These bellows air guns were generally made in the late 1700s to mid-1800s, and were used primarily for indoor target shooting. Their basic feature is a conical bellows hidden in the hollowed-out wooden buttstock. This unique example is mostly wood in construction, with a round brass barrel surrounded by a walnut housing that has the appearance of an octagon barrel and loads by swiveling to the right; measures at approximately .36 caliber/9.5 mm (possibly for use with darts with a hair tail). Dovetail mounted blade front and notch rear sights. Silver wire inlays on top of the wrist. Circular brass collection tag marked "R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/2902" hanging from the trigger guard. Information related to these can be found on pages 213-214 of "Blue Book of Airguns, Thirteenth Edition." Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection

Very good, with numerous scattered scratches and dents, a few filled in replacement sections, and the walnut remains sound. The brass exhibits golden bright and aged patinas. The set trigger functions fine, otherwise mechanically untested.