Lewis and Clark’s Girardoni Air Rifle

[Nemo288]

lewis-clarks-girardoni-air-rifle-gun-helped-discover-west/

I never knew they had air rifles back then, let alone that L&C took one on their epic journey.
Or that it survived to be curated by Mr. Supica of Standard Catalog fame.

 

[Texas Star]

I've read that several times, but never saw the brand name before. They just had one.

Most rifles were the Harper's Ferry 1803 model, I think, and I believe the M-1803 pistols they carried are those reproduced on modern Army MP collar brass. Does anyone know for sure?

I haven't read about Lewis & Clark since I was a boy, but I was impressed. I fear that most teens today never read about those heroes. I fear we're raising a generation ignorant of our vital history. That can't be good for our future.

 

[StrawHat]

Beeman's also has an article on the air rifle.

As for the flintlocks they carried, well that has been the subject of a lot of debate. It is generally believed the L&C left for Pittsburgh before the 1803 was even through the prototype stage. It is possible they ordered and carried some version of the 1792-94 Contract Rifle, perhaps a shortened one with a halfstock, underib, and half round barrel. The debate goes on because when the Corps of Discovery returned to the US, all the firearms were sold off.

Here is a bit of an interesting read.

http://www.westernexplorers.us/Firearms_of_Lewis_and_Clark.pdf

Kevin

 

[JJEH]

Very interesting for sure!

NRA Museums:

This firearm is on exhibit at the NRA National Sporting Arms Museum in Springfield, MO.

This 22-shot repeating air rifle is an original Girardoni-style 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.

Loaned by Michael F. Carrick

EDIT:

Here's an older thread about the rifle.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge...rtant-firearm-american-history-air-rifle.html

 

[da gimp]

Straw thank you for the wonderful article you posted and Nemo, thanks for posting on this neat old air rifle........ if I remember right, the American Rifleman had an article on the Lewis & Clark air rifle several years back......and I want to say that they said its large caliber & its velocity with a strong charge of air, made it strong enough to kill a grizzly bear...certainly its ability to be rapidly reloaded made it a better choice than a single shot flintlock or even a percussion rifle for use in fighting enemies or being used to hunt dangerous game.

With its ability to have 20 or more rapid repeating shots.....I wonder why more of these rifles weren't purchased by the major armies of the day in equipping select troops. With no cloud of black powder smoke & little noise to give away the position of its user...its advantages in fighting are evident. If several of the air magazine tubes & hundreds of proper bullets were issued to each man of a Ranger type company/brigade.....they could easily dominate an area by sniping .......especially if enemy troops were traveling through areas where there was cover or who were lured away from the safety provided by their artillery............like our American militia did to the British/Hessian troops who marched in formation wearing their pretty redcoats..

Another strong point in the design of this rifle was its immunity to rain/snow/moisture that often disabled muzzle loading firearms when either/both of the priming charges or main charges got wet......

Heck the more I think on it, I'd like to own one of these rifles.......... I wonder why one of the air gun companies doesn't make one......especially since large bore air guns, suitable for big game hunting with modern bullets, are now being made........

 

[DeadAye]

Speaking of Lewis & Clark:
Run down to your local library or used book store or just use your internet connection to buy a copy of the book about their epic adventure ---
"Undaunted Courage:
Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West"

A great read!

 

[Brian41]

I had read about this air rifle before and found it quite interesting as I'd not know such things existed back then.
I do understand that they are making modern air rifles of larger caliber and capable of hunting animals as large as deer. They are pretty darn expensive too I understand and not something I'll be buying.

 

[venomballistics]

I had read about this air rifle before and found it quite interesting as I'd not know such things existed back then.
I do understand that they are making modern air rifles of larger caliber and capable of hunting animals as large as deer. They are pretty darn expensive too I understand and not something I'll be buying.

Keep digging ...
Quackenbush makes a few custom numbers that'll bag bear and bison.
Similar in principal to the one carried by L&C, but with modern steel and manufacturing takes its operating pressures from a fairly pedestrian 800 psi, right on up to 3000 PSI.

Man, I would love to turn one of this type out in the shop.

 

[da gimp]

hmmmmmmmm is it a repeater, that can be reloaded as fast as the one used by L&C? that would make it derned interesting.....

 

[Nemo288]

Thanks for all the additional links and info!

There has to be some reason this gun type wasn't more influential at the time (or later).
It certainly hosts some advantages over the firearms of the day.
Is it possible it just didn't work as well as advertised?
That would never happen right?

===
Nemo

 

[scooter123]

There is a bit of dispute about where the actual air rifle used on the expedition is. The Museum at the Virginia Military Institute has one on display that is attributed as being one of two candidates. They also have an incredible array of Colt Revolving Rifles, something I had no idea of Colt being involved in.

 

[meaneyedcatz]

I read their journals (abridged) and if I remember correctly the air gun was mounted on the front of the keel boat. When they wintered with the Mandans they demonstrated it and the Indians were very impressed.

They also had to threaten to use it to avoid a fight.

If you like explorers the journals are a must read.

 

[meaneyedcatz]

If your interested in Lewis and Clark then this is a must read.

The Fate of the Corps: What Became of the Lewis and Clark Explorers After the Expedition by Larry E. Morris

This explains what the major players in the trip did after the expedition was over. I cannot say enough good about this book. Very interesting.

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/The-Fate-Corps-Explorers-Expedition/dp/0300109725"]The Fate of the Corps: What Became of the Lewis and Clark Explorers After the Expedition: Larry E. Morris: 9780300109726: Amazon.com: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51C2BSTX7RL.@@AMEPARAM@@51C2BSTX7RL[/ame]

 

[reddogge]

Believe it or not I shot an exact replica of this gun quite a few years ago at an Eastern Rondevous in Muddy Run, PA. The two men who built it were there and explained they had the original on loan to copy the parts. They said if they had to sell it they would sell it for $150,000. They used an air compressor instead of the 1,500 hand pumps.

Each person got one shot, offhand at 50 yards at a 6" gong. I rang the gong. It shot flat and fast. The round butt stock/air reservoir was very uncomfortable on the cheek for a good offhand gun.

 

[StrawHat]

...Straw thank you for the wonderful article you posted and Nemo, thanks for posting on this neat old air rifle........ .

You're welcome, (see my signature line.)

With its ability to have 20 or more rapid repeating shots.....I wonder why more of these rifles weren't purchased by the major armies of the day in equipping select troops. With no cloud of black powder smoke & little noise to give away the position of its user...its advantages in fighting are evident. If several of the air magazine tubes & hundreds of proper bullets were issued to each man of a Ranger type company/brigade.....they could easily dominate an area by sniping .......especially if enemy troops were traveling through areas where there was cover or who were lured away from the safety provided by their artillery............like our American militia did to the British/Hessian troops who marched in formation wearing their pretty redcoats...

Some countries were well aware of the capabilities of these kinds of rifles and executed those who were found with them.

Heck the more I think on it, I'd like to own one of these rifles.......... I wonder why one of the air gun companies doesn't make one......especially since large bore air guns, suitable for big game hunting with modern bullets, are now being made........

Do a search for big bore air rifles. There are several companies that make them. My brother has two, he fills them from scuba tanks. Not quite, but quieter than a CF rifle.

Kevin