Air rifle walking stick

[JamesAllen1]

I'm curious if anyone out here in the Nothwest has gotten an 1850s walking stick air rifle operational? I've got a .30 caliber model by Reilly of London and I'm wondering about whether one use patches with your lead ball? Any other tips?

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[Andy54Hawken]

Never used one.

However I do have some experience with muzzle loaders , both replica and antique.
And in my experience for close range shooting , as in self defense range ...
A patch does not make a huge difference in accurate shooting or is of much use as a way to prevent fouling of the bore...
Since you aren't as a general rule shooting a cane gun / walking stick gun in a rifle match , as in often , so to speak.

That said...a greased patch may help prevent the ball from sliding out of the bore

While not a 'walking stick gun" or cane gun....
Meriwether Lewis does not mention using patches with his air rifle...granted there also ain't much load data out there for it.

Andy

 

[JamesAllen1]

Andy,

Thank you for the information. I think the advantage of a patch might be, as you said, to prevent my lead ball from clattering out the barrel. Here's a photo of the item.

 

[JamesAllen1]

The loading rod is also the end of the walking stick when screwed into the walking stick shaft.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

You are very welcome...
Thank you so very much for posting a picture of your rifle.

I have a small collection of original , as in antique muzzle loaders that I put on display / use to teach....
Nice to see your rifle for sure.
Andy

 

[Ben B.]

Does the ram rod screw into the barrel or parallel to the barrel in this walking stick air rifle? Not understanding how it can be both a ram rod to seat a ball AND then screw on for retention.

 

[JamesAllen1]

Ben,

The rod screws into the walking stick and becomes the tip of the walking stick. Loading and shooting you remove. The whole contraption is rather heavy for a walking stick unless one is looking for a total upper body work out.

 

[Ben B.]

So does the length of the rod go into the barrel before you tighten it down?

 

[JamesAllen1]

Ben,

Yes, it screws down neatly. Another photo perhaps illustrates. Here you can also see the front sight to the left. The walking stick actually has two halves, the upper half has the air reservoir. The lower half contains the ball and probably as Ben suggested a patch.

 

[JamesAllen1]

Here the two halves are separated and you see the back sight.

 

[Ben B.]

So is the rod just long enough to seat a ball, but no so long that it can't screw down inside the barrel after you seated a ball?

 

[JamesAllen1]

Yes, it leaves enough room for a ball and the patch, as Andy suggested might be useful.

 

[Ben B.]

A patch certainly seems handy for keeping the ball in place, if you are carrying it about and there is no rod present that is holding the ball in place. This type of thing seems more like an interesting novelty item. Be fun to hear about if you get it operating.

I did read this article, if you haven't seen it already.

Old Air-Gun Canes: Deadly Accessories for the Dandy - Guns and Ammo

Air-gun canes were surreptitious, deadly accessories for the gentry and enthusiasts of pneumatic novelties from the mid-1800s to the turn of the 20th century.

www.gunsandammo.com

 

[JamesAllen1]

Ben,

Thank you for the article link. I'm only lacking a key which is available from an air rifle website. That pops out the trigger button. I will keep you current if walking stick gets activated.

 

[ma96782]

Not about "air guns" but maybe this might interest you?
Start your viewing at 05:07

View: https://youtu.be/vWJjAm9Dn9w?si=PDm_DkTvjrUN2g0q


Aloha, Mark

 

[JamesAllen1]

Saw a cased air rifle in Vegas Antique ArmsShow. Reilly manufactured and stunning. Included all accessories. And it was breech loading!

 

[Taggarung]

Ben,

Yes, it screws down neatly. Another photo perhaps illustrates. Here you can also see the front sight to the left. The walking stick actually has two halves, the upper half has the air reservoir. The lower half contains the ball and probably as Ben suggested a patch.

View attachment 2196938

Thanks for the info! I think that's what's up with mine!

 

[Capn Jack]

Time to get out the sketch pad and think about how one could be powered with a CO2 cylinder.

Plugging up the muzzle while being used as a walking stick bothers me though. That and the fact that there is no, "back up" after the shot other than using the rammer as a bayonet of sorts.

 

[JamesAllen1]

Most of these were poachers' tools. They enabled you to steal game from an estate. As a self defense tool not as successful.

 

[Capn Jack]

Most of these were poachers' tools. They enabled you to steal game from an estate. As a self defense tool not as successful.

Supposedly why the suppressor was out lawed.