24 1/2:” length closed. Iron tube with threaded end and leather seal. Iron rod and internal piston with forged iron T form handle. Excellent preservation with the seals intact. Air guns were used from the 16th century on, for big game and warfare, the most notable example being the Girandoni air rifle developed about 1769 and favored by snipers as they did not reveal the shooters position and were not affected by rain. Its effectiveness is comparable to a modern .45 ACP pistol. This pump was probably used with an air cane, a favorite weapon of poachers and gentlemen who might simply get lucky on a stroll and bring home dinner. Surviving pumps are far rarer than the guns.
