An Austrian M 1779 repeating airgun, Girardoni systemOctagonal barrel in cal. 11.5 mm, 12 lands and grooves. length 830 mm. Iron rear sight, brass front sight. The breech end with Austrian double eagle. Spring-loaded loading/locking system. Head of hammer screw broken off and missing. Lateral tubular magazine for 20 lead balls. The receiver and furniture of brass, the former marked with serial number "1471" and "G" for Girardoni. Sling swivels of iron. Walnut stock with brass cap. The ramrod probably a replacement. Reservoir for compressed air made of iron, double eagle acceptance mark, the leather cover missing. Length 123,5 cm. An extremely rare air gun in good, untampered condition. 1300 such rifles were available in the Turkish War in 1788/1789, but that number dropped significantly in the following years, as these rifles were extremely expensive to make. After only 21 years in service this system was retired from the army. See Erich Gabriel, "Die Hand- und Faustfeuerwaffen der habsburgischen Heere", page 41 and Cat. # 109.Condition: II -