Mystery pistol - and a challenge

[benchstop]

push the barrel in to cock?

What ever turns you on

[cooksey13]

does it cock via a tool which goes on to the end of the cylinder to pull the pistion back

[I. J.]

does it cock via a tool which goes on to the end of the cylinder to pull the pistion back

See post # 2 (and no )

[micky]

You unscrew the bolt on the barrel houseing remove the barrel insert a rod to push the piston back, load a pellet in the barrel and replace and tighten the bolt as a guess.

[treecreeper]

What makes you sure it's British?

[torrens]

Does it use something like a crossbow " goat's foot " lever, hooks onto the knob under the front of the cylinder and runs in a slot beneath?

[ccdjg]

Well you are a clever lot - I.J was the first to come close, then Thisisdonald got it correct except for one small detail - the piston is pushed back with a cocking tool when the barrel is detached, not through the barrel. Then quite a few of you got it. Well done.

I think it's British because it was found in this country, the inscription"PAT." Suggests it's not continental, and then the following :.

This system is identical to that patented by George Bussey in 1876 , except that in his design the barrel was retained by a friction fit only. This gun seems to be an upgrade where the barrel is retained by the knurled screw under the barrel housing. The following pix show the cocking tool and how the thing comes apart. It shoots well enough but wouldn't be much use in a quickfire competition. http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps64498865.jpg


My best guess is that it was a prototype upgrade of the original Bussey design, possibly by Bussey himself (could the "B & C" be for Bussey & Co"?), and at least 4 examples were made. Perhaps a patent application was made in 1878 but was never granted for pretty obvious reasons, and so the gun was never commercialised.

This was a lucky find at an auction. Considering it was not boxed, I am amazed that the cocking plunger has survived. It is clearly contemporary with the gun, being quite intricately made with steel rod, turned brass lead-filled end and showing signs of much wear.

If you want to find out more about the Bussey guns (which provided the first ever British air pistol patent) have a look at Trevor's excellent section at http://www.cinedux.com/. The best coverage of the topic you will find anywhere.

[trevor1]

Quite an amazing find really.What a cracker! I don't think the "B&C" connection is to long a bow to draw.
(if it looks like a Bussey and cocks like a Bussey and barks....)

[Garvin]

Quite an amazing find really.What a cracker! I don't think the "B&C" connection is to long a bow to draw.
(if it looks like a Bussey and cocks like a Bussey and barks....)

With that roundabout cocking arrangement it's unlikely to stand for "Bonnie & Clyde".