This extremely rare pair of air pistols were made by Johann Fruwirth (1766-1824) circa 1810 and are based on the repeating pneumatic system designed by Bartholomeo Girandoni around 1779. This system is more commonly seen on rifles, making pistols, especially pairs of pistols, particularly rare. They have twelve groove rifled octagonal barrels with blade and notch sights, silver inlaid floral patterns, and the maker's signature "Joh Fruwirth a Wien." The tubular magazines are fitted to the right side of the barrels, and each has a sprung breechblock for loading. The rounded locks and side plates, brass action covers, and brass trigger guards all have fine foliate and border engraving. The action covers and locks are also each engraved with a fine martial trophy. The locks each have scroll engraved cocks with long spurs. The action covers are pierced for sprung cocking indicators. The figured full stocks each have checkered forend tips and foliate relief carving in front of the trigger guard. The detachable steel butt reservoirs are painted with a faux tortoiseshell finish. Similar examples are pictured on page 513 of "The Blue Book of Airguns 12th Edition."

Air Gun