Excellent documentary video / Lewis & Clark Expedition's .46cal r

[roundball]

Excellent documentary video / Lewis & Clark Expedition's .46cal repeating Air Rifle

Girandoni air rifle as used by Lewis and Clark. A National Firearms Museum Treasure Gun.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pqFyKh-rUI

This may well be a good candidate for archiving in the Articles Section

 

[coloradoclyde]

Excellent video Roundball! I would sure love to shoot one of those :thumbsup:

 

[Old Creek]

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[lewinmi]

I read some interesting history about this "Assault Rifle" a while back. Seems that Indians were very impressed with it. Notes from a demonstration follows:

"Captain Lewis took his Air Gun and shot her off, and by the Interpreter told them there was medicine in her, and that she could do very great execution. They all stood amazed at the curiosity; Captain Lewis discharged the Air Gun several times, and the Indians ran hastily to see the holes that the Balls had made which was discharged from it. at finding the balls had entered the Tree, they shouted a loud at the sight and the Execution that was done suprized them exceedingly." The Indians would not have been able to comprehend the gun shooting again and again and again without reloading - and without flash or smoke.. This would have been terrifying considering the "execution" that such a flashless, quiet gun had demonstrated as its potential!.
http://www.beemans.net/lewis-assault-rifle.htm#_ftnref19

 

[coloradoclyde]

Just imagine what Lewis and Clark could have accomplished with a Bic lighter and a camera.