CIRCA 1780-90
Details
A Rare 50-Bore Austrian Breech-Loading Military Repeating Air Rifle On The Girandoni System
Circa 1780-90
With octagonal sighted barrel cut with twelve grooves, the breech with sliding sprung transverse breech-block, and tubular iron magazine on the right side, plain flat bevelled lock, walnut full stock (repaired below the lock), plain brass mounts of shaped outline, brass action stamped with a 'G' and the number '1493', turn-off tapering cylindrical butt reservoir numbered '3' (leather covering replaced), iron sling mounts, later horn-tipped ramrod, and unnumbered spare reservoir (leather covering defective)
28in. (71.1cm.) barrel
Bartolomeo Girandoni of Cortina d'Ampezzo (recorded 1744-1799), demonstrated his air rifle to the Austrian military authorities in 1779, and won the approval of Emperor Joseph II. A factory was set up for the production of 500 rifles by workmen sworn to secrecy. In 1784 the order was increased to 1,000. The first rifles were issued in 1787 when 200 rifles, each with a pair of spare reservoirs were sent to the Hungarian frontier for use by sharpshooters. Subsequently Austrian troops used air rifles in the Low Countries and on the Rhine. Withdrawn from service in 1815, they were last issued in 1848-9
See Howard L. Blackmore, Guns and Rifles of the World, pp. 93-4, plate 737, and Fred H. Baer, 'Napoleon Was Not Afraid of It', Arms and Armor Annual, Vol I, pp. 250-257 (2)
Circa 1780-90
With octagonal sighted barrel cut with twelve grooves, the breech with sliding sprung transverse breech-block, and tubular iron magazine on the right side, plain flat bevelled lock, walnut full stock (repaired below the lock), plain brass mounts of shaped outline, brass action stamped with a 'G' and the number '1493', turn-off tapering cylindrical butt reservoir numbered '3' (leather covering replaced), iron sling mounts, later horn-tipped ramrod, and unnumbered spare reservoir (leather covering defective)
28in. (71.1cm.) barrel
Bartolomeo Girandoni of Cortina d'Ampezzo (recorded 1744-1799), demonstrated his air rifle to the Austrian military authorities in 1779, and won the approval of Emperor Joseph II. A factory was set up for the production of 500 rifles by workmen sworn to secrecy. In 1784 the order was increased to 1,000. The first rifles were issued in 1787 when 200 rifles, each with a pair of spare reservoirs were sent to the Hungarian frontier for use by sharpshooters. Subsequently Austrian troops used air rifles in the Low Countries and on the Rhine. Withdrawn from service in 1815, they were last issued in 1848-9
See Howard L. Blackmore, Guns and Rifles of the World, pp. 93-4, plate 737, and Fred H. Baer, 'Napoleon Was Not Afraid of It', Arms and Armor Annual, Vol I, pp. 250-257 (2)