This European air gun dates to around the early 1800s and does not have any visible maker markings although it appears to be of Austrian origin. "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. Chambered in approximately .36 caliber/9 mm and features a screw-off round barrel with a smooth bore, iron lock and sideplate, engraved cocking lever, brass frame, a small walnut stock with an "S" carved on the bottom, and a leather wrapped metal buttstock air reservoir. Circular brass collection tag marked "R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/065" hanging from the trigger guard. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection