Gun
Bartholomeo Girandoni (1744 - 1799)
Category
Arms and armour
Date
1805
Materials
iron, brass, leather
Measurements
1145 mm (Length)95 mm (Diameter)
Order this imageCollection
Oxburgh Hall, Norfolk
NT 1210046
Summary
Repeating air gun, c1805, of the type invented by Bartholomeo Girandoni (1744-1799).
Full description
Rare repeating air gun of the type invented by Bartholomeo Girandoni (1744-1799). Octagonal iron barrel with multi-groove rifling. The breech is formed as a square block through which a cross-bolt slides acting as a carrier for the lead bullets from the magazine to the barrel breach. The original magazine tube and its spring have been replaced by a crudely soldered on brass tube to the right side of the barrel. At the muzzle is a blade shaped fore-sight while a standing V-shape sight with decorative finial is at the barrel rear. Retained to the stock by 3 barrel pins. Replaced wooden ramrod with brass tip. Barrel length 75.3cm. Calibre 13mm. Walnut stock with floral carving to the underside and profile carving to the right and left sides of the receiver, ramrod channel and forestock. Brass furniture (perhaps gilded) comprising; trigger guard, flat side or coverplate, forend cap and 3 ramrod pipes. Iron trigger plate. Brass receiver, the forward end attached to the barrel breech, the rear threaded for attaching the air reservoir. Separate side lock with plain flat and bevelled plate in the form of a conventional gun lock. Engraved flat and bevelled cocking lever with long curved spur. Removable iron air reservoir forming the butt. Leather covered and of cylindrical, tapering form, rounded at one end, the other with a threaded brass valve which screws to the receiver. Overall length: 115.5cm. References Brian Godwin, “Historic Firearms of the National Trust - 2 Rare Guns at Oxburgh Hall”, Classic Arms & Militaria Magazine, 2013
Provenance
Part of the Bedingfeld Collection. Given to the National Trust in 1961 by Lady Sybil Bedingfeld.
Makers and roles
Bartholomeo Girandoni (1744 - 1799) , gunsmith
References
Hoff, 1972: Arne Hoff, Airguns & other Pneumatic Arms Baer, 1973: Fred Baer, "Napoleon was not afraid of it", Arms & Armor Annual (Ed. Robert Held) 1973 Baker & Currie, 2006: Geoffrey Baker & Colin Currie, The Construction and Operation of the Air Gun, Vol. 1 - The Austrian Army Repeating Air Rifle, Second Edition