"The Girardoni Air Rifle – Why Didn’t More 18th Century" Topic

…Armies Rush to Adopt This Experimental Rapid-Fire Infantry Weapon?

"ON SEPT. 24, 1804, Captain Meriwether Lewis and his men confronted an armed gathering of the Brule Band of Teton Sioux on the site of present- day Pierre, South Dakota.

A renegade brave had stolen the last horse of the Lewis and Clark expedition and Lewis wanted it back. Neither group spoke the other's language and both sides were uncertain about the intentions of the other. As precautions, the Indians had pulled their bow strings tau and Lewis's men had shouldered arms. Violence was the last thing Lewis wanted; the expedition had not only been tasked with exploring the Louisiana Purchase but turning the vast region's Native American inhabitants into friends of the United States…"

Main page

link

Armand

Also see Brandon F video on it

For your amusement and edification:

YouTube link

It seems to me that the only benefit of this weapon is for skirmishing from in cover where the lack of smoke gives you an advantage and even then I suspect the hassle recharging after 30 rounds was too big a problem problem. Even for Jager units where some of the skirmish line could withdraw and be replaced this is going to have to happen 2-3 times in a battle, which is unnecessary complication.

Given the ability of the average European infantryman and the technical issues with loading/recharging plus the delicacy of the weapon, a gun a little too early to be of practical use – Mark Wilson is spot on

Thanks

Armand

link
Brandon f on this

I believe the Austrian Jagers were issued a number of them in Italy @1794.

I believe Boney threatened to execute anyone found using one.

this was nothing special, air rifles – as other rifles as well, were used for hunting game, and indeed the Girandoni air rifle, was used for a certain time in the Austrian Jäger, one Artaria print even shows this. Later Fiegner used one to execute prisoners after he had questioned them to the dismay of his fellow Russian officers.

Thanks also…

Armand