### Circa 1888 ????? ###

[Arch.Stanton?]

Well Gems were made in Europe and followed on after the original American designs made by Quackenbush [ which started out late in the last century at the time you mention ] . Your Gem is a T bar latch full oct. barrel - have seen adverts from contemporary shooting catalogues showing these being around the same time as Lincoln Jefferies . These Gems were made for many years and unless stamped with a makers mark or even a British importers stamp [ 'A.B. Arbenz '- is a common name/stamp - being a Birmingham based gun retailer who imported these Gems for 40 odd years ] , they are notoiriously difficult to date ...lots of fun collecting mind as eveyone is different it seems . Once you've hit the 40 figure its time to start collecting something else .

ADDENDUM
Fellow member Gunspring has an original Quackenbush up for sale here - with photos in Sales . Its nice to be able to compare the grandaddy of all spring airguns , with the European made Gem .

[Gareth W-B]

Could this rifle really be this old?

Yes, but don't take my word for it, have a chat with this chap: http://www.airgunbbs.com/member.php?97682-DCL_dave and take a look at the link in his sig.

[ogilkes]

Yours might be a Jean Marck (Belgium). Yes plenty of 1880s Gems still in use. I have one that makes a good 7fpe and a later Diana omodel that will do 9 on a good day!

[hwvixen]

Are yes...but that's in the rairisfied atmosphere of Narfalk...so it don't count....did you ever get that "baby" up n working Ollie...

[torrens]

Seconding Ogilkes' suggestion this looks identical to a "T"bar Jean Marck Gem I had a while ago, except yours is much shinier! The 1888 patent stamping is sometimes assumed by sellers to be a manufacturing date. The JM Gems were made from the late 1880's to the 1930's with very little change. Mine was the large No 3 in .177 and did a stonking 8ft lbs.
torrens