagon barrel chambered in .40 caliber with five-groove rifling, dovetail mounted German silver bead front
sight and dovetail mounted notch rear sight, a bar hammer style lock with external mainspring, double set triggers, half
length walnut stock with checkered forend and wrist, brass furniture including a horse head patchbox with engraving, and a large brass ball reservoir. “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.
CONDITION: Fine with a mix of brown finish and brown patina on the barrel, smooth brown patina on the lock and hammer with traces of case colors, and attractive golden aged patina on the brass fittings and reservoir. Stock is good with scattered light scratches and chips, some cracks and repairs visible, and overall fine figure. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection.
Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500
air gun with a copper ball reservoir, and the “flint” is a piece of walnut. Ball reservoirs were in use since the late 17th century and had the added advantage of being easily swapped out. The smoothbore part octagon barrel measures at
approximately .50 caliber/13 mm with a swamped muzzle. 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. The barrel has a blade front sight, notch rear sight, “BATE BROWNLOW STREET/LONG ACRE LONDON” marked in a box on top of the barrel, and floral and border engraving on the breech and
fittings. The flat beveled step tailed lock is marked “BATE” at the center, with a ring neck cock. The well-figured walnut full stock is carved in relief with a shell at the barrel tang and at the tail of each flat. Floral engraving on the octagon end
of the barrel, barrel tang, trigger guard, sideplate and buttplate tang. Includes a brass tipped wooden ramrod. Circular brass collection tag marked “R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/444” hanging from the trigger guard.
CONDITION: Very good, with scattered light pitting and freckling, and clear markings and engraving. Stock is also very good with some scattered light scratches, a few small chips, discreet filled in repairs around some of the edges, slightly undersized above the lock and around the buttplate tang, a few cracks around the ball reservoir insert, and defined carving with overall fine figure. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection.
LOT 225
Unique 18th Century Engraved and Relief Carved English “Flintlock” Ball Reservoir Muzzleloading Air Gun by Edward Bate of London - NSN, 13 mm , 36 inch part octagon bbl., bright finish, walnut stock. Edward Bate (1743-1810) was one of the most talented late 18th century air gun makers and was active in
London. He was also among the few who produced high quality air pistols. Though this example offered looks like a flintlock long arm, it is actually a muzzleloading
222 Estimate: 5,500 - 8,500