Page 228 - 88-BOOK1

AS DESCRIBED IN THE BLUE BOOK OF AIRGUNS, 13TH EDITION
BY BEUNING, ADLER, GAYLORD, & BEEMAN
226
LOT 232
Unique Documented 19th Century Relief Carved Unmarked Germanic Bellows Crank Handle Tip-Up Barrel Air Gun - NSN, 8.5 mm , 30 1/2 inch octagon bbl., bright finish, relief carved walnut stock. These bellows air guns were generally made in the late 1700s to mid-1800s and were used primarily for indoor target shooting. This exact example is pictured and described on pages 212-213 of “Blue Book of Airguns, Thirteenth Edition” in which the book states, “Their basic feature is a conical bellows hidden in the hollowed-out wooden buttstock.”These air guns use darts that typically have a hair tail. This bellows air gun has a tip-up octagon barrel measuring at approximately .33 caliber/8.5 mm (possibly for use with 8 mm darts with a hair tail) with a smooth bore that loads from the breech and releases with a lever that protrudes through the bottom of the stock ahead of the trigger guard, dovetail mounted blade front and notch rear sights on the barrel, brass peep sight with glass insert mounted on the tang, and is mounted with a walnut stock with a checkered forend and wrist, deeply cut floral relief carvings and ornate brass inlays and furniture. Includes an ebony tipped wooden ramrod and crank handle. CONDITION: Fine, with scattered brown patina with some patches of light surface corrosion on the iron surfaces, and attractive bright golden patina on the brass. The relief carved stock is also fine with defined edges and checkering, an old professionally spliced replacement front half, scattered light dents and handling marks, attractive figure overall and distinct carving. The action is very stiff, otherwise appears to function mechanically fine. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection. Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
LOT 233
Unique 19th Century Relief Carved, Engraved and Silver Inlaid Bellows Crank Handle Tip-Up Barrel Air Gun by P. Volkmann of Vienna, Austria - NSN, 7.5mm , 29 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, relief carved/checkered walnut stock. “P. VOLKMANN IN WIEN” silver inlaid on top of the barrel at the breech. These bellows air guns were generally made in the late 1700s
to mid-1800s, and were used primarily for indoor target shooting. Information related to these can be found on pages 212-213 of “Blue Book of Airguns, Thirteenth Edition”. These air guns have a conical bellows hidden in the hollowed-out wooden buttstock and use darts that typically have a hair tail. This bellows air gun has a tip-up octagon barrel measuring at approximately .30 caliber/7.5 mm (possibly for use with 7 mm darts with a hair tail) with a smooth bore that loads from the breech and releases with a lever that protrudes through the bottom of the stock ahead of the trigger guard, dovetail mounted blade front and notch rear sights on the barrel, tang mounting point for a peep sight (absent), and is mounted with a walnut stock with a checkered forend and deeply cut floral relief carvings. Floral and scroll pattern engraving on the barrel tang and various brass fittings. Includes crank handle. CONDITION: Very good, retains 30% original blue finish on the barrel with smooth gray and brown patina on the balance and some scattered areas of light pitting, and has nearly all of the silver inlay on top of the barrel. The brass retains an attractive golden aged patina. The stock is also very good with scattered scratches and dents, discreet repairs along some of the edges, a few cracks, and a re-glued top section on the buttstock. The included crank handle does not properly function due to a loose piece, but the gun appears to function mechanically fine. Absent rear peep sight. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 234 Unmarked Germanic Ball Reservoir Muzzleloading Jaeger Air Rifle - , 9.5 mm , 24 3/8 inch octagon bbl., bright finish, hardwood stock. This unmarked Germanic muzzleloading jaeger air rifle dates to around the late 18th-early 19th century. It
features an octagon barrel chambered in approximately .38 caliber/9.5 mm with deep six-groove rifling, a large brass ball reservoir, a lock with external mainspring and double set triggers, and a full length hardwood stock with horn end cap and sliding patchbox. “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. Circular brass collection tag marked “R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/2093” hanging from the trigger guard. Absent sights. Includes a wooden ramrod (slightly short). CONDITION: Very good, with scattered moderate freckling on the bright surfaces, with defined edges in the metal overall. Stock is good, with a large split at the middle (held in place by the two lock screws, removal of the lock allows the stock to separate), and some scattered scratches and dents. The hammer does not properly remain in the cocked position. Absent sights. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection. Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500