Girardoni Air Gun circa 1780s..

[Power Pill]

 

[NorthCoastBigBore]

I believe they had one of those on the Lewis & Clark expedition. Some mention of it in their notes.

Fascinating rifles and I've never seen a video of one - thanks for sharing!

 

[KEN.]

Now that was a superb video....one of the better ones I have seen....Thanks for that.
KEN.

 

[tacfoley]

It turns out that the Girardoni air rifle owned by Mr Beeman of Beeman Air rifles and accessories fame WAS the actual air rifle taken on the L&CE. Certain repairs done to it by the expedition blacksmith were found on Mr Beeman's rifle, as well as other corresponding and identifiable traces.

tac

 

[NorthCoastBigBore]

It turns out that the Girardoni air rifle owned by Mr Beeman of Beeman Air rifles and accessories fame WAS the actual air rifle taken on the L&CE. Certain repairs done to it by the expedition blacksmith were found on Mr Beeman's rifle, as well as other corresponding and identifiable traces.

tac

Ah so it was - it's been awhile since I read about this unit (or messrs L&C).

18th Century ingenuity

 

[H Wally]

I've wanted one of these for as long as I can remember. Beautiful machines and great idea.

 

[tacfoley]

I've wanted one of these for as long as I can remember. Beautiful machines and great idea.

Well, Martin Orro in USA has made a very convincing and effective replication, as you can see in this video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juOQ9Ij3G1c

However, with a genuine item hitting around $50,000 here in UK back in 2005, and no modern manufacturer willing to take on the task, I'd opine that only by forcing sufficient funds into Mr Orro's skilful paws would you get anywhere near actual ownership.

I'm in the same boat as you - I'd dearly love to own one for a while.

tac

 

[trevj]

It turns out that the Girardoni air rifle owned by Mr Beeman of Beeman Air rifles and accessories fame WAS the actual air rifle taken on the L&CE. Certain repairs done to it by the expedition blacksmith were found on Mr Beeman's rifle, as well as other corresponding and identifiable traces.

tac

That would make it about the fourth or fifth one that he claimed that for. He is a pretty good marketer. He has written several published articles about several different "the" L&C air rifles, each, coincidently, available for purchase.

The actual notes about the gun are pretty vague. It seems slim odds to me that what was essentially a Classified Military technology would have made it across in that short a time frame. But I have not made a career of selling myself as an air gun expert, either.

Still a neat gun.

Cheers
Trev

 

[Doc Sharptail]

That would make it about the fourth or fifth one that he claimed that for. He is a pretty good marketer. He has written several published articles about several different "the" L&C air rifles, each, coincidently, available for purchase.

The actual notes about the gun are pretty vague.
Cheers
Trev

X-2.

This is not unusual at all.

The original Lewis & Clarke gun is still un-accounted for...

Regards,

Doc Sharptail

 

[antiqueguy]

oh no the original high capacity evil baby killing rifle lol I had too neat gun and in a time where just about everything loaded from the front it must have been a sight to see