"P. VOLKMANN IN WIEN" silver inlaid on top of the barrel at the breech. These bellows air guns were generally made in the late 1700s to mid-1800s, and were used primarily for indoor target shooting. Information related to these can be found on pages 212-213 of "Blue Book of Airguns, Thirteenth Edition". These air guns have a conical bellows hidden in the hollowed-out wooden buttstock and use darts that typically have a hair tail. This bellows air gun has a tip-up octagon barrel measuring at approximately .30 caliber/7.5 mm (possibly for use with 7 mm darts with a hair tail) with a smooth bore that loads from the breech and releases with a lever that protrudes through the bottom of the stock ahead of the trigger guard, dovetail mounted blade front and notch rear sights on the barrel, tang mounting point for a peep sight (absent), and is mounted with a walnut stock with a checkered forend and deeply cut floral relief carvings. Floral and scroll pattern engraving on the barrel tang and various brass fittings. Includes crank handle. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection

Very good, retains 30% original blue finish on the barrel with smooth gray and brown patina on the balance and some scattered areas of light pitting, and has nearly all of the silver inlay on top of the barrel. The brass retains an attractive golden aged patina. The stock is also very good with scattered scratches and dents, discreet repairs along some of the edges, a few cracks, and a re-glued top section on the buttstock. The included crank handle does not properly function due to a loose piece, but the gun appears to function mechanically fine. Absent rear peep sight.