"--STAUDENMAYER LONDON--" gold inlaid on top of the barrel ahead of a 16-point star on top of the breech. A noted London gunmaker, Samuel Henry Staudenmayer (1801-1834) was listed as active at 32 Cockspur St., and originally apprenticed under John Manton. He manufactured firearms for the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York. Air guns of this style were used primarily for hunting, with this high quality engraved example being of the type used by an individual with wealth and status. "Wind guns" had several advantages over conventional firearms including that they were quieter, smokeless, quicker to reload, and relatively unaffected by rain. It is chambered in approximately .47 caliber/11.5 mm and features a smoothbore octagon barrel that loads at the breech end utilizing a faucet breech system with a lever located on the left, a magazine tube beneath the barrel allowing repeating capability, an external hammer and mainspring, and a leather wrapped metal stock air reservoir. Features engravings of martial motifs on the lock, sideplate and trigger guard, and a lion standing on top of a crown engraved on top of the frame (unknown history). Circular brass collection tag "R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/2082" hanging from the trigger guard. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection