"Anton Schreiber in Gratz" inscribed on top of the barrel at the breech. There is a maker listed with this last name as active out of Graz, Austria circa 1833. These bellows air guns were generally made in the late 1700s to mid-1800s, and were used primarily for indoor target shooting. Their basic feature is a conical bellows hidden in the hollowed-out wooden buttstock. Information related to these can be found on pages 213-214 of "Blue Book of Airguns, Thirteenth Edition". This bellows air gun has a tip-up smoothbore octagon barrel measuring at approximately .32 caliber/8 mm (possibly for use with 7.5 mm darts with a hair tail) that loads from the breech and releases with a button located on the left sideplate. Dovetail mounted blade front and notch rear sights on the barrel with floral engraving on the breech, and mounted with a walnut stock with floral relief carvings. Circular brass collection tag marked "R.D. BEEMAN/PRIVATE/COLLECTION/2036" hanging from the trigger guard. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection

Very good with scattered mild gray and brown patina/pitting on the barrel with sharp inscription and engraving, and attractive golden aged patina on the brass fittings. The stock is also very good with numerous scattered dings and scratches, a replacement oval section on top of the wrist, a few discreetly repaired sections, and defined carvings. The tip-up barrel sticks, the triggers function properly, otherwise mechanically untested.