The pennsylvania inquirer and national gazette for january 4, 1847 describes the airgun in the lukens estate auction thusly. The girandoni air rifle, purported to be part of the lewis and clark expedition. Wier many skills and many tools contributed to the success of the lewis and clark expedition. The air rifle, carried by lewis and clark during their corps of discovery expedition of 1803 is shown here in a demonstrationn of the girandoni air rifle. The rifle could put a hole through a oneinch pine board at 100 yards. Would you be interested in buying a well made faithful replica of the famous air rifle carried by the lewis and clark voyage of discovery. One of the rifles more famous associations is its use on the lewis and clark. Pictured above is most likely the peice that was carried by lewis and clark or a variant of it, the product of the genius of a tyrolean clockmaker named bartolemeo girandoni. Girardonistyle air rifle as used by lewis and clark. What type of air rifle did lewis and clark use on their.
Naturally the warriors were trying to size up the little group in hopes of relieving them of their weapons. It is claimed to be able to penetrate a 1 board at 100 yards with a large pellet. Lewis and clarks girandoni air rifle 2010 on vimeo. Among them were fifteen short rifles like this one, which lewis procured in 1803 from the new u. Lewis and clark girandoni air rifle american west united states settlers this gun was the secret weapon of the lewis and clark expedition. Girardoni air rifle as used by lewis and clark nra museums. The rifle would be made to the highest standards by one of the well known italian replicators, such as uberti or pedersoli, to the exact dimensions of the original rifle, but with modern materials and manufacturing techniques. It wasnt so much that you could not hear them, but more that they didnt smoke. Wier, guns of the lewis and clark expedition, we proceeded on, vol. The journals of lewis and clark thomas jefferson and purchase corps of discovery sacagawea lewis and clark among the tribes york, clarks manservant clark as cartographer lewis as botanist lewiss air rifle elearning vignettes medical aspects courts martial geology on the trail 1804 timeline 1805 timeline 1806 timeline seaman lewiss dog. But it wasnt until october 1803 that the first of these 1803 rifles was finished. Another candidate for the lewis and clark airgun has been displayed at the fort clatsop lewis and clark museum in oregon.
Lewis and clark history the flintlock rifle, credit card. It has period correct browning with a high brass blade front sight. Lewis and clarks girandoni air rifle warfare history network. What should make this video so interesting to at readers, however, is how a single one of these rifles, carried throughout the two year lewis and clark expedition girandoni air. Although our kit is intended to recreate the stock, 1803 harpers ferry. The air gun was utilized to impress the indians that the corps would encounter. The rifles lewis took with him were built under army contract in 1792 and 1794. After distributing gifts lewis would always put on a shooting demonstration with the girandoni air rifle. The last time the air gun made the journals was monday, 11 august 1806, the day cruzatte mistook the buckskinclad lewis for an elk and shot him in the buttocks. One of the rifle s more famous associations is its use on the lewis and clark expedition to explore and map the western part of north america in the early 1800s.
As a youthful female, sacajawea were abducted by ability of the hidatsa indians, and he or she became later bought to the frenchcanadian fur dealer toussaint charbonneau she grew to develop into his spouse. The buttstock serves as the air reservoir, but the rifle has no magazine and each projectile must be. Lewiss wound was a relatively superficial wound to the buttocks of the proximal upper, posterior back part of this thigh. The rifle featured in this video clip, from the national firearms museum, is a girandoni system austrian repeating air rifle. Only the girandoni air rifle is capable of obtaining the results that lewis got from the indians. Im sure many of you already know about this but thought some might get a kick out of reading about the technology of those days. The corps of discovery carried several types of handheld weapons for hunting and selfdefense. The corps of discoverys purposes were to explore the missouri and columbia river basins, to make scientific observations, and to contact the tribes along the way for both. Some believe that the contract rifles lewis had modified for the expedition were the prototype for the m1803 rifle.
Lewis traveled the west with an ace up his sleeve in the form of the repeating airgun. As an aside, napoleon himself decreed that any enemy soldier caught with an air rifle was to be put to death. The amazing air rifle of meriwether lewis true west magazine. Nfm treasure gun girandoni air rifle as used by lewis and clark. Recent research has shown without a doubt that the expedition left on their journey before the 1803 was in production. By that time, lewis and clark were leaving the falls of the ohio river, near louisville, kentucky. Army rifle, of which secretary of war henry dearborn ordered 4,000 in 1804. Lewis and clark reproduction yellow airgun forum archive. Since lukens was one of the most prominent american air rifle makers of the day and his estate listed an air rifle claimed to have been used by the expedition many people believed his rifle was the type carried on the journey. Designed in italy and made in austria, its a mystery how the girardoni air rifle ended up with lewis and clark. Quackenbush air guns high power airguns suitable for hunting. Pennsylvania gunsmiths produced these weapons, which were. Join date dec 2017 location the new progressive non binary socialist dystopian republic posts 758. Meriwether lewis purchased an air gun with his own money at harpers ferry, while purchasing supplies for the expedition.
The secret weapon lewis and clark carried on their expedition was a late 18th century. Nfm treasure gun girandoni air rifle as used by lewis. Lewis and clarks secret weapon a late 18th century. The girardoni air rifle was an airgun designed by italian inventor bartolomeo girardoni circa 1779. The secretary of war did not authorize the production of the 1803 rifle until may 1803. The girardoni air rifle helped lewis and clark explore the west and return with valuable information. If lewiss rifle resembled an austrian army weapon, he could have stood on the foot plate and pumped up and downas with a modern bicycle pump, although. An illustration with the statement that a conjectural model 1800 rifle was the rifle of the expedition were inserted in this publication without the authors knowledge or approval, and are completely contrary to. Lewis and clark met sacajawea at the same time as thay were camped for the wintry climate at fort mandan in north dakota. In many ways, it helped secure a peaceful exploration. Corps of discovery 1792 contract rifle reproduction topic.
Publick rifles in stores at harpers perry when meriwether lewis arrived in 1803. Possibly they were prototypes of the first official u. Pdf air gun wounding and current uk laws controlling air weapons. Firearms were absolutely essential, not for warfare and conquest, but for daily hunting for food. Superior air rifle made for and used by messers lewis and clark, in their exploring expedition1 superior air rifle of curious construction, shoots 25 times without reloading. Thats a really good video explaining the air rifles in the days of lewis and clark. Lewis and clark had a secret weapon when they went on their famous exploration of what is now known as the western united states. Two original guns have surfaced that are probably authentic to lewis and clark s journey, though the lewis and clark gun were likely prototypes.
This rifle was first used during the napoleonic wars. Lewis and clark air rifle gun and game the friendliest. I ran across the following link concerning the air rifle that lewis and clark carried with them throughout their expidition. The lewis and clark air rifle family, friends, firearms. The buttstock serves as the air reservoir, but the rifle has no magazine and.
The gun is a replica of a 20 gauge indian trade musket. Historians believe meriwether lewis carried it or one like it as he and william clark led the corps of discovery on their great expedition between 18031806. Similar pieces were supplied by bartolomeo girardoni to the austrian army circa 1780. Army captain, meriwether lewis, obviously a practitioner of the concept of peace through superior firepower, a concept that most modern liberals.
Martin orro girondoni air rifle replica air rifle hunting, airsoft grenade. There has been much speculation about this famous air rifle. Based on the preponderance of the evidence i have seen i am convinced that this was likely the type of rifle carried by lewis and clark expedition with the following modifications it is a totw 1792 contract rifle with 1803 hf lock by re davis and a 36 inch 54 caliber colrain barrel with lightly figured maple stock and sling swivels as was. This recreated expedition rifle has been crafted based on the careful study of the five presentlyknown surviving examples two of which are signed by jacob dickert of the u. At a distance of 50 feet, this amazing rifle is capable of placing ten shots into a group the size of a quarter.
The air gun was probably manufactured by isiah lukens, horologist and gunsmith of philadelphia. This gun was the secret weapon of the lewis and clark. One of the rifles more famous associations is its use on the lewis and clark expedition to explore and map the western part of north america in the early 1800s. Id read they only had one, now i realize how they pulled it all off. Lewis and clark carried harpers ferry style rifles on their journey to the pacific ocean and back. Designed in italy and made in austria, its a mystery how the girardoni air rifle. In weapons of the lewis and clark expedition, historian jim garry describes the arms and ammunition the expedition carried and the use and care those weapons received. Airforce ultimate condor pcp air rifle in the most powerful production. Guns of lewis and clark buffalo bill center of the west.
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