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Lewis/Clark Air Rifle
Beeman AirArm Website ^ | 09/24/06 | Robert D. Beeman

Posted on 09/24/2006 8:15:58 AM PDT by tomzz

When Thomas Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark out on their famous journey, he took extraordinary steps to provide for their safety. He provided them with a blank check backed by the United States government to purchase any ship they might figure they needed on the west coast, assuming they felt such a need, and he provided them with the ultimate small arm of the time. It appears as if this ultimate small arm might have been a major factor in the expedition not having been annihilated by Indians. Not that tribes were wiped out with the weapon, nonetheless it was demonstrated to them and they were given to understand that there was no limit to the number of shots the thing could fire and that all of the expedition people had them.

Air rifles are normally thought of as single shot, very small caliber weapons to shoot starlings and rats with; if that's your whole exposure to air rifles, this one might shock you:

The Lewis and Clark air-powered assault rifle.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: airrifle; banglist; clark; lewis
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To: tomzz
That is one of the most interesting articles I have read in many a day. Thank you.

I recall reading that the only proven artifact remaining from the Lewis and Clark expedition is a stuffed beaver in a college museum. Now, it would appear, there are two.

It's staggering to think what this gun must be worth. Just as a wild guess, I would say ten million dollars if sold at auction.

Three cheers for Dr. Beeman for his intention to donate it to a museum. The Army War College may deserve a copy, but this gun really belongs in a place of honor in the Smithsonian.

-ccm

21 posted on 09/24/2006 9:32:42 AM PDT by ccmay (Too much Law; not enough Order)
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To: tomzz
430 grns is not excessive for North America if you consider the 700+ fps velocity. Muzzle loaders obtain much higher velocities than that and if you are shooting cast conical bullets without a sabot you need a large heavy bullet to drop even deer reliably if you are going to shoot at ranges more than 80 yds. My brother and I use a 450 grn cast lead conical and find they are adequate.

When I was young, before sabots, and hunting with black powder I used lighter weight bullets and found that I was wounding animals at ranges from 100 to 130 yards and had to track them for long distances. Going to a heavier bullet solved that problem. Without high velocity to impart shock you need a large caliber heavy bullet to put the animal down.

Air guns over .22 caliber are illegal in most states I believe. I may be wrong, feel free to check it out. It has to do with the silence factor.

22 posted on 09/24/2006 9:36:03 AM PDT by calex59 (Hillary Clinton is dumber than a one eyed monkey with a brain tumor(credit to Harley69))
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To: SAMWolf; snippy_about_it; alfa6; Peanut Gallery

ping


23 posted on 09/24/2006 9:37:28 AM PDT by Professional Engineer (As a matter of fact, I have been to a Star Trek convention.)
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To: tomzz

I learn something new every day on Free Republic! The use of replaceable air cartridges for the gun is an amazingly advanced idea for that time. Fascinating article!


24 posted on 09/24/2006 9:53:24 AM PDT by 6SJ7
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To: 6SJ7

Interesting design and great article.


25 posted on 09/24/2006 10:01:55 AM PDT by Paladin2 (Islam is the religion of violins, NOT peas.)
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To: ccmay

As I recall from Unduanted Courage, Captain Clark also carved his name on a rock somewhere out west. I believe it still exists as well


26 posted on 09/24/2006 10:04:07 AM PDT by cyclotic (Support Cub Scouting-Raising boys to be men, and politically incorrect at the same time.)
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To: cyclotic

That would be "Pompey's Pillar", I think! It was named after their Indian guide's baby. It seems they gave him an affectionate nickname, and it stuck. They stopped at where there was a large boulder, and carved their name(s), and it was referred to by the nickname of Sacagaweya's(sp?)baby.


27 posted on 09/24/2006 11:06:23 AM PDT by dsutah
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To: dsutah

Yep, it's in Montana. As far as artifacts from the expedition, there are a few Indian "peace" medals, an equipment brand dug out of a river in Oregon around the turn of the last century, and interestingly an ancient blacksmith anvil w/ eagle that was used as a doorstop in Montana for many years. One statement - about Lewis' suicide - is problematic in that a lot of the surviving accounts trends that Lewis was killed and robbed in Tennesee at a place called Griners Tavern. I sort of half-wish Mark Fuhrman would take up the case and tell us what he thinks.


28 posted on 09/24/2006 11:14:21 AM PDT by Freedom4US (u)
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To: tomzz

What a wonderful article on a forgotten piece of American history and, even more dazzling, a brilliant piece of historical detective work.

A long read but even the technical parts are absolutely fascinating.


29 posted on 09/24/2006 11:21:58 AM PDT by wildbill
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To: wildbill

AS I mentioned above, this thing is probably the single most valuable small arm in the world.


30 posted on 09/24/2006 11:37:28 AM PDT by tomzz
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To: tomzz

Thanks for posting - a long read for a slow Sunday AM.

Lots of clever figures and other graphics, well worth the time. The fonts are a bit of a pain tho....


31 posted on 09/24/2006 12:20:26 PM PDT by ASOC (The phrase "What if" or "If only" are for children.)
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To: Chode

as some posts really begged for refutation and dragged me out of weekend hiatus, I may as well take the time to thank you for bringing this to my attention.
I was already well aware of single-shot rifled airguns being used as effective tools of battle, but had not heard of this repeater. fascinating. thanks.


32 posted on 09/24/2006 1:28:50 PM PDT by King Prout (many complain I am overly literal... this would not be a problem if fewer people were under-precise)
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To: dsutah


**at would be "Pompey's Pillar", I think! It was named after their Indian guide's baby. It seems they gave him an affectionate nickname, and it stuck.***


Actually, his name was "Pomp".


33 posted on 09/24/2006 1:33:54 PM PDT by Ruy Dias de Bivar ((Democrats have never found a fight they couldn't run from...Ann Coulter))
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To: King Prout
Image hosted by Photobucket.com my pleasure my Liege... check out the link to Beemans as it gives all the blueprints and some excellent pictures.

BETTER than what's in this months American Rifleman.

34 posted on 09/24/2006 2:53:02 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist ©®)
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To: tomzz
Image hosted by Photobucket.comi would guess an order of magnitude less noisey than a .308

no supersonic bullet crack to start with and the air blast is more of a loud puloop/thump...

35 posted on 09/24/2006 2:58:01 PM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist ©®)
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To: tomzz; wildbill; Pharmboy; indcons

I'm a bit on the skeptical side about this story, but here it is, could be pingworthy. :')

Camping and Lewis and Clark
Miami Herald | Dave Barry
Posted on 08/20/2006 12:07:27 PM EDT by nuconvert
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1686921/posts


36 posted on 09/24/2006 4:22:48 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (updated my FR profile on Saturday, September 16, 2006. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: Overtaxed; g'nad; Sam Cree; 300winmag

Ping, good read here.

OT - that would take care of your 'bushy-tailed varmints'.


37 posted on 09/24/2006 5:32:52 PM PDT by osagebowman
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To: osagebowman

Heh...the nayber lady would probably like one too.


38 posted on 09/24/2006 6:35:15 PM PDT by Overtaxed
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To: Chode

One poster above said about like a 45 ACP. I was guessing just based on air rifles I've shot in the past.


39 posted on 09/24/2006 7:55:39 PM PDT by tomzz
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To: tomzz

Could any firearm produced within 50 years of that thing produced anything near the rate of fire? Was it just because of expense that airguns such as those didn't see wider use?


40 posted on 09/24/2006 9:10:13 PM PDT by supercat (Sony delenda est.)
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