Lewis and Clark Air Rifle

[RC20]

I read the edited diaries of the expedition years back and was always fascinated by the Air Rifle they carried.

I recently found a reference that says the Girandoni Austrian Air Rifle Circa 1795 was the one they carried.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girandoni_Air_Rifle

There seems to be some disagreement and the Diaries indicate more use than the "United Sate Army The Definitive Illustrated History" I just finished reading does.

The Diaries indicate used often when powder was wet, lost or behind dried from upsets etc.

An amazing interesting piece of history that was part of an incredibly well done expedition (incredibly only one man lost) .

One of the future purchase is a serious air rifle (larger caliber than 22)

 

[m&p45acp10+1]

I have a Quakenbush .457 that is a true work of art. Dennis makes the finest large bore air rifles that can be had by the common man. Be ready to spend about as much as you would on a decent center fire rifle. I bought mine from a friend that was going away to the Army. I paid what one was going for new, and the money was well spent.

Oh and get an air tank if you get one. Better than that is an air compressor to refill it with.

 

[RC20]

Defintely intrigued by them.

I do have an air tank from my diving days. Just have to get it hydroed and would be good to go!

Not sure when but it is a future purchase for sure.

 

[BlueTrain]

Is not the rifle or a very similiar one in the NRA museum?

I also recall reading somewhere that they took along a very large musket (rampart gun?) on account they half-way expected to see a mammoth. Mammoths actually existed on this continent, though not recently. But apparently the memory of them remained in the Indian's lore of natural history.

And to think they were led by a teenage girl with a baby.