This sporting air gun follows the classic breech loading ball reservoir pattern popular in the United Kingdom in the early 19th century and was manufactured or retailed by Simmons, most likely around the early to mid-19th century. Air guns of this style were used primarily for hunting. "Wind guns" had several advantages over conventional firearms including that they produced quieter, smokeless, quicker to reload, and relatively unaffected by rain. They also required less cleaning since they did not require corrosive black powder. Ball reservoirs were in use since the late 17th century and had the added advantage of being easily swapped out. This piece has a small post front sight, low notch rear sight, round barrel with under rib terminating in a short octagonal section at the breech, floral and stand of arms engraving on the action, trigger guard, and buttplate tang; "SIMMONS" on the left side of the action, a left side lever for rotating the breech block, a 4 inch in diameter ball shaped air reservoir, smooth forearm with horn tip, and buttstock with a checkered wrist.