The Lewis & Clark Girandoni Air Rifle... Amazing!! - The Firearms Forum

graehaven · 02-21-2011, 10:38 AM

Got this forwarded in an email, and thought many here would appreciate this amazing bit of history - of superior firepower - through an air rifle. Absolutely amazing:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/45130...+spread+around

The video is about 8.5 minutes long, and worth every second.

carver · 02-21-2011, 11:19 AM

Great video! Imagine, Peace thru Superior Fire Power, what an amazing concept!

Bobitis · 02-21-2011, 12:02 PM

Amazing. I had no idea!

Still trying to figure out how it was pressurized.

carver · 02-21-2011, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobitis

Amazing. I had no idea!

Still trying to figure out how it was pressurized.

Hand pump.

Gun Geezer · 02-21-2011, 02:38 PM

I got the same forward today. It's amazing what you don't learn in American History classes.

polishshooter · 02-21-2011, 07:59 PM

Actually a LONG time ago I bought the Gun DIgest Treasury of 1964 (I was a kid at the time but I remember I got it on clearance, if I remember right at a Walden Books, in around 1969 or 1970 because in 1964 I was 6!

)

I know I still have it around somewhere in a box, but that was where I first read about the air rifle L&C had, and that it wowed the Indians as well as killed some game. This is not new research, historians have known about the air rifle since the expedition.

But the thing I remembered most about the article is that Napoleon had an entire unit of scouts armed with air rifles, they fired a fairly large caliber ball and in some battles his enemies threatened to execute any soldier caught with one. Kind of like the German's threatened in WWI with doughboys armed with shotguns.

There was no reports as to whether this happened, but they were reported to have a demoralizing effect on the enemy, it would be almost like having the very first silencers on a battlefield.

The article concluded that interest in air rifles continued in Europe, but for some reason it could not explain it was never again used in war, and why it did not gain popularity here.

The reservoir was a large Ball type made of Indian rubber that hung underneath about mid ships and was pumped up with a hand pump. Supposedly accurate, and powerful, and the seal design was actually quite modern in design, and only needed constant lubrication to keep from dring out.

I was amazed even back then!

millwright · 02-22-2011, 05:46 PM

One has to wonder what type of "lube" was used in that Girandoni, PS !! My WAG would be sperm oil due to its superior lubricity, stability and preservative qualities for leather. Qualities causing its continued use in critical applications well into the 20th century ! >MW

02-21-2011, 10:38 AM	#1
graehaven Advanced Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 2,853	The Lewis & Clark Girandoni Air Rifle... Amazing!! Got this forwarded in an email, and thought many here would appreciate this amazing bit of history - of superior firepower - through an air rifle. Absolutely amazing: http://www.network54.com/Forum/45130...+spread+around The video is about 8.5 minutes long, and worth every second. __________________ The beauty of the second amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it." - Thomas Jefferson RESISTANCE IS FEUDAL... PREPARE TO SERVE. -->

02-21-2011, 11:19 AM	#2
carver TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DAV, Deep in the Pineywoods of East Texas, just west of Shreveport, LA Contributor Posts: 11,283	Re: The Lewis & Clark Girandoni Air Rifle... Amazing!! Great video! Imagine, Peace thru Superior Fire Power, what an amazing concept! __________________ Y'all be safe now, ya hear! Lamentations Chapter 5: 1. Remember, O LORD, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach. 2. Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens. 3. We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers [are] as widows. 5. Our necks [are] under persecution: we labour, [and] have no rest. 16. The crown is fallen [from] our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned! 21. Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.

02-21-2011, 12:02 PM	#3
Bobitis Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 6,612	Re: The Lewis & Clark Girandoni Air Rifle... Amazing!! Amazing. I had no idea! Still trying to figure out how it was pressurized.

02-21-2011, 02:38 PM	#5
Gun Geezer Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,710	Re: The Lewis & Clark Girandoni Air Rifle... Amazing!! I got the same forward today. It's amazing what you don't learn in American History classes.

02-21-2011, 07:59 PM	#6
polishshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Indiana Contributor Posts: 7,863	Re: The Lewis & Clark Girandoni Air Rifle... Amazing!! Actually a LONG time ago I bought the Gun DIgest Treasury of 1964 (I was a kid at the time but I remember I got it on clearance, if I remember right at a Walden Books, in around 1969 or 1970 because in 1964 I was 6!) I know I still have it around somewhere in a box, but that was where I first read about the air rifle L&C had, and that it wowed the Indians as well as killed some game. This is not new research, historians have known about the air rifle since the expedition. But the thing I remembered most about the article is that Napoleon had an entire unit of scouts armed with air rifles, they fired a fairly large caliber ball and in some battles his enemies threatened to execute any soldier caught with one. Kind of like the German's threatened in WWI with doughboys armed with shotguns. There was no reports as to whether this happened, but they were reported to have a demoralizing effect on the enemy, it would be almost like having the very first silencers on a battlefield. The article concluded that interest in air rifles continued in Europe, but for some reason it could not explain it was never again used in war, and why it did not gain popularity here. The reservoir was a large Ball type made of Indian rubber that hung underneath about mid ships and was pumped up with a hand pump. Supposedly accurate, and powerful, and the seal design was actually quite modern in design, and only needed constant lubrication to keep from dring out. I was amazed even back then! __________________ The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living. Last edited by polishshooter; 02-21-2011 at 08:00 PM..

02-22-2011, 05:46 PM	#7
millwright Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,440	Re: The Lewis & Clark Girandoni Air Rifle... Amazing!! One has to wonder what type of "lube" was used in that Girandoni, PS !! My WAG would be sperm oil due to its superior lubricity, stability and preservative qualities for leather. Qualities causing its continued use in critical applications well into the 20th century ! >MW Last edited by millwright; 02-22-2011 at 05:47 PM..