"Staudenmayer London" engraved on top of the barrel and "STAUDENMAYER" on the right of the lockplate. A noted London gunmaker, Samuel Henry Staudenmayer (1801-1834) was listed as active at 32 Cockspur St., and originally apprenticed under John Manton. He manufactured firearms for the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York. 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. It is chambered in approximately .51 caliber/13 mm with a smoothbore part octagon barrel that loads from the muzzle, walnut forend and iron stock air reservoir with a walnut top section. Features floral and border pattern engraving on the action, lock and sideplate. Circular brass collection tag "R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/077" hanging from the trigger guard. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection

Fair, retains half of an old refinished brown finish with some scattered patches of light pitting, refinished blue finish above mild pitting on the hammer, trigger and trigger guard, and sharp engraving overall. Wood is good with scattered scratches and dents, some cracks and chipped sections, and the forend has been sanded and re-oiled. Mechanically fine. Absent ramrod, absent sights.