What Classic rifle would you like to own? (Holy Grail?)

[Lawrie Amatruda]

A Girandoni:

[45flint]

A Girandoni:

But probably one of the few hand built reproductions I can shoot.

The BSA Military, saw one at a Airgun show this year, only $3500.

[DT Fletcher]

A Girandoni:

With a reproduction tank, there's no reason why a good condition original couldn't be shot. It's only the "G" marked guns that go for big bucks from what I've seen. Unmarked examples seem to go for reasonable numbers. English maker marked models (especially Staudenmayer, Mortimer) go for more. Imo, the finest airguns from this era are the later Staudenmayer examples - which are of his own unique design rather than the classic model (as described by Baker/Currie) which I refer to as the Nemetz improved Girandoni.

Years ago, I decided that I wanted an example of the really great British large bore pneumatics, but, figuring excess would prove financially ruinous, only one example was decided upon. With that, I decided upon an excellent condition, cased example of a London air cane. Found one at a local gun show, in fact this gun had been offered to Larry Hanusch who passed up on because of the price asked. As I recall it was about $3000 but it was everything one could ask for in a London air cane: nice original box, original instructions pasted onto inside of lid, rotary breech load, large .38 caliber, extra parts, gun in 90% original condition, everything complete, extra parts. And, as I sort of expected, it worked right out of the box. Takes about 150 pumps but..... a bit of real history.

Should add that my decision on a London air cane from attending the New York, Baldwinville air gun show and shoot. It was there that I had the experience of one of these air canes being shot. It was easy to see why they ended up taking over the London airgun market. I instantly fell in love.