Revolutionary Girardoni Air Rifle: A Historic Demonstration of the 18th Century Weapon

[@CJMann-zg6fu]

I never thought I would ever see one of these air rifles shoot. Thanks for a great and informative video

[@shooter1721]

Thank you for taking the time to comment and watch appreciate it

[@arsenelupiniii8040]

I love my modern air rifles. Pressure vessels were hard to create back then. The valve and all the extras were whatever, but a reliable pressure vessel, that was miraculous what they did waaaaaaay back then.

[@Hunting_Grt_whiteNorth]

@arsenelupiniii8040 agreed if the ( then politicians of the past had done their homework.) The war for America's independence should have been a lot faster and with fewer casualties on the American side. Can only imagine the change in the tide ( so to speak) with both american regulars and militia. Being suitably armed with those air rifles & up against the red coats with their muskets. Furthermore, the America units ( i.e., again given a perfect government was running the show) would also have multiple backup units / squads armed with 2-3 whitworth rifles per unit. For shooting at longer distances ( in the event the regulars had to break the lines) to take cover from any British canyons...

[@AldoSchmedack]

Thanks for recording and showing this! ​@@shooter1721

[@monotech20.14]

@@Hunting_Grt_whiteNorth Yeah no. The couldn't manufacturer enough of them ,nor enough gunsmiths on the battlefield to help maintain them. For everyone one of these air rifles you could have made 5 muskets.

[@andrewfrancis3591]

I've been fascinated by these since I was 8. First time I've seen one go pop. Worth the 58 year wait LOL Thankyou.

[@arsenelupiniii8040]

Get a Hatsan Jet 1 and a cheap Chinese handpump. Blow your mind how far we have come as a specie digging in the dirt less than 400 yrs ago.

[@andrewfrancis3591]

@@arsenelupiniii8040 I've a nice Air Arms S300 a Chinese bullpup and a electric compressor. Had a hand pump and it is probably as demanding as the Giradoni lol.

[@thespectator2976]

@@arsenelupiniii8040 i have an FX Royale 500 .25 had it for years, havent used it in years ;)

[@swayzefan3600]

@@arsenelupiniii8040 shame on you for buying chi-com crap! this craps all over anything made in china.

[@swayzefan3600]

@@andrewfrancis3591 i refuse to own any piece of garbage that is made in china. imagine bragging about your harbor freight POS rifle. grim.

[@99ron30]

These things are truly astounding. Had this technology been further developed and perfected, alot of history could be very different. The advantages of repeat shots, high accuracy, zero smoke, zero flash. All pretty staggering. In those days?. Simply superb.

[@shooter1721]

I agree . I believe I could shoot 22 shots on target in one min with this air gun and for that time era that is beyond incredible! Absolutely loved making this video

[@arsenelupiniii8040]

Current PCP air guns are getting high energy and repeatability. Even my budget Hatsan Jet has been a lot of fun and cheap enough to experiment with.

[@mcchuggernaut9378]

I wonder why these weren't more widely adopted when they had so many advantages? Yes, the power dropped off to the point where they were questionably lethal at longer ranges after a few shots, but that could have, and would undoubtedly have, been overcome with future upgrades. I can think of a couple right away: A pressure gauge on the stock, and a hand-crank pump on the side so that when pressure started to drop out of the "lethal" range on the gauge, it could be cranked back up to pressure without having to take it apart. And I'm not an 1800's engineer, but we have mechanisms in modern air guns that work to keep the pressure more constant and pump up much easier, and I know they could have figured this out. I collect 1800's clocks, and the craftsmanship they display... people were VERY good at working with simple materials and hand tools, yet achieving astonishing feats of engineering and invention with them.

[@arsenelupiniii8040]

@@mcchuggernaut9378 Powder burners simply had more power. Most lethal engagements are under 50 yards, yeah, the sniper squad can boast of 500 yrd gong shots tlll they are purple, but true lethal engagements are less than 50 yrds. I love my Modern Airguns, but still carry a Katana, if SHTF. Or maybe even a chainsaw and wear a rain poncho. ( BTW, I have powder burners as well)

[@mcchuggernaut9378]

@@arsenelupiniii8040 You are of course absolutely right about the power. But being able to fire so many shots so fast, and as their testing showed at 50 yards the air gun was pretty lethal.... And you didn't have to worry about running out of powder, rain, misfires, the accuracy was great, and if power was the only real issue, they could have simply made higher-pressure guns with thicker air tanks and better compressing methods with a bit of time and a decade or so of tinkering. Still doesn't explain to me why air guns of this type fell out of favor. Maybe it's that larger firearms like cannons and howitzers and the like were just not practical to be air-powered, so they figured they should just standardize everything despite the individual advantages of air-powered rifles? Or maybe it was that the main advantages of multi-shot air powered rifles were negated by weapons with magazines or revolvers with smokeless cartridges which gave you a lot of shots quickly so long as you carried enough ammo, and didn't have the power pitfalls of air guns, just came along and rendered them moot? I find that the most likely answer. It was probably a lot of factors...

[@TheCutter123]

I've seen other videos of the girardoni shot, but none where I knew the shooter was an excellent shot. This truly shows what a girardoni could do, and on such low psi, with round ball ammunition. Amazing weapon.

[@shooter1721]

Thank you

[@hotchihuahua1546]

What I find extraordinary is the ability to hold that much air pressure in a tank with valving and the ability to pump it up at a time o-rings weren’t invented ! What a great video on such an iconic gun ! 👍👍

[@shooter1721]

@@hotchihuahua1546 thank you !!!

[@FarmerFpv]

That is crazy. It was way ahead of its time. I never thought I would see one shoot. I'm so impressed. Rick, you seemed very impressed with it yourself. Great shooting as always. The perfect guy to show what it was capable of.

[@shooter1721]

I was very impressed! I didn’t want to stop shooting it

[@mirandahotspring4019]

Thank you! This is the video I've been waiting for since I saw a Girardoni in the Heeresgeschichtliches Museum in Vienna back in the early 1990s!

[@MikeR196]

Wow! This is awesome Rick! What a joy to see you shoot this crafty built old thing. If only anyone built (good) replicas of these I'm sure many gun geeks like me would immediately get one to enjoy. The originals belong in museums.

[@shooter1721]

That is where this one is going . This gun cost $20,000 to do an exact replica

[@MikeR196]

@@shooter1721 Yup I got that, the thing deserves a good home. Thanks for this demonstration before it's going there! 20k seems reasonable considering the whole construction (hand work) and one off/low production numbers. Guess a 100 would be quite a bit cheaper to make around 10-15.

[@The_Conspiracy_Analyst]

I don't see much point. There are air guns the equal of this and well exceeding it for some time. I made one back in 2010 in .50 caliber in CO2. I got 800 fps for 200 grain round balls for 285 ft-lbs. And this was a rather simple affair built on the same pattern as the Crosman 2260. Got about 20 shots per bulk fill of C02

[@advorak8529]

The point is not to have the best gun you can get today, but to celebrate what could be done - though not easily - over 200 years ago. See classic cars, for example, or exquisite writing implements (like glass feather pens) … Collectors are often “wasting” resources in getting whatever they collect, and having resources to “waste” shows you are not starving. And if it brings happiness…

[@MikeR196]

@@advorak8529 Well said Advorak!

[@mackquack2929]

Best video of this rifle yet! Great production and shooting!

[@shooter1721]

Thank you !!!

[@TheCsel]

years ago i read that Lewis and Clark took air guns on their expedition and it blew my mind. I dont know how these didnt take off and get more development.

[@shooter1721]

I agree

[@rotwang2000]

The guns were about as good as you could get in the early years of the 19th century. They were extremely expensive, fairly fragile (especially the air tanks and leather gaskets) they were not suitable for general issue. By the time you get materials that would make them more reliable and mass production catches up you have magazine fed bolt action rifles that kinda make it all a moot point. Lots of guns were amazing ideas until you bumped against practical use, labour & cost and the result of putting them in the hands of a semi literate peasant.

[@JP-py9xs]

Airgun Dueling pistols back in the 1750’s unbelievable

[@AckzaTV]

It's a rifle not a pistol, the pistol version is a machine gun cuz joe biden

[@rotwang2000]

I'm a huge fan of the Girardoni ever since I discovered it existed. It wasn't the only rifle, but it was probably one of the most ambitious and ended up being extremely practical if expensive and hard to make. Loved the demonstration !

[@shooter1721]

@@rotwang2000 thank you

[@theprancingprussian]

For short term shooting it was better in nearly all ways However the complexity and cost would make it extremely hard to use on a battle Like using fire arrows in a medieval battle it needs loads of people supporting the dhooters whoch would be more effective if those people dupporting had a gun

[@hurricaneaquatics]

500 fps with a 46 caliber ball, assuming 140 grains, is still almost 78 fpe. That's no slouch at all that long ago. He said it could go to 800psi, I would say it was putting out well over 100 fpe when fully charged. Incredible coverage and it was wonderful actually seeing it fired. I'm shocked by the quality they could achieve. I believe our ancestors were a bit more developed than we gave them credit for.

[@shooter1721]

I totally agree . The accuracy was incredible. A repeater at that time was amazing.

[@quantumenergysolutions9128]

The tank exploded and A family member of the inventor got his arm blown off , and died! Be real carful guys!

[@quantumenergysolutions9128]

Without computers they always over engineered! Also back then the didnt have the concept of the disposable built in redundancy. Like an Ikea table not built to last, they still had real pride in quality goods.

[@AckzaTV]

Imagine the secret electromagnetic coil guns they had back in tartaria. Just kidding

[@AckzaTV]

​@@quantumenergysolutions9128lol thank God the tank never exploded on the Lewis and Clark expedition

[@mrzmanm90]

What an honor to be able to be there to witness day one. Great video and short documentary on such a beautiful and important rifle. Well done guys.

[@SquirrelDarling1]

That air rifle is no joke! Very impressive

[@TheDirtyvermonter]

This was major firepower in the 1700s. Just an unimagined amount of lead slinging down range for the time. It was issued in the Austrian military for 35 years. It also puts out about 117 ft/lbs of energy with a 146 grain lead ball. And they were using this for EVERYTHING from combat, to hunting. 😆 thats wild when you think about that and then look at modern airguns, many of which have power that rivals handguns

[@shooter1721]

The accuracy of this Airgun for that time era was simply amazing. But for it to be a repeater also is incredible. Loved getting the opportunity to make this video.

[@patrickpendergast898]

I have a new Winchester .45 cal air rifle with 5 shot rotary mag. There is a .50 cal air rifle that shoots like 550grs of lead. And it’s not that expensive either

[@damonking76]

With smaller pɛllɛts for the most part This used bullets\balls

[@b.h.abbott-motley2427]

146 grains at 529 fps is 90.74 foot-lbs rather than 117.

[@shooter1721]

@@b.h.abbott-motley2427 in 70 degree weather it is 650 fps

[@zacharymohrmann4329]

As always you did not disappoint 1 bit.. On a gun that is between 244 to 209 yrs. old that is fantastic...! Thanks for sharing this video with us, and as always I enjoy watching you shoot.. That's one hell of a gun for it's age... With iron sights non the less....

[@shooter1721]

Thank you . Incredible accuracy for that time era

[@arsenelupiniii8040]

Thats a long time overdue for a pressure vessel inspection.

[@rotwang2000]

We don't often give credit to the skill and ingenuity of people back then.

[@shooter1721]

@@rotwang2000 agreed

[@TheStoney07]

i have admired this gun since i was in middle school learning about Lewis and Clark and learning that they used this air rifle. thank you for this amazing video and wow what an honor to get to see and shoot this gun and showing us an in depth review of this air rifle. thanks again for the amazing video gentleman this made my day.

[@shooter1721]

You are very welcome

[@Kevin_Ridenour]

This was fascinating! Thanks, Rick!

[@shooter1721]

You are welcome

[@larryward1082]

Lewis and Clark expedition had one with them I've never seen one shoot till now and I've always been impressed with this particular design and the fact that Lewis and Clark expedition had one with them and used it for small game and not to disturb the native Americans with gunshots the craftsmanship is is extremely good it impresses me

[@shooter1721]

I totally agree

[@BryanWhite77]

It absolutely amazes me the efficiency of this air rifle. The fact that my 25 caliber Benjamin Marauder at 3000 psi only gets about 24 shots in the curve and this thing can get 35+ usable shots at 800PSI with a 46 caliber round ball is incredible.

[@shooter1721]

I totally agree

[@SFERDIAN]

I am impressed with the gun Thank you for showing the gun and beautiful interview

[@shooter1721]

Thank you appreciate you watching and commenting

[@PongbyAtari]

Such a fantastic video I have been loving airguns since my dad purchased me a Crosman 1400 for my 13th Birthday in 1974. 50 years later I own several airguns mostly from the 60"s thru 80's to see something like this being engineered in the early 1800's blows my mind. Great shooting off hand by the way I'm really looking forward to the upcoming museum. Thanks again for a wonderful video.

[@nirfz]

Two fun facts: 1:the military history museum in vienna has an original one on display. But no sign or anything pointing out that it's an airgun or what it is at all, it's just standing there, among other military firearms of it's time. (But anyone who knows, knows when seeing it.) And 2: one would think the austrian military had it's use of air propelled ordonance saturated by using the Girardoni air rifles in service... But during WW1 on the italian front high up in the mountains where avellanches were killing more men thatn fighting did, they develloped and used "air mortars" So mortars that slung their shells by compressed air. (horizontal range 3-8 km). Firing normal artillery sometimes due to the blast triggered avellanches above and would kill the crews themselves. The air mortars did not. And it's relatively quiet in "firing" compared to normal ones. When being shot at, you will hear the whisteling of the shell, but no boom of firing it. Imagine the frightening factor of such a device. You won't hear the artillery barrage start, you will only notice when the rounds are incomming.

[@rotwang2000]

The US had something similar called the Zalinsky Pneumatic Dynamite gun a generation earlier. The issue with making reliable HE shells was a major problem in the latter days of the 19th century as velocity went up and shells could explode in the breech or were duds. The Zalinsky was a "soft shooting" weapon.that solved the problem and was far more effective than classic HE shells of the period, until of course technology caught up and thin-walled shells were invented with more stable filler. We forgot that around the same time there were attempts to make magnetic guns, centrifugal force guns, even steam-pressure guns or spring powered rifles.

[@leadslinger5130]

Super cool to see the original air rifles!

[@UpNorthAirGunner]

Dude. The precision of that thing is insane! There are big bore airguns in 2024 that can’t shoot 50 yard groups like that untethered / unregulated!

[@shooter1721]

Right … I was blown away by its accuracy

[@arsenelupiniii8040]

Just for fun, check out the Western Airguns Sidewinder, their specs in 30 cal are 125 FPE and it is select fire!

[@detroit149]

50 yards? I have a 45 cal pcp air rifle that will shoot 1000 yards

[@UpNorthAirGunner]

@@detroit149 You are missing the entire point of this video! You have a 1000 yard PCP Airgun BECAUSE of the Airgun in this video! 🤣

[@detroit149]

​@UpNorthAirGunner Yes sir you are correct. I made that comment before I watched the video. I love my air rifle and my electric compressors. No disrespect ment and I loved the video. These air guns are amazing.

[@Dutch.1722]

Those bottles fill to 820 psi. This gun was used in the Napoleonanic wars. The enemy could never pin point where sniper fire came thru. Rich told me 600 fps at Midwest Airgun show last weekend.

[@shooter1721]

It was colder at the time of filming but in 70 weather I believe it’s in the mid 600 ‘s

[@Dutch.1722]

@@shooter1721 I asked how they were sealed. one is sealed with orings so it can be shot and the other is sealed with leather and bone. LEATHER AND BONE!!!! Seals 820 psi!!

[@mackattack8627]

Finally An AirGun History Episode In Great Detail With The Shooter 1721 Great Job Boy's ✌

[@shooter1721]

Thank you really appreciate it

[@bluewater454]

Finally, we get to see some new technologies on this channel. 😄Seriously, this was pretty awesome.

[@shooter1721]

Bucket list for me

[@justinholoviak5357]

This is AMAZING. Thank you from the bottom of my curious heart. Wow! So educational and cool

[@shooter1721]

Appreciate the comment! 👊

[@snowdogthewolf]

Man, I was just wondering about this very airgun the other day! Perfect timing and an excellent video. Edited to say, it would be grand if some reputable airgun company out there made replicas of these.

[@bamoore65]

Very impressed for something from that time era.

[@bamoore65]

I see a trick shot in the making...

[@proteus371]

thanks for showing ! I have been hoping to see one for years, it would be fantastic to make replicas

[@darrencady4261]

Thank you Gentlemen. I have always wondered how a Girardoni air rifle would shoot and now I know! To think this was an out-and-out war weapon that would plant any man unfortunate enough to be hit at incredible range. It also blows the myth that faster isn't always better when it comes to airguns. I would sooner take a hit with a 14 grain pellet at 750 fps than with a large ball at 500 fps. Many thanks for an interesting and superbly presented video. All the very best, from England. Oh, and by the way, you are an incredible marksman.

[@shooter1721]

@@darrencady4261 Thank you very much for your comment!!!

[@TheBeefSlayer]

Who wouldn’t want one of these!!!!! This is an amazing machine. WOW.

[@JF-SHARK]

Wooow Rick, this video is amazing!!!…..when I started with airguns I hear about the Girardoni. French forces considered it an unchivalrous weapon because it did not generate smoke or much noise and reminds us for a weapon to be lethal it does not requiere much force. I read somewhere that is the base for the design of the airforce rifles. Thás why I love my Talon, my SS condors and my Texan. Thanks again Rick!!!

[@shooter1721]

Thank you !

[@MyxeQ]

I have always been wondering how well these things worked. Such a fascinating advanced piece of technology. 800psi from a removeable air tank made by hand in the 1800s. WOW!

[@shooter1721]

Absolutely loved making this video

[@mattymcmattamus]

Wow. Thank you. I've heard about this gun but always wanted to know more.

[@heithwatkins]

Most interesting airgun video I've seen. Thanks guys 👍

[@shooter1721]

Thank you

[@CaptainGrief66]

Bartolomeo Gilardoni was a genius, another innovation in the field of fireatms at the hands of the Italians

[@messor01]

"History and use Recreation of an Austrian Girardoni system accoutrements bag, including bullet mold, air pump, spare air flasks, wrenches and ladle The Girardoni air rifle was in service with the Austrian army from 1780 to around 1815. Many references to the Girardoni air rifles mention lethal combat ranges of 125 to 150 yards and some extend that range considerably. The advantages of a high rate of fire, no smoke from propellants, and low muzzle report granted it acceptance. It did have problems and was eventually removed from service for several reasons decades after introduction. There was also a version sold to civilians after it was removed from military service. While the detachable air reservoir was capable of around 30 shots, it took nearly 1,500 strokes of a hand pump to fill those reservoirs. Later, a wagon-mounted pump was provided. The reservoirs, made from hammered sheet iron held together with rivets and sealed by brazing, proved very difficult to manufacture using the techniques of the period and were always in short supply. The weapon was very delicate, and a small break in the reservoir could make it inoperable. It was also very different from any other weapon of the time, requiring extensive training to use. The Lewis and Clark Expedition used the rifle in the demonstrations that they performed for nearly every Native American tribe they encountered on the expedition.[1][2] Some scholars have argued that the airgun carried by Merriwether Lewis was not a Girandoni, but a Lukens, made by Isaiah Lukens of Philadelphia.[3] However, Col. Thomas Rodney wrote the following on 8 September 1803: "Visited Captain Lewess [sic] barge. He shewed us his air gun which fired 22 times at one charge."[4] All Lukens's known airguns were single-shot muzzleloaders, not repeaters, making it very likely that Lewis's gun was a Girandoni, the only repeating airgun of the time. Lewis stated in his journals that he purchased the airgun, but it is not known when or where he did so.[5] Lewis fired the airgun at least 16 times to demonstrate it to various Native American tribes. On 24 January 1806, Lewis wrote "My air gun also astonishes them very much, they cannot comprehend it's shooting so often and without powder; and think that it is great medicine."[6][7]" -Wikipedia-

[@Steve-cl7hr]

Great video with lots of good info. One possible correction: All sources I have read report that there was only one air rifle on the Lewis and Clark expedition. The journals report that it was often used as a demonstration of firepower on initial meetings with tribes along the way to the Pacific. The rest of the rifles carried were Harper’s Ferry flintlocks. Again, great video.

[@thebeardedairgunner]

That is amazing! The craftsmanship is outstanding! Excellent shooting and video as always brother! So cool 😎

[@chopsddy3]

Rick, This is airgun history in the making!😀👍 (You lucky dog.) God bless ya buddy. This is great! I’ll get myself to that museum in a wheelbarrow if necessary.

[@shooter1721]

Really loved doing this video . I couldn’t believe craftsmanship in this rifle. True story the first shot I took was at a 1 inch sapling 30 yds away standing freehand hit it so dead center that the round ball was still in there. The reason it didn’t blow through is because there was so much give in the sapling it caught it . I knew the video we were about to do was going to be good

[@chopsddy3]

@@shooter1721 This may boost the industry. I, for one, would love a modern version of this system that could be made affordable. Specifically ,a more efficient pumping system . Other than that, a twenty round mag with speed loaders, a pack with pump, extra tanks and a freakin projectile mold! It’s perfect. I imagine all the gaskets to be greased leather. What an outstanding survival tool! I have to wonder if the men on the expedition had to return them when they returned home? I also have to wonder if they happily turned them in knowing that the pumping was over. 1500 pumps. Geesh!🥵 . A modern pump should fix that easily.

[@B4d2Th3Bon3]

Absolutely awesome!

[@marcegrecco53]

Amazing, they were able to make airguns over 250 years ago and great shooting Rick

[@shooter1721]

Thank you I appreciate it

[@yodhzen]

Hey thanks for showing off you two old characters! I thought for sure I'd be sifting through this video without seein' nothin'! You guys really came through and delivered the goods. We'll be alright! In one version of the Lewis and Clark Oregon Trail Expedition story, Meriwether Lewis shares this Girardoni pneumatic rifle with a chief Native or tribal representative and said, "She has medicine in her."

[@shooter1721]

Appreciate the comment!

[@kevinroberson1985]

I have always wanted one of those Air rifles ever sense I first seen one year's ago !

[@robr1656]

Awesome video and rifle! I've been amazed by this rifle since reading of it years ago. The accuracy has me in awe! Thank you very much for sharing this. Are they available to purchase?!

[@fieldpro5041]

one of my favorite videos so far brother

[@shooter1721]

Thank you very much

[@LeviAirRifleChronicles]

Sir the history you held in your hand and showed what it was capable of. Amazing. This is one of your best videos yet. My 7 year old son now wants to cut cards with his Notos. So ... Thanks for that 😂

[@shooter1721]

Nice !!! …. Thank you 👊

[@Nico-Max63]

Amazing beautiful air rifle 👍👍👍👍

[@shooter1721]

The craftsmanship of this rifle was outstanding

[@williamwilson2624]

This video was awesome! I knew that Lewis and Clark used this rifle but never saw anyone actually shoot one. Did you guys use the hand pump or an easier method of filling?

[@shooter1721]

We used a tank 😉

[@arsenelupiniii8040]

@@shooter1721 What was the fill pressure? I missed that part.

[@trevorjameson3213]

@@arsenelupiniii8040 800 psi

[@arsenelupiniii8040]

@@trevorjameson3213 Thats pretty awesome! My current PCP's are around 250 bar unregulated and 200 bar regulated. They hit in .25 cal with 40 ish FPE. The hardest thing for them to create back then would have been a "safe" pressure vessel, even these days a High Pressure air vessel requires massive overbuilding.

[@vgamedude12]

We need rifles like this on the market.

[@davidlund5003]

Thankyou very much.

[@mughram]

impressive , thanks for sharing

[@shooter1721]

Thank you

[@45035]

Outstanding shipmates. Press on. USS Kitty Hawk CV-63. Jan 1980 to July 1983. Air gunner for life.

[@murphy4yt]

Amazing to,think that Lewis and Clark had one of these on their trek in 1803!

[@Doc-Holliday1851]

the fact that this rifle didn't spawn an entire industry is mind boggling.

[@shooter1721]

Agreed!!

[@212caboose]

I would LOVE to have a modern version of one of these guns- update the pump to modern PCP pump output, and bump up the PSI to 2k or something... CNC parts as much as possible to bring costs down as much as possible. Mmmm!!

[@chopsddy3]

Wait a minute! Did you say 38 shots!! Are we devolving or something? That’s amazing. Thanks so much for this. I’ve wondered about this gun since I first heard about it. That, was a long time ago.

[@motorosso3349]

200 years later, PCP air guns are back in vogue. This was a very interesting exercise so thanks!

[@larryward1082]

It's also a very quality the the engineering is fantastic and the quality is fantastic for that time true craftsmanship

[@armandbourque2468]

They were making clocks at the same time. Metallurgy and precision was increasing rapidly at that time. Verniers and micrometers were being invented.

[@richardsaunders7569]

The valve on that gun is better than some of my hatsans😂😂😂

[@arsenelupiniii8040]

Hahaha, Agreed! I have found that Hatsans dont like to run under 100 bar on the manometer. Tends to break the valve at the stem. I bottle feed all mine.

[@keithusace4352]

Wow, awesome video Rick. Appreciate you and the crew putting it together. All the previous comments say it all, just great 👍. I've seen it presented on a history type presentation and this has it beat a hundred times over. Thank you for really doing what was lacking on that program , putting some lead down range. I guess I might have missed it but how much did this rifle weigh?

[@shooter1721]

I believe 9.5 pounds

[@dougphillips8729]

This is incredible!

[@shooter1721]

Thank you

[@joshmajor8662]

I’m lost then!! Lol I’ve read in SEVERAL books there was 1 and 1 ONLY air rifle. They had muskets, powder, etc. but only 1 Girardoni.

[@Victor-ez7fl]

Great video 👍

[@shooter1721]

Thank you

[@Tradhunter]

I never knew they were that well made.

[@Youdoneedmyname]

Years ago I was doing some remodeling at the Pentagon and in the hallway near the Secretary of Defenses offices there were cases of historic firearms and swords, etc. the rifle from the Lewis and Clark expedition was in one. Another interesting gun was Saddams 24k gold plated AK47.

[@buijs1967]

Great stuff, i want one.

[@GATORKID51]

Amazing video

[@shooter1721]

Thank you

[@peterto8050]

What’s the ftlb on this configuration? Watched it but not sure you mentioned the grains to work it out

[@shooter1721]

@@peterto8050 144 gr .457 bullet

[@peterto8050]

@@shooter1721 thanks so much, that’s around 70ftlb+. Absolutely amazing power for an old gun, great video!!

[@bodiemack100]

Great video.

[@shooter1721]

Thank you

[@sharonrigs7999]

The air flask was the weakest link. Brazing wasn't quite there yet. But they were an amazing technological advance and one of the coolest guns ever made.

[@shooter1721]

Agreed

[@redgum1340]

Hey there, what is the barrel length and do you have a schematic on the valve system?

[@michaelmello9510]

Great job

[@shooter1721]

Thank you

[@AlfJDale]

Gunsmith Alf Helland of Norway made a exact functioning replica of a Girardoni rifle💪

[@tbmpetsolutions]

awesome

[@markhorrell9213]

My dad inherited a working 18th century air rifle...l beleive a 36 cal. It an the other edged weapons and collectible black powder rifles,shotguns and pistols all went to Southbys. I recall the estate sale benefited us as dad used the money to wind up the farm mortgage amongst other things here in OZ back in the mid 70's

[@gustavgnoettgen]

Absolutely ahead of it's time and the earliest banned "firearm" I know of.

[@theBullStarr]

It was banned? Tell me more

[@jerrygidster5003]

I believe Napoleon was outraged by the stealthy manner in which his officers were shot off their horses without a sound. He declared it a war crime and automatic execution of any enemy caught with one. The Austrians heeded and ceased using them. ​@@theBullStarr

[@Valentin_126]

Crazy to think that air rifles would likely have been the main focus of military development had gunpowder never been invented

[@georgedeedsnotwords2162]

First off great video everyone . Imagine someone bringing one of these to Rocky mountain Air gun challenge or one of the other air rifle challenges ...and winning .🤔

[@shooter1721]

That would pretty awesome

[@jerrydonquixote5927]

I've learned about these years ago, but I didn't know they were that old. I thought like late 1800's like Civil War era. But I'm sitting here thinking, I'm blown away and I'm thinking they could have won the Alamo with these! If the South had only a few thousand of these they would have won the Civil War. Something like this could have changed history if they just utilized the technology. This is like a Navy SEAL type of weapon of the day. Those quick Reloaders makes me think of my mentality. I used to use those little cardboard tubes that are for the pants on the clothes hangers, and make a fast reloader for my Nylon 66 back in the seventies. I love weapons, and I love weapons that are game changers! I can see yall have the same passion.

[@b.h.abbott-motley2427]

The power of each shot is very low. Soldiers could have simply worn light armor (leather, blankets, etc.) if air rifles became a major threat in early 19th-century warfare. They apparently were effective at times, but they weren't game changers.

[@zacharymohrmann4329]

Sniper shooting, Napoleon would had a lot to be worried about.. Could you imagine a few of these spread out amongst several sniper shooters in the opposition...? I don't know how you could be so modest with the targets you had chosen to shoot...!

[@icebluecuda1]

Thanks for posting! Awesome

[@shooter1721]

You are welcome

[@congerthomas1812]

1000x better than anything in the time. Really didn't get the Acknowledgement it deserves!

[@shooter1721]

Agreed !!! Rifle was absolutely amazing for its time.

[@congerthomas1812]

@@shooter1721 first Real discrepancy in history I found.

[@bills6093]

It's definitely good enough for small game hunting. Might even take something medium sized if you can get to 25 yards or so and have a full charge.

[@samchapple6363]

Wow 😮 seen them but not fired. Amazing

[@tycook300]

Good video Rick but didn't understand the chronograph reeding being higher down range

[@shooter1721]

I didn’t reset it

[@richardsaunders7569]

Rick, I know, I usually come on here And I just give you a come on man or a good job Rick. But man That is amazing that you got to hold such an awesome piece of history and make some amazing shots with it in the process. To me it kind of seems like the pcp game should have picked up right Where this left off. That is an amazing rifle Rick, And I am extremely happy for you That you got a chance to play around with it for a while.....cmon man

[@shooter1721]

It was a true bucket list for me. I am very blessed to get this opportunity. And thank you . I appreciate your comments 👊

[@richardsaunders7569]

You just keep up all your hard work. We all love watching your videos. The air gun world would be naked without you, my man.

[@charlesmckinley29]

There is a video of a European museum that has these and the support equipment like the large stationary pumps for them.

[@licustoms]

Is there anyone out there that's going to be making replicas of this for sale? Would be amazing to own one! Thanks for sharing this important and significant artifact of history.

[@shooter1721]

@@licustoms I wish someone would . You are welcome 👊

[@laurahaaima1436]

Would be fun if they remade these with modern materials..

[@shooter1721]

Agreed

[@quantumenergysolutions9128]

Thanks for the fast reply. Can a modern air pump attach? I wonder why they didnt add a way to automatically diesel each shot with a tiny tank . Even today no one except me wants to see a hybrid off grid version??

[@whatsmolly5741]

Dieseling with a pcp sounds like a terrible idea. Even with break barrels it wrecks the o rings. You don't really need it when modern pcp tanks can reliably hold 3000-5000 psi.

[@quantumenergysolutions9128]

@@whatsmolly5741 LOL you dont read english lol! No its a great idea! . No one has build a hybrid to take ADVANTAGE of that EFFECT! I already know dieseling a "NORMAL. gun is harmful derrr!

[@drywallman1986]

That was a really neat rifle. Glad I could meet the great Rick Rehm

[@shooter1721]

Thanks for hanging out with us 👊

[@ZeroFucksLeft]

If y'all are still able to provide pictures or request pictures from the people in possession of the rifle, I would like to see the mouth of the tank. There are no blueprints available and I'm wondering exactly how the air was kept in the tank.

[@shooter1721]

@@ZeroFucksLeft unfortunately it went to a museum I only had a short window of time to shoot it .

[@iobey]

Holy shit, somebody actually make a replica of this awesome air rifle! I hope someone else can create a replica of Kalthoff Repeater, so we can prove the myths around that first military repeater.❤

[@arsenelupiniii8040]

Right!? with current carbon fiber tanks you could get at least 200 bar, regulated, and keep the smooth bore.

[@press-mitrevski]

i was always wondering when they would bring that piece of history to you, is the barrel rifled?

[@shooter1721]

Yes it is

[@atharvamarne9187]

Where can i get one, and its price