Assault Rife Carried by Lewis & Clark Expedition

NRA Musem | NA | NA

[dvan]

This 22-shot repeating air rifle is an original Girardoni military pattern rifle of the type used on the Lewis & Clark Expedition. It is a butt reservoir piece with a bore size of .462 caliber. Similar pieces were supplied by Bartolomeo Girardoni to the Austrian army circa 1780.

As originally issued, each Girardoni air rifle had three detachable air reservoirs, each requiring about 1,500 strokes of a pump to completely pressurize the reservoir. Once filled to operating pressure (about 800 psi) the air rifle could fire up to 70 shots before the reservoir required replacing.

A metal tube on the side of the barrel held up to 22 lead balls that could be fed one at a time to the firing chamber by a simple sideways push of a plunger. At a distance of 50 feet, this rifle is capable of placing ten shots into a group the size of a quarter.

[TexasGator]

“How so?? “

I don’t think having to reposition the gun and manually feed the next bullet qualifies it as an ‘assault’ rifle.

[TexasGator]

“The title was supplied for a purpose.

Forum rules state to use exact title, not make up your own.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

While in St Louis, the expedition tested out the rifle. Someone accidentally hit the trigger and the ball went through a womans...HAT as she was walking down the street.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I have read that NAPOLEON was so frightened of these air guns that he ordered anyone captured with one to be executed.

Did you know that when the Lewis and Clark expedition returned, all the government owned firearms, INCLUDING the air rifle were sold at public auction.
Government owned arms were considered PUBLIC PROPERTY and the auction returned the people’s arms to the people.

But then, that was then before the faint heart Libs came to power.

[chaosagent]

It takes 1500 pumps to fully charge the reservoir.

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Yes, but when the first one is empty, you plug in the second one, already pumped up. And then the third. So you’ve now fired over 200 rounds.

And you’ve got a guy behind you pumping up the empties.

[chaosagent]

The fact that the Lewis and Clark expedition was not exterminated by the natives has been attributed to this rifle. When the group met a new group of hostiles they would demonstrate the rifle.

It is thought that the natives thought better of attacking them in case they had enough rifles for the entire expedition.

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The thing that scared the natives the most was that the air rifle was pretty much silent, with no bang, just a pfffft.
‘

[Chuckster]

I suppose the M-1 Garand would be considered an assault weapon now. I think the Germans and Japanese considered it was. 8 rounds, one pull of the trigger fires one round. The Germans had their fully automatic weapons, but the ordinary soldier carried a bolt action weapon that could not match the M-1 in fire power.

The M-1 was, and is, a full powered battle rifle. An assault rifle is, by definition, a lighter weapon with full auto capability firing a reduced power cartridge. The M-1 Carbine would fit the definition better.

[Myrddin]

You can submit a Form 4 to transfer a pre-1986 full auto rifle. ATF will not process a Form 4 for anything manufactured 1986 or later. Form 4 also applies to purchase of existing SBR, SBS ans suppressor devices with an existing serial number. If manufacturing your own SBR or suppressor, you submit a Form 1 and wait for approval. In either case, you cough up $200 for the Form 1/Form 4 and wait for approval to take possession of your property. If the application is rejected, you get a refund of the $200. If accepted, hold on to your receipt for the $200. You just paid a tax that can be applied to your tax return for that year.

[wildbill]

So cool that if someone manufactured an updated model today (fill the reservoirs at the gas station air pumps) I’d buy one today.

Saw a TV show that featured this air rifle once and it was impressive with a range over 50 feet.

[Wonder Warthog]

"I don’t think having to reposition the gun and manually feed the next bullet qualifies it as an ‘assault’ rifle."

I think the definition has to take into account the era and technology it is competing against. Once upon a time, matchlocks were assault rifles. Then flintlocks. Then percussion caps.

[Eagles6]

Yes. Incorrect. Full auto weapons are legal in most states. 38 I think.

There is an enhanced background check, $200 tax stamp and your county sherrif needs to sign off.

That said, a semi auto AR 15 costs about $600+. Full auto in the vicinity of $20,000.

[TMSuchman]

The problem is that the new lines of high end air rifles, uses 4500lbs of psi.

There is a small underground movement to try to get these being made again. Right now you have to scratch build them yourself.

[marktwain]

There is a version made by Crossman/Benjamin. It runs about $800, and delivers 10 shots of .357 95 grain bullets at about 900 fps. That is likely quite a bit more powerful than the Griondelli. They have a hand pump for it for about $179 more. You can pump it up for another 10 shots with about 200 pumps, as I recall, or refill it with a scuba tank.

3,000 psi is a full tank. It has a pressure gauge on it.

A pretty good approximation of the Girondelli. It is a bullpub design, but no extra tanks. Can take big game to 80 yards.

1 inch group at 25 yards, for 10 shots.

http://www.crosman.com/bulldog-synthetic
The Crossman has an integral suppressor and is very quiet.