"J.T. Grahnholm/Inventor." inscribed in fancy script on the small right brass sideplate. J.T. Grahnholm is listed as an active gunmaker circa 1860 out of Stockholm, Sweden. This is likely a one-off inventors prototype, with an air reservoir located beneath the barrel, and loads from the breech end with a flip-up breech lever that releases with a button catch visible ahead of the stock comb. Air guns of this style were used primarily for hunting. "Wind guns" had several advantages over conventional firearms including that they were quieter, smokeless, quicker to reload, and relatively unaffected by rain. They also require less cleaning since they do not require corrosive black powder. This air gun is chambered in approximately .36 caliber/9 mm with a smooth bore and slightly larger diameter at the muzzle, and has a blade front sight and notch rear sight. Mounted with a full-length walnut stock with checkered wrist. Circular brass collection tag marked "R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/494" hanging from the trigger guard. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection

Fine, retains 30% original silver finish strongest on the barrel and protected areas with some age related tarnishing and attractive golden aged patina on the balance of the exposed brass surfaces. Stock is also fine with defined edges and checkering, numerous scattered scratches and dents, a few cracks on the left flat, and nice figure overall. It appears something is missing on the front of the reservoir, otherwise mechanically fine.