Gunner wrote:

On Thu, 13 Apr 2006 13:19:24 -0500, "Robert Swinney"
wrote:

Rex wrote:

"...The Lewis and Clark rifle was a PCB as were most airguns
before the 20th century...."

Coupla questions:

Are you sure the "Lewis and Clark" model was a rifle? Smooth-bores were
pretty much the norm in the very early 1800's.

What is a "PCB"?

Bob Swinney


The Austrian army had a brigade of pneumatic riflemen. As I understand
it, they were considered quite unsporting as they could kill you very
well at considerable distance from hiding, never leaving that pesky
cloud of smoke to show your position

Gunner

Those would have been the Girandoni repeaters. For those interested,
there are a couple books around that detail the making of a working
replica. Not sure if it's still in print but a search would find it for
the interested.

They were not extremely high powered,in the scheme of things, though
powerful enough, but were capable of several shots in very quick (for
the time) succession, and did not leave a great honking cloud of white
smoke to mark the shooters location.

Much info here http://www.beemans.net/Austrian%20airguns.htm and a good
read. There's actual metalworking content! :-)

Cheers
Trevor Jones