Edward Bate (1743-1810) was a talented gunmaker active in London known to have manufactured several fine air guns including some with distinctive skeleton stocks. One such gun by Bate but with iron mounts was previously in the W. Keith Neal Collection. He was also among the few who produced high quality air pistols. The lock is signed "BATE," and the barrel is silver inlaid with "BATE = LONDON." The barrel also has silver inlaid flowers at the breech, evidence of a front sight, a notch rear sight, a banded transition point, and scroll engraved silver tang. The lock also has elaborate scrollwork engraving that incorporates a buttstock and dog below the pan and a caduceus and orb at the tail. The side nail washers are silver rosettes. The other furniture is also silver and has a variety of mainly floral engraving motifs. The trigger guard tang has hallmarks including "IK" (John King active in London circa 1770s-1780s) and the London date code for 1775. An intertwining rope border is around the silver thumb plate. The stock has a skeleton butt and engraved pierced buttplate and a raised carved rococo shell and scroll pattern at the breech that is similar to those seen on other Bate air guns. A brass/copper ball reservoir is fitted beneath the stock.

Very fine overall with 30% niter blue finish on the barrel and lock, gray patina in the faded areas, aged patina on the silver, contrasting aged patinas on the reservoir which has some dents, crisp markings and engraving, some repaired cracks in the re-oiled stock, and general minor marks and scratches. Mechanically fine but very unlikely to be fully functional due to aging of the seals.