"1821" and "IOS: ARNOLD/IN MUNCHEN" marked on the bottom plate ahead of the trigger guard. No further information was located on the maker. 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 bellows air gun has a tip-up smoothbore octagon barrel measuring at approximately .50 caliber/13 mm (possibly for use with darts with a hair tail) that loads from the breech and releases with a lever located on bottom. Dovetail mounted blade front and notch rear sights on the barrel, and mounted with a walnut stock with floral relief carvings on the left and a checkered forearm and wrist. The top of the wrist has a broken fixture for mount a peep sight (absent). Circular brass collection tag marked "R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/2091" 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

Good, exhibiting brown patina on the iron surfaces with traces of original blue finish. The brass shows an attractive golden aged patina. Stock is also good with scattered scratches and handling marks, a few cracks on the sides of the forend, a few small holes visible on the right front edge of the comb, a repaired spliced section on top of the comb, absent end cap with some chips, and otherwise defined relief carvings and edges. Mostly absent broken end cap on the stock, absent ramrod tip, and absent peep sight with broken fixture, and the hair trigger is bent. Mechanically untested.