Here's a question.... what was the first British spring powered air pistol?

[JimmieDee]

used 'rifle' and 'pistol' in a rather non-specific way.Covered all bases?
The pistol at the bottom of the page has some rather 'Bussey' features.
http://cinedux.com/all-things-bussey.php

That pistol of yours could be a Bussey. Or an improved version of the design without needing to remove the barrel. It could also be something else entirely of course. I certainly has some resemblance of the Bussey patent.

For me it's still the Highest Possible so far that's seems to be the first British produced spring air pistol - at least from a production run point of view perhaps.