c-1890* German Made ‘Gem’ .177 Air Rifle. 21310. c-1890* German Made ‘Gem’ .177 Air Rifle. 21310. .177 Air Rifles

The Gem started off back in the 1870’s, 20 years before many guns we consider as the beginning of the airgun era appeared. The American design was adopted in Germany, and manufacturing started. Made less from engineered steel, and more from castings. A classic Vintage rifle which was produced from around 1870 to about 1930. It was manufactured in both rifled and smooth bore barrels and in .177, .22 and the rare .25cal. This fine example is a .177 calibre. The history of the Gem rifle is all a bit vague and there are plenty of publications, but most of them are contradictory, no surprise there either. What is for certain though is that many were manufactured in Germany for Quackenbush when Haviland and Gunn sold their patents to Mr Henry Marcus Quackenbush of New York. C.G. Bonehill of Birmingham manufactured a modified version of the Quackenbush called the Britannia and this manufacture started around 1905. 16 ½ “barrel (33” overall length) with fixed front and rear sights. The wooden stock is in very good condition for its years with only a few age/use related marks. A steel butt plate is held by two screws. ‘Patent? GEM’ is imprinted on the barrel. See page 122 of Hillers Air Rifles for reference. The loading and firing actions work perfectly. Price includes UK delivery for this very early first series rifle. 21310.