I didn’t know they used air rifles back in the 1700’s ..... Guess you do learn something new every day!
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.