This American muzzleloading air rifle dates to around the mid-19th century. It features a round barrel chambered in .30 caliber with six-groove rifling, dovetail mounted blade front sight and dovetail mounted notch rear sight, a hammer that bumps a valve stem for functioning, double set triggers, walnut buttstock with German silver furniture including the patchbox, a ramrod located on the left of the barrel, and a large underbarrel cylinder reservoir that fills from the front. "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. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection

Fine with scattered freckling and a few patches of light surface corrosion on the bright iron, with period soldering visible around the breech. The stock is also fine with some light scratches and dents, and defined edges. The trigger requires setting prior to cocking the hammer, and the valve stem requires manual assistance to allow the hammer to bypass for cocking, otherwise mechanically fine.