Antique airgun - how remarkable is this one?

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mcoulter

mcoulter

Member
Dec 16, 2015
1,175
118
Syracuse, NY, USA
Wow, if this was for sale in the US, i would be so tempted...

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/115447395_an-air-rifle-systeme-giffard-st-etienne-circa

(translated description)

An air rifle, Systeme Giffard, St. Étienne circa 1880 Round barrel, caliber 7.5 mm, length 62 cm, front sight and field visor inserted on the top, as well as the manufacturer's name "Manufacture Francaise / St. Etienne / d'Armes et Cycles. St. Etienne "Engraved frame with rear loading system. Number 3658 stamped on the bolt handle. Screwed-in pressure vessel, stamped several times on the thread mount. Walnut stock with checkering and slightly engraved furniture with a plastic butt cap. Burnished pressure vessel, other metal parts bare and slightly corroded. Butt with stronger signs of age and wear. Function not checked. Length 106 cm. Condition: II - III



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There are TONS of cool, old airguns out there but this one really struck me as being remarkably contemporary in design! 

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I don't need a clear conscience! Send it! A few minutes of googling this resulted in this page:

http://www.nramuseum.org/guns/the-galleries/for-the-fun-of-it/case-48-airguns/paul-giffard-single-shot-co2-rifle.aspx

Fascinating. It's a CO2 gun. 

From the above NRA article:

"Later, Giffard organized the Giffard Gun and Ordnance Co. in London, England. The original French-manufactured designs featured a cylindrical steel reservoir which was closed on one end, while the other end contained a valve. This reservoir was pressurized to 4,000 p.s.i., which permitted the shooter to fire between 40 and 60 shots. A hammer-and-rod system was used to open the valve on the CO2 reservoir, releasing gas which then traveled to the chamber via an internal channel. Pressure could be regulated for long- or short-range shots via an adjustable hammer stop which lengthened or shortened the time period in which the gas reservoir remained open. Giffard's British subsidiary manufactured an improved lever-action hammerless version of this gun that featured an octagonal barrel and a counter for tracking gas usage."


 
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I don't need a clear conscience! Send it! A few minutes of googling this resulted in this page:

http://www.nramuseum.org/guns/the-galleries/for-the-fun-of-it/case-48-airguns/paul-giffard-single-shot-co2-rifle.aspx

Fascinating. It's a CO2 gun. 

From the above NRA article:

"Later, Giffard organized the Giffard Gun and Ordnance Co. in London, England. The original French-manufactured designs featured a cylindrical steel reservoir which was closed on one end, while the other end contained a valve. This reservoir was pressurized to 4,000 p.s.i., which permitted the shooter to fire between 40 and 60 shots. A hammer-and-rod system was used to open the valve on the CO2 reservoir, releasing gas which then traveled to the chamber via an internal channel. Pressure could be regulated for long- or short-range shots via an adjustable hammer stop which lengthened or shortened the time period in which the gas reservoir remained open. Giffard's British subsidiary manufactured an improved lever-action hammerless version of this gun that featured an octagonal barrel and a counter for tracking gas usage."

Click to expand...

Here you are-

https://www.ebay.com/itm/124977291804?hash=item1d193a221c:g:2PoAAOSwZMhhbvvQ

Really an elegant, simply designed rifle IMO.
 
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I don't need a clear conscience! Send it! A few minutes of googling this resulted in this page:

http://www.nramuseum.org/guns/the-galleries/for-the-fun-of-it/case-48-airguns/paul-giffard-single-shot-co2-rifle.aspx

Fascinating. It's a CO2 gun. 

From the above NRA article:

"Later, Giffard organized the Giffard Gun and Ordnance Co. in London, England. The original French-manufactured designs featured a cylindrical steel reservoir which was closed on one end, while the other end contained a valve. This reservoir was pressurized to 4,000 p.s.i., which permitted the shooter to fire between 40 and 60 shots. A hammer-and-rod system was used to open the valve on the CO2 reservoir, releasing gas which then traveled to the chamber via an internal channel. Pressure could be regulated for long- or short-range shots via an adjustable hammer stop which lengthened or shortened the time period in which the gas reservoir remained open. Giffard's British subsidiary manufactured an improved lever-action hammerless version of this gun that featured an octagonal barrel and a counter for tracking gas usage."

Click to expand...

Here you are-

https://www.ebay.com/itm/124977291804?hash=item1d193a221c:g:2PoAAOSwZMhhbvvQ

Really an elegant, simply designed rifle IMO.
Click to expand...

Did you see the Webley Mk 3 he has listed? That's a very nice one too. A Webley stock lottery winner. But I already have 2. Sometimes he gets his descriptions wrong but he does sell some really desirable collectables. Do your own research. He's a good old guy.
 
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Simply beautiful! Thanks for posting.
Click to expand...


I currently own one like it in .177 cal. Works well, doesn't leak and shoots accurately. This model was the original co2 powered airgun. I had a .22 cal version a bit rougher looking, but sold it and got the one I own now. They made a beautiful pistol version i’d love to own too, but they are pretty dearly priced for something i’d likely not use much.
 
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