This Austrian air gun dates to around the early 1800s. It is silver inlaid with the maker name "Ludwig.Zeer.a.Wienn" on the top barrel flat at the breech and signed "Ludwig.Zeer" on the lockplate. No information related to this maker has been found at the current time. "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 is chambered in approximately .46 caliber/11.5 mm and features a part octagon/round barrel with a smooth bore that loads from the muzzle end, a German silver bead front sight, high quality floral border engraving on the brass components and iron lock with motifs engraved on top of the receiver and bottom of the trigger guard, a walnut stock with floral relief carving on the bottom, and a leather wrapped metal stock reservoir. Circular brass collection tag marked "R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/2287" hanging from the trigger guard. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection