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LOT 1292
Engraved 19th Century Stock Reservoir Air Rifle by Thomas Conway of Manchester, England - NSN, 12 mm , 26 1/2 inch part octagon bbl., brown/ casehardened finish, metal stock. “Conway” and “Manchester” in ribbons engraved on
top of the frame. Thomas Conway was an active gunmaker alive between 1803-1869. He manufactured
firearms for the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York. 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. It is chambered in approximately .48 caliber/12 mm with a rifled part octagon barrel, a rotating faucet breech that loads from the top, an external cocking lever and
mainspring, and a leather wrapped iron stock air reservoir. Features floral scroll engraving on the action, lock, sideplate and trigger guard. Circular brass collection tag “R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/ COLLECTION/2076” hanging from the trigger guard. CONDITION: Very good with a mix of smooth gray and brown patina and scattered light pitting,
with crisp engraving. The leather stock reservoir cover is fine with scattered handling marks and general light age related wear. Does not properly cock, needs work. Absent rear sight. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection.
Estimate: 2,250 - 3,500
LOT 1293 19th Century Stock Reservoir Exposed Lock Air Gun - NSN, 10 mm , 25 1/4 inch round bbl., brown 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 example features an exposed lock with the trigger located on the right, and loads from the breech with a sliding breech cover. Smooth bore, blade front sight and a leather wrapped metal stock air reservoir. The gun is devoid of any visible markings. Circular brass collection tag “R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/1243” hanging from the trigger guard. CONDITION: Fair, showing brown finish mixed with smooth brown and gray patina. The leather is good with mild overall wear and an absent back section. The mainspring is broken/mostly absent, mechanically needs work. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection. Estimate: 1,400 - 2,250
cartridge law, these air canes were deemed dangerous weapons and became illegal in the U.K.! The British police gathered up and destroyed all but the few that were crossing the Atlantic at that time. The decorative dog head cap was carved by the artist from a photo of the Beeman’s wonderful, now deceased Labrador Retriever.” It functions using a reusable Brocock brass air cartridge (one included) that resembles a shell casing and is able to be loaded with a .22 caliber BB at the front, the cane can then be unscrewed from the brass section for loading, and once loaded the dog head is able to be unscrewed and pulled back in order to cock it, which in turn a concealed thumb trigger raises out from the brass section. Carved walnut dog head handle, floral scroll engraving on the brass section, fine-groove rifled barrel surrounded by walnut. CONDITION: Very fine overall, retains 98% original gold plated finish on the brass, a few light scratches in the wood, and crisp engraving. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection. Estimate: 1,400 - 2,250
LOT 1294 Documented Engraved and Gold Plated Harpers Classic Air Rifle Cane Marked “RDB” with Dog’s Head Handle - NSN, 22 , 31 1/2 inch round bbl., gold finish. This is a high quality Harpers Classic air rifle cane, engraved and carved with a dog’s head handle especially for Dr. Robert D. Beeman circa 1985 with a circular brass plaque with the initals “RDB”. This exact air cane is photographed and described on page 628 of “The Blue Book of Airguns, Thirteenth Edition” in which the book states, “Only ten of these models were imported into the U.S. under the anti-airgun
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LOT 1295
Engraved and Silver Plated European Outside Lock Grip Reservoir Screw Barrel Air Pistol - NSN, 8 mm , 10 inch part octagon bbl., silver finish, metal grips. This pistol has no visible maker markings, but likely dates to the second half of the 18th century. Features a silver finished screw-off brass barrel and frame, fine-groove rifling, with a bird in a tree engraved on the left of the frame, a dog chasing a rabbit on the bottom of the frame, and border engraving. The frame has a grooved rear sight on top of the breech and an iron outside lock in which the hammer bumps a rod that protrudes out of the top of the frame in order to allow a burst of air through for “firing”. The grip reservoir is wrapped in leather and has a silver plated threaded joint. Circular brass collection tag marked “R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/443” hanging from the trigger guard. CONDITION: Fine, retains 80% original silver finish with age darkened tarnishing and a few areas flaking to show exposed brass, scattered light pitting on the iron lock components, and crisp engraving. Leather is also fine with some edge wear. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection. Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 1296
Unique Spring Powered Air Pistol by E. Bischoff of Augsburg, Germany - NSN, 8 mm , 9 3/4 inch octagon bbl., blue/bright/casehardened finish, walnut stock. The octagon barrel has deep cut eight groove rifling, blade and notch sights and is marked “E. BISCHOFF IN AUGSBURG” on top. It slides forward for loading at the breech via a protruding handle through the bottom. It has a brass cylindrical cover for the spring air compressor chamber. Equipped with a single set trigger. The walnut stock has checkered panels on the grip with floral carved borders. Circular brass collection tag marked “R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/447” hanging from the trigger guard. CONDITION: Fine, retains 60% original blue finish on the barrel with some scattered light pitting, attractive golden patina on the brass cylinder cover, and 70% original case colors visible on the plate behind the cylinder. Stock is also fine with defined edges, numerous scattered light dings and scratches, and distinct checkering. Spring is very stiff, unable to pull back by hand, requires tool, which is absent. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection. Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250