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LOT 1230
Early 19th Century European Stock Reservoir Exposed Lock Air Gun - , 12 mm , 30 3/4 inch part octagon bbl., bright finish,
metal stock. 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. This air gun is chambered in approximately .48 caliber/12 mm with a smooth bore, fixed notch rear sight, and an iron stock air reservoir. 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 gun is devoid of any visible markings. CONDITION: Very good overall with scattered light freckling and very light pitting. The breech is unable to properly open for loading, otherwise the lock functions. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection. Estimate: 3,000 - 4,500
LOT 1231
Excellent Documented Engraved Giffard Patent French Manufrance St. Etienne External Hammer Model CO2 Gas Rifle - Serial no. 5302, 8 mm , 25 1/4 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. Manufacture Francaise d’Armes et Cycles de Saint Etienne maker markings on top of the barrel. This exact example is pictured on page 597 of the “Blue Book of Airguns, Thirteenth Edition”. The knob rotates for loading from the top, and it uses a manual cocking hammer. It has a dovetail mounted beaded blade front sight, adjustable Swiss style notch rear sight, floral scroll pattern engraving on the action and trigger guard, and a checkered walnut buttstock stamped “1605” on top ahead of the hard rubber buttplate embossed “PAUL
GIFFARD/INVENTEUR”. “5302” marked on the barrel and bolt. Circular brass collection tag marked “R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/2142” hanging from the trigger guard. CONDITION: Excellent, retains 95% original blue finish with sharp engraving and markings. 90% plus vivid original case colors on the hammer and trigger. Stock is also excellent with some light handling marks, and crisp checkering. Small replaced sections on the top and bottom edges of the buttplate. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection. Estimate: 2,500 - 4,000
LOT 1232
Documented Engraved Giffard Gun Company Ltd. Lever Action Hammerless Model CO2 Gas Rifle - Serial no. 5077, 30 , 27 inch octagon bbl., blue finish, walnut stock. This design was patented by Paul Giffard of Paris, France, in 1889. The Giffard Gun Company Limited was active c. 1890-
1894, and these guns were advertised by the maker as “A gun shooting three hundred shots without reloading.” This exact example is pictured on page 597 of the “Blue Book of Airguns, Thirteenth Edition”. It cocks using the trigger guard lever, which rotates the faucet breech for loading from the top and simultaneously cocks the trigger. It has dovetailed blade and notch sights, a textured upper flat, border and star pattern engraved
action with silver inlaid “SAFE” marking and “THE GIFFARD GUN/COMPANY LIMITED/LONDON” engraved on the left, serial number “5077” on the
bottom of the action, partial serial numbers on some other components, “6198” and “568” on the tank, a checkered walnut buttstock, and a steel buttplate with a star
engraving. Circular brass collection tag marked “R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/1339” hanging from the trigger guard. CONDITION: Fine, retains 75% plus original blue finish with smooth brown patina on the balance, extensive areas of scattered moderate freckling/surface corrosion, and sharp engraving and markings. Stock is also fine with defined edges, some scattered scratches and handling marks, and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection. Estimate: 2,000 - 3,000
LOT 1233
Documented Engraved Giffard Patent French Manufrance St. Etienne External Hammer Model CO2 Gas Pistol - Serial no. 942, 4.5 mm , 10 3/4 inch round bbl., blue finish, walnut grips. Manufacture Francaise d’Armes et Cycles de Saint Etienne manufacturer markings on top of the barrel. This exact example is pictured on page 596 of the “Blue Book of Airguns, Thirteenth Edition”. The knob rotates for loading from the top, and it uses a manual cocking hammer. It has a dovetail mounted beaded blade front sight with protective ears, adjustable Swiss style notch rear sight, floral scroll pattern engraving on the action, trigger guard and tangs, and checkered walnut grips with “2286” stamped at the bottom edge of the left panel. “942” marked on the barrel, trigger guard and bolt. Circular brass collection tag marked “R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/480” hanging from the trigger guard. CONDITION: Very fine, retains 80% plus original blue finish with a few patches of light pitting, sharp engraving and markings, and traces of original case colors on the hammer.
Grips are also very fine with some light handling marks and defined checkering. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection. Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
AS PICTURED & DESCRIBED IN THE BLUE BOOK OF AIRGUNS, 13TH EDITION BY BEUNING, ADLER, GAYLORD, & BEEMAN
AS PICTURED & DESCRIBED IN THE BLUE BOOK OF AIRGUNS, 13TH EDITION BY BEUNING, ADLER, GAYLORD, & BEEMAN