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Girandoni air rifle as used by Lewis and Clark. A National Firearms Museum Treasure Gun.
YouTube ^ | 3-2-2011 | Red_Devil232

Posted on 03/02/2011 4:40:38 AM PST by Red_Devil 232

The Girandoni Air Rifle circa 1779 was a 22 shot, breach loading, repeating rifle used by the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It was 4 ft (1.2 m) long and weighed 10 pounds (4.5 kg), which made it the same basic size and weight as other muskets of the time. It fired a .46 caliber ball at a velocity similar to that of a modern .45 ACP. The air reservoiris in the stock and required hand pumping 1500 times to a working pressure of 800 psi. Pretty remarkable for late 18th century technology.

alt


TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: banglist
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

http://www.quackenbushairguns.com/LA_Outlaw.htm

Never heard of this, but they make some interesting stuff, what however seems to be mysterious is how did Lewis and Clark have an air rifle using bone in its parts and yet had better re-peat shots?

These modern day air rifles require a scuba tank for refills.

What would just be nice is to use a smaller caliber, make it fully auto even if it means building it gatling gun style and is able to fire no less than 500 rounds per second using a rotary magazine, and solely powered by portable air. Basically the ultimate area denial coverage without using loaded ammunition.


21 posted on 03/02/2011 6:26:55 AM PST by Eye of Unk ("These people are either at your neck or at your knees" A quote by Winston Churchill)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

http://www.quackenbushairguns.com/LA_Outlaw.htm

Edited post:

Never heard of this, but they make some interesting stuff, what however seems to be mysterious is how did Lewis and Clark have an air rifle using bone in its parts and yet had better re-peat shots?

These modern day air rifles require a scuba tank for refills.

What would just be nice is to use a smaller caliber, make it fully auto even if it means building it gatling gun style and is able to fire no less than 500 rounds per “minute” or faster. using a rotary magazine, and solely powered by portable air. Basically the ultimate area denial coverage without using loaded ammunition.


22 posted on 03/02/2011 6:27:56 AM PST by Eye of Unk ("These people are either at your neck or at your knees" A quote by Winston Churchill)
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To: Eye of Unk
One fill of my .50 cal Bandit rifle gives 4 shots. The tank issue forces discipline in shooting. The rifle will take deer and other game.
It makes a neat sound...like a metal car door “thunk.”
23 posted on 03/02/2011 6:34:46 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (Go Hawks !)
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To: Red_Devil 232
I had no idea that there was a gun like this in the 1700’s.
Wow, I guess my public teacher union member didn't know either.....Or did they....Photobucket excellent post
24 posted on 03/02/2011 6:37:54 AM PST by baddog 219
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

As a legal hunting rifle 4 shots is all you need.

This must really get the gun grabbers in a twist, it doesn’t fire bullets, the design can be duplicated to some extant by a person with modest machine shop skills, all that is really needed is a high pressure compressor, tanks and the right material to use in a bullet mold.


25 posted on 03/02/2011 6:40:21 AM PST by Eye of Unk ("These people are either at your neck or at your knees" A quote by Winston Churchill)
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To: Eye of Unk

I meant to say it doesn’t use a cartridge with gunpowder and a primer. It still shoots a projectile, probably the best way to describe it.


26 posted on 03/02/2011 6:42:28 AM PST by Eye of Unk ("These people are either at your neck or at your knees" A quote by Winston Churchill)
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To: Eye of Unk
The ball will pass through 1/2 inch plywood. The FPS is on the slow side but it does have several thousand foot-pounds of knock down power.
27 posted on 03/02/2011 6:47:29 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (Go Hawks !)
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To: Red_Devil 232

BOOKbump


28 posted on 03/02/2011 6:57:44 AM PST by S.O.S121.500 (That Kenyan bastard is not my president. ENFORCE the Bill of Rights.)
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To: Eye of Unk
it doesn’t fire bullets

No. It propels bullets using air pressure.

29 posted on 03/02/2011 6:58:57 AM PST by SeeSac
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To: Drawsing

If you lose count do you have to start over or can you just guess how many times it was pumped up?


30 posted on 03/02/2011 7:24:37 AM PST by 2001convSVT (That Beck guy was right about gold, too.)
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To: Red_Devil 232

I had no idea they had this kind of weapon.
Thanks.


31 posted on 03/02/2011 7:38:12 AM PST by Verbosus (/* No Comment */)
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To: Eye of Unk

My brother worked with a group of Korean men for a ~year, many of them, possibly all of them, had big freaking air guns to hunt/target shoot in Upstate New York.

Apparently they do still make hand pumps for these Korean air guns, lots of crude jokes based on it...


32 posted on 03/02/2011 7:56:51 AM PST by JerseyHighlander (p.s. The word 'bloggers' is not in the freerepublic spellcheck dictionary?!)
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To: Verbosus

I had no idea either untill I ran across this info. Interesting what we can learn on the the net and here at FR.


33 posted on 03/02/2011 8:36:48 AM PST by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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To: tubebender

Hey Mr. Bender need an Air Rifle for those pesky pests around your garden?


34 posted on 03/02/2011 1:23:26 PM PST by Red_Devil 232 (VietVet - USMC All Ready On The Right? All Ready On The Left? All Ready On The Firing Line!)
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To: Verbosus

They used to freak out indians with it, from what I’ve read.


35 posted on 03/02/2011 2:28:25 PM PST by WOBBLY BOB ( "I don't want the majority if we don't stand for something"- Jim Demint)
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To: Red_Devil 232

I’m amazed they had seals and valves that could handle 800 psi. I’d like to see the fittings they used for connecting the pump to the air cylinder.


36 posted on 03/02/2011 2:40:25 PM PST by Yardstick
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To: Red_Devil 232; WOBBLY BOB

I am really amazed the more I read about it.

I wonder if my great, great, great grandfather (Jebediah Verbosus) ever got the opportunity to shoot one. :)


37 posted on 03/02/2011 5:08:04 PM PST by Verbosus (/* No Comment */)
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