Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Air Guns Lewis and Clark

Did y'all know that Lewis and Clark had a big bore air rifle with them on their expedition? It took some really big game for them. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I'll bite. How big was it? What brand?

Here's a site with some info. Short story .31 cal built by Isaiah Lukens of Philadelphia, PA and it's in the museum at VMI

http://www4.vmi.edu/museum/air_rifle.html

Here's another interesting site

http://www.lewis-clark.org/content/content-channel.asp?ChannelID=300

The biggest game that was shot with it may have been Meriwether himself who got mistaken for an Elk and shot in the butt on 11 Aug 1806. Hmmm should have worn some orange <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I believe that there maay have been more than one air rifle with Lewis & Clark as in one old issue Gun digest there is a picture of a rife atributed to L&C that has a round bulb attachedto it in front of the trigger guard. it has been several years since I saw that picture so I may be mistaken . None the less I was aware of the air rifle with L&C. now I have to go and find that article.

Bullwnkl.

Have an extensive collection of L&C books and I recall the bulb air rifle as well. For sure it was a bulb but I thought it'd been 'lost' IIRC, maybe it's been found lately.

Stephen Ambrose wrote "Undaunted Courage" which is one of the best 'true novels' ever written. Highly suggested reading. He also wrote the famous "D Day" as well as a bunch more. Fine gentlemen and am glad to have his autographed copy(s).

From what I understand, the air gun was a repeater. The indians where afraid of it and it keep them alive. I thought that the French would not use them in war. Not sportsman like.

I have a picture of it in one of my old gun digests or something like that.
It had the reservoir as was stated in front of the trigger guard, will have to find that book, maybe I can scan it.
But did find this on a site.