"JAs COOK" inscribed on the left of the action. Possibly James Cook, active out of Birmingham circa 1817-1831. Ball reservoirs were in use since the late 17th century and had the added advantage of being easily swapped out. 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. Features floral scroll engraving on the action, trigger guard and cocking lever. It is chambered in approximately .40 caliber/10 mm with a fine-groove rifled barrel, a rotating faucet breech that loads from the top and a walnut buttstock with checkered wrist. Circular brass collection tag marked "R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/658" hanging from the trigger guard. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection