Giffard Co2 6 mm

Early first-generation Gifford 19th-century French CO₂ air pistol - ."Manufacture Française d'Armes et Cycles de St. Etienne"

A beautiful example, the gun still retains most of its original dark blueing, there is some fading on the last 5 inch’s on the barrel but no rust or pitting. The walnut grip is free of cracks, and the original reloading lever/sights are intact. Original screw heads (engraved).

Rotating "breech tap" serial Number – 418. The low triple-digit number places the manufacture of the gun's main receiver and action to the very beginning of French commercial production (early first-generation model), likely between 1874 and 1876 built in Saint-Étienne, France

Detachable CO2 cylinder serial number -3654. Typically a cylinder numbered in the mid-3,000s points to a manufacture date closer to 1880–1885.

The mismatch in serial numbers between the main receiver and the detachable cylinder is very common for Giffard airguns and is known as the "Refill Swap" effect. In the late 19th century, owners could not refill these high-pressure CO2 cylinders at home. When a cylinder ran out of gas, the owner unscrewed it from the gun and mailed it back to the factory or a licensed regional distributor to be swapped for a freshly filled one. Over years of use, the original reservoir (which would have originally been stamped 418) was left at a depot, and a newer, charged reservoir (3654) was screwed onto the main receiver instead.