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 required less cleaning since they did not require corrosive black powder. This air gun is chambered in approximately .48 caliber/12 mm with a smooth bore, fixed notch rear sight, and an iron stock air reservoir. This example is also likely of Austrian or German origin and features an exposed lock, giving it a similar look to the more standard flintlock arms of the time. The gun is devoid of any visible markings. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection

Very good overall with scattered light freckling and very light pitting. The breech is unable to properly open for loading, otherwise the lock functions.