AIR RIFLE

Scottish, ca. 1840, hunting weapon, William MacLauchlan, Edinburgh.
Round barrel (L 77.2 cm), Cal. 11 mm, fine rifling, chamber part octagonal, inscribed "Edinburgh", rear sight with flap, front sight. Iron lock case signed "William MacLauchlan", in addition struck in gold letters "MACLAUCHLAN PATENT", engraved tendril decoration with hunting scenes, stag and hare pursued by hounds. External spring with cock, small safety lever and slide for indexing the piston. Iron mount, trigger guard with finger hooks, three ramrod sleeves. Leather-lined iron piston with valve device and brass mount for the compressed air. Short walnut stock, wooden ramrod.
L 120.5 cm.

William MacLauchlan, who worked in Edinburgh, can be traced to various addresses between 1806 and 1849, namely Nicholson Street, Home Street and Morrison Place. A very rare Scottish air rifle, carefully crafted and based on a patent by McLauchlan.