AmericanLongRifles Forums
General discussion => Gun Building => Topic started by: Clowdis on December 03, 2022, 04:01:13 PM
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Somewhere I remember seeing plans for this rifle but I can't remember where I saw them. I have the illustrations found in Google but that's about it. Does anyone know where there is a link to the plans for building this air rifle?
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Ernie cowan wrote a book documenting his work recreating this gun they are difficult to find.
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I have several of Ernie's flintlocks but not one of his air rifles. I didn't realize he put together a book or manuscript but if any copies are available, you might want to try his old business partner, Rick Keller, at Great War Militaria in Chambersburg, Penn.
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Dave Rase found a manule on building one as discribed by Ernie cowan and got it out of Scotland it cost him like $130.00 by the time he paid the fee's they levey. That was a couple of years ago. Good luck on finding one.
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IIRC, Lewis and Clark's air rifle was .30 cal. Someone made a replica of the Girandoni rifle in the States some time ago IIRC, seems to me and in .44 or .45 cal.?
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Haven't had much luck in my searches so I think I'll try to get hold of Rick Keller and see if he has anything. Really appreciate the help guys!
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If you look up gun builder Dennis Priddy(sp) or Preddy he use to build them. He was featured in either Muzzle Blasts or Muzzle Loader magazine a while back. He built an exact copy IIRC.
He's a Michigan builder and he's a wealth of knowledge on them.
Hope this helps.
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Greetings,
My name is Hank Elwood and I've added a pic of the two books talked about but if you are serious about making one only the Second Addition is close enough to help and I would encourage you to double check all measurements. In addition make sure of which Girardoni part you are looking at first. If I remember correctly they photographed x3 guns in the book. And they are not all the same. I built x2 Girardonis and x3 Lukens Air Rifles. I haven't put anything on the Forum because I thought it was Verboten.
(https://i.ibb.co/GTwy2HR/20221204-110036.jpg) (https://ibb.co/C2dg7PQ)
(https://i.ibb.co/g67p3TG/20221204-095843.jpg) (https://ibb.co/7bz5XWH)
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Thank you Hank! I was able to download a free copy of vol. 2 which seems to be mostly canes but does contain a bunch of drawings of mechanisms used in air rifles/canes. Guess I'll have to fork out the coins for vol. 1. Either way, I appreciate this information, good stuff!
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IIRC, Lewis and Clark's air rifle was .30 cal. Someone made a replica of the Girandoni rifle in the States some time ago IIRC, seems to me and in .44 or .45 cal.?
Capt. Lewis had a muzzle loading rifle that he called his "Small rifle" that carried 100 balls to the pound (36 cal) as described in the Journals. The Giannoni air rifle carried a ball that was .46 cal. as measured when the rifle was examined by Earnie and Rick.
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There ya go.