Air rifles?

[noahmercy]

Any of y'all have a PC air gun? I know they've been around for centuries and I've seen several period guns in museums (the Buffalo Bill Historic Center in Cody has some beauts), but I've never talked to anyone who has one. I'm kinda' interested in how they operate, what the seals are made of, how hard they are to maintain, and all that good shtuff. Also, any good books out there on the subject? :thumbsup:

 

[bezoar]

not sure on books but airguns been arund along time in europe. first really just a small dart in a tube attached to a small belows. just google alot till u find information you can use.
i remember a few guns that just used a air reseviour in the butt of the gun and a simple push button valve operated by a flintlock.

 

[guncobbler]

http://www.quackenbushairguns.com/bandit_3.html Here is a modern big airgun site. Might give you some links to historical guns. GC

 

[Gary]

There's a fellow in Southern California who is making a replica of the airgun carried by Lewis & Clark. He's making only three (himself & his buddy who is helping with the machining) and I think Dr. Beeman has dibs on one the third.

There is a book but among my 15 plus bookcases, I can't find it.

 

don't know of anyone with a PC airgun
do sssome googleing on pumpkin chunking.
They make air guns to shoot pumpkins that are grown with special seeds that grow pumpkins round instead of oblonged
and they mic them and when the correct dia. they pic them for ammo. and have a big annual shoot then.
Distance is what is measured not acuracy.

Woody

 

[arilar]

Actually I saw a nice replica of 18th century airgun in the "Traders tent" at MLAIC World Champ in Batesville, Indiana last August. The guys in USIMLT (www.usimlt.org) would now the name of the maker and seller.
ARILAR :: :thumbsup:

 

[noahmercy]

Thanks fer all the links, fellas. I'll poke about some more and see if I can't find more info. It's just surprising at how obscure this aspect of firearms history seems to be. I guess if you wanted to be technical, a blowgun is the earliest form of the air gun and those've been around for thousands of years, so the pneumatic rifles and pistols seem to me to be an important step in the evolution of guns, much like crossbows. :thumbsup:

 

Well, I doubt you'll find one more period correct than this one:

Lewis and Clark's Air Rifle

I hope others will join me in encouraging these people to see their project through. Have to track down an email address, I would love to see how this has progressed to date.

Just :m2c: