This impressive embellished air pistol utilizes the Girardoni repeating system. The Girardoni (sometimes spelled "Girandoni") is easily the most famous early air rifle (pistol in this case) or windbuchse largely thanks to the fact that for many years it has been associated with Lewis & Clark and their famous Corps of Discovery Expedition. It is widely believed that they either had a Girardoni or a very similar design by Isaiah Lukens of Philadelphia. The Girardoni was designed by Bartolomeo Girardoni around 1779 and is also significant as one of the first widely used repeating martial arms, with a magazine tube on the right side of the barrel for use with lead balls and a breech block that is able to be pressed sideways against spring pressure for loading/repeating capability. The rifles were notably used by Austrian sharpshooters from 1787-1815. Because the air tanks took around 30 minutes of pumping by hand to bring to full pressure, the riflemen had assistants that repressurized the reservoirs initially and later also had more efficient wagon mounted pumps. "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. Signed "E.A.STORMER/K.O.H.R.MSTR./IN HERZBERG" in three lines on the lock. No further information related to this maker has been located at the current time. The round barrel is chambered in approximately .34 caliber/8.5 mm with fine-groove rifling, a dovetail mounted blade front sight and notch rear sight, walnut stock and a leather wrapped metal stock reservoir. Features floral scroll, border pattern, and a martial motif engraved on top of the brass frame, sideplate, lock, trigger guard and fittings. Fitted with a walnut stock with horn end cap. More information on Girardoni air guns can be found in the online article at https://www.beemans.net/Austrian%20airguns.htm, as well as pages 598-601 of "Blue Book of Airguns, Thirteenth Edition" with other similar examples of Girardoni system air pistols are photographed and described on pages 598 and 601. Provenance: The Dr. Robert D. Beeman Collection

Very good, with scattered heavy surface spotting over original brown finish on the barrel and magazine tube, gray and brown patina on the casehardened lock and sideplate, brown patina on the blued trigger guard and ramrod ferrules with traces of original blue finish in the protected areas of the trigger guard, highly attractive bright golden patina on the brass receiver, and absolutely sharp engraving overall. The wood is fine with scattered scratches, and defined edges overall. The leather on the grip reservoir is good with moderate flaking, wear and cracked areas. The spring loaded breech block functions mechanically fine, with an absent cocking lever and absent spring latch on the magazine tube cover. Rock Island Auction Company has only ever had the privilege to offer a few Girardoni system pistols, and they are very seldom seen outside of the well known Dr. Robert D. Beeman's collection, as offered here!