Quote Originally Posted by ptdunk View Post
I think we as collectors are the best custodians for vintage airguns and the accompanying info, as long as we share the knowledge.

The arms expert in the Zella Mehlis Museum said there's not a huge amount of interest in Germany for old airguns (although there are some very serious German collectors) apparently after the war huge amounts of guns (including airguns) were taken by occupying forces, and most of the early records were destroyed so it's down to enthusiasts to piece the history together.
He told me he was surprised by how much he had learnt about early Zella Mehlis airguns from U.K and U.S collectors.

It would be interesting to see how much airgun history knowledge an average museum arms expert has, given that some areas are extremely specialist.
we've had some contributors on here uncovering previously unknown history and information. Has anyone ever chatted to a Museum Arms expert about early airguns?

I'd love to see a proper nerdy vintage airgun enthusiast (myself included) present something old and rare on Antiques Roadshow and see what the expert's knew that we didn't.

I agree the Vintage airguns gallery is the closest thing to an Airgun Museum.

Cheers,
Matt
Some years back, I took a rare American butt reservoir pneumatic rifle ( early 1800's Philadelphia) to the Roadshow to get some thoughts on value. I had their arms "expert" examine it. He said it was the typical form frequently seen, and that I should be sure and clean the barrel after shooting it as the black powder is corrosive to the rifling in the steel barrel.

Okay, buddy....thanks for nothing!

LarryH