One of the rarer pieces of airgun historical literature. Got this original copy from Myron Kasok collection.

It was great to finally get a copy, since it had been reference by Fred Baer (semi-famous airgun writer) in an attempt to blame Maleyka for Baer's own historical fiction about Napoleon ordering that any Tyrollean caught with an airgun was to be hanged. The truth is that the order was for any Tyrollean caught with "arms in hand" was to be hanged... and they were. Napoleon hated the Tyrolleans but it had nothing to do with airguns.

The Baer 'Girandoni' articles are pretty well known here in the US. They were my initial source regarding these guns. I know that Baer published his articles pretty widely (I've seen German and Italian versions) so they may be known in the UK, too.

Maleyka 001.jpg by Dean Fletcher - Photographer - Portland, on Flickr