◉ A RARE CASED 50 BORE REPEATING BUTT RESERVOIR AIR RIFLE COMPLETE WITH AN ADDITIONAL 32 BORE

◉ A RARE CASED 50 BORE REPEATING BUTT RESERVOIR AIR RIFLE COMPLETE WITH AN ADDITIONAL 32 BORE BARREL FOR BALL OR SHOT BY STAUDENMAYER, CIRCA 1799 with browned twist octagonal sighted multi-groove rifled barrel signed in gold block capitals, the breech inlaid with a gold star, fitted with blued sprung loading lever on the left and tubular magazine beneath, the ball or shot barrel formed in two stages, signed on a gold scroll over the breech and inlaid with a gold line, with brass-tipped wooden ramrod beneath, signed engraved case-hardened action, decorated with scrolls and fitted with sprung cocking lever on the right, engraved with an elaborate trophy-of-music and fitted with cocking indicator on the left, and overlaid with a silver plaque on the top (minor restorations), border-engraved trigger-guard decorated with a Britannia trophy, steel butt reservoir encased in Japanned leather and with threaded brass nozzle, and retaining some early finish throughout: in its fitted mahogany case, the lid with flush-fitting brass carrying handle on the outside, the interior line in green baize (one compartment lid replaced), with trade label for 35 Jermyn Street and complete with some accessories including steel pump, reservoir spanner and bullet mould, 69.2cm rifle barrel, 67.2cm shot barrel Provenance Sold in this room 5th December 2012, lot 262. Samuel Henry Staudenmayer is recorded at this address circa 1799, he was former workman of John Manton, gunmaker to the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York. Two air weapons by this maker are recorded in the Hanoverian Royal Gunroom, one of which was sold Sotheby's, Hanover, October 2005, lot 868. He is also the maker of a Girandoni-system air rifle in the Royal Collection at Windsor (inv. no. L 409).