not quite, not quite. There are many examples of fine mechanical construction from way before Mr. Giradoni and the first attempt to make a compressed air arm was by a certain Mr. Ktesibios... around 200 BC. He failed mostly because he had no known way to seal off the cylinders with a gasket or make them concentric enough to not need a gasket.
Really a brilliant and spectacular piece of engineering for its time, considering both concept and craftsmanship. I can understand that the whole device was too delicate and complicated, even dangerous, for real battlefield situations. Also its manufacturing process, everything but cheap. Certainly could have helped to enjoy some tactical advantages here and there, although nothing decisive in the long term of a war. Your replica, some beauty. Your video, simply great. You deserve a big, nice cockade!
My understanding is that it was actually fielded as an infantry weapon by Austria for a decent period of time. Ten years about if i recall correctly. It did have its problems sure. It was eventually phased down to sniper use by the end of the ten year period. Some of its advantages far out weighed its weaknesses. Its main disadvantages were materials and construction capability of the time. The original tanks were hammer formed and riveted from cast sheet iron, then brazed to seal them. There were very difficult to replace and not always made to exact tolerances. Thats less of a problem if the tank threads are a little small, you might be able to fudge it with some gut or something similar. If they were too big tho, your screwed, or unscrewed as it were. The power output was ever depreciating per fill meaning that you had to really be thinking about your range with each shot. But thats not really much different than measuring powder while hoping not to be shot and perhaps much easier. Fires when wet. Thats kinda neat when you cant call the game on account of rain, and your enemy is affixing bayonettes and you can still shoot. If the historical records are correct, 30 shots on a fill, 3 tanks as standard load out, 3 mags of 20 rounds gives you 4.5 mags of lead before you have to pump. Im betting that a fast lad could swap tanks in the time it took a muzzle loader to load a shot. The reload was likely a little slow between mags given the fine motor control it took but say it took twice as long as it took a muzzle loader to load one shot, you just but 20 shots 90% into battery. Lets call that 10x on the cyclic rate over competing platforms. And given that you only have to really tilt the rifle a little off target to bring it back into battery, at least ostensibly, your target reacquistion time was easily 100x faster per reload. Im not saying that its not without its limitations and downsides, but it was quite a bit like the difference between a mauser 98 (i think) and m1 garand. Not a perfect analogy i know, but its not terribly inapt.
Could you do a video on the trigger system and how holding down the trigger does not empty the reservoir? A video of you drawing on the back of an envelope would be ideal.
That was actually done here. The trigger releases the spring that drives the spoon this disengages just after striking, so the spoon is essentially being driven by impulse or inertia. This opens the valve that under spring and air pressure, slams back shut, against the spoon assembly, pushing it back into position to be armed again. I probably bungled that but the basic idea is correct. Edit, sorry. It wasnt explicitly done here, it was implied. I had just watched the previous video and it ended just before this started and he showed exactly how the trigger and valve works.
It’s the new valve based off the original? I see new materials and no horn seal like the original. I know we have modern materials to replace them, but is the actuation true to the original? Modern big bores seem to have gone to a less efficient design lately.
You may consider (since you know all the dimensions) making a kit for all the folks interested in putting one together. Stay healthy my friend! Let me know your thoughts.
I used to be a Rev-War reenactor and Buckskinner and was aware of the Lewis and Clark air guns, but never knew much about them. Recently I found out about modern PCP air rifles and finally found your video and a few others on the Girardoni air rifles. Amazing. So was the Girardoni the original PCP rifle? And what happened in the interim? Did the world forget about PCP rifles till just recently? What was the drawback of the Girardoni? Too expensive to build? Or did people miss the smoke and noise of BP rifles?
+dkeith45 The earliest mention of a PCP is from ~1602. Marin le Bourgeois of Lisieux presented an air rifle to Henry V of France. There were dozens of designs made before and after the Girardoni - see Air Guns by Wolff - download here: www.maxback.org/ebooks-list/air-guns_451v3.html The high powered airguns were made obsolete by the smokeless cartridge powder burners in the 19th century. The Girardoni was expensive, unreliable and the metallurgy of the time wasn't advanced enough to allow safe, high pressure reservoirs to be mass produced. Also, the tactical use of such a weapon was unknown and military minds aren't into radical change (what? no boom? where's the fire and smoke?). It was successfully used in night attacks (no flash or smoke) and guard duty (impervious to weather, repeater). Fortification defense was another successful use. Field use was a disaster - high attrition rate, and the troops distrust of an unfamiliar and unreliable weapon.
Shane K Probably less energy but higher speed. The area of the bore is proportional to the energy that can be delivered to the projectile, so - double the caliber will quadruple the theoretical energy delivered. Now the weight of the projectile comes into play as regards to the velocity. Plus the tune of the valve opening, transfer port volume, barrel length, valve diameter and stroke, and other factors bear of the ultimate power and efficiency of the gun. So if a .25 cal barrel (of the same length - good luck finding one) were added, you'd probably have higher velocity with a large amount of wasted air and lower muzzle energy.
Any chance you have any plans dimensions anything so I could build one of these. I just find this to be something I would like to build for the fun of it. I would love to duplicate the entire kit pump flasks and everything exactly as original. Of course I would build better flasks for use and true to original for display. Even high res pictures of the parts next to ruler would do. I have always been able to repair rebuild or make anything. My preference would be to build as many parts as possible just as they did in the past. Casting forging/blacksmithing Filing etc with Period tools and using Horn/bone for seals. I might even like to try to make a living making repicas of varying calibers..... In the current economy I really need to find something to make a decent living. Possibly air rifles seem to have enough people interested to keep me busy. To many things today require licensing and the govt controls are overwhelming and excessive.
The book is out of print and the scrbd link is the only complete online source I'm aware of. Not sure how they get around the copyright. I own both editions of the book and they were the basis for construction. This site still has some copies for sale: www.greatwar.com/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=52
+Martin Orro hey I really appreciate that. ... I really loved the video of you shooting it. I see this air rifle As the ultimate shtf survival tool ...
Where can you get shootable reproductions 800 psi should be nothing to fill especially with a PCP pump that can go to 3500 I know I can pump up to 2000 PSI for my 1 gun
Wow. To recreate this rifle takes genius and talent.
It is clear that Mr Girardoni was a time traveler who was stranded in the past and used his advanced skills
to make the marvelous air rifle.
not quite, not quite. There are many examples of fine mechanical construction from way before Mr. Giradoni and the first attempt to make a compressed air arm was by a certain Mr. Ktesibios... around 200 BC. He failed mostly because he had no known way to seal off the cylinders with a gasket or make them concentric enough to not need a gasket.
Fabulous.......Thanks for taking the time to make the video, its appreciated
I'm glad this rifle lives on. It is spectacular
Really a brilliant and spectacular piece of engineering for its time, considering both concept and craftsmanship.
I can understand that the whole device was too delicate and complicated, even dangerous, for real battlefield situations. Also its manufacturing process, everything but cheap. Certainly could have helped to enjoy some tactical advantages here and there, although nothing decisive in the long term of a war.
Your replica, some beauty. Your video, simply great. You deserve a big, nice cockade!
My understanding is that it was actually fielded as an infantry weapon by Austria for a decent period of time. Ten years about if i recall correctly.
It did have its problems sure. It was eventually phased down to sniper use by the end of the ten year period. Some of its advantages far out weighed its weaknesses. Its main disadvantages were materials and construction capability of the time.
The original tanks were hammer formed and riveted from cast sheet iron, then brazed to seal them. There were very difficult to replace and not always made to exact tolerances. Thats less of a problem if the tank threads are a little small, you might be able to fudge it with some gut or something similar. If they were too big tho, your screwed, or unscrewed as it were.
The power output was ever depreciating per fill meaning that you had to really be thinking about your range with each shot. But thats not really much different than measuring powder while hoping not to be shot and perhaps much easier. Fires when wet. Thats kinda neat when you cant call the game on account of rain, and your enemy is affixing bayonettes and you can still shoot.
If the historical records are correct, 30 shots on a fill, 3 tanks as standard load out, 3 mags of 20 rounds gives you 4.5 mags of lead before you have to pump. Im betting that a fast lad could swap tanks in the time it took a muzzle loader to load a shot.
The reload was likely a little slow between mags given the fine motor control it took but say it took twice as long as it took a muzzle loader to load one shot, you just but 20 shots 90% into battery. Lets call that 10x on the cyclic rate over competing platforms. And given that you only have to really tilt the rifle a little off target to bring it back into battery, at least ostensibly, your target reacquistion time was easily 100x faster per reload.
Im not saying that its not without its limitations and downsides, but it was quite a bit like the difference between a mauser 98 (i think) and m1 garand. Not a perfect analogy i know, but its not terribly inapt.
You really did it. 1400 fps and still advanced weaponry.
1400 PSI, not fps.
I am guessing that is $15,000 opening bid. Great rifle and so historic
Wow, that's a nice air rifle - a really precious one. Ok, I'm very late. But, I had to comment.
You made your air gun wrench out of Peace Medallion replicas? AWESOME!!
Mechanical engineering at its finest.
Would you be willing to share drawings or cad files? I would very much like to make one of these for my father.
A beautiful thing and a joy to behold .Would love one.
Great video,Thanks
Could you do a video on the trigger system and how holding down the trigger does not empty the reservoir? A video of you drawing on the back of an envelope would be ideal.
That was actually done here. The trigger releases the spring that drives the spoon this disengages just after striking, so the spoon is essentially being driven by impulse or inertia. This opens the valve that under spring and air pressure, slams back shut, against the spoon assembly, pushing it back into position to be armed again. I probably bungled that but the basic idea is correct.
Edit, sorry. It wasnt explicitly done here, it was implied. I had just watched the previous video and it ended just before this started and he showed exactly how the trigger and valve works.
amazing works!
Are these ready to be purchased?
It’s the new valve based off the original? I see new materials and no horn seal like the original. I know we have modern materials to replace them, but is the actuation true to the original? Modern big bores seem to have gone to a less efficient design lately.
You may consider (since you know all the dimensions) making a kit for all the folks interested in putting one together. Stay healthy my friend! Let me know your thoughts.
But how was the gun pressurized originally?
Hand pump
where can I get one of these...?... A replica???...... WHERE PLEASE!!!
I used to be a Rev-War reenactor and Buckskinner and was aware of the Lewis and Clark air guns, but never knew much about them. Recently I found out about modern PCP air rifles and finally found your video and a few others on the Girardoni air rifles. Amazing. So was the Girardoni the original PCP rifle? And what happened in the interim? Did the world forget about PCP rifles till just recently? What was the drawback of the Girardoni? Too expensive to build? Or did people miss the smoke and noise of BP rifles?
+dkeith45
The earliest mention of a PCP is from ~1602. Marin le Bourgeois of Lisieux presented an air rifle to Henry V of France. There were dozens of designs made before and after the Girardoni - see Air Guns by Wolff - download here:
www.maxback.org/ebooks-list/air-guns_451v3.html
The high powered airguns were made obsolete by the smokeless cartridge powder burners in the 19th century.
The Girardoni was expensive, unreliable and the metallurgy of the time wasn't advanced enough to allow safe, high pressure reservoirs to be mass produced. Also, the tactical use of such a weapon was unknown and military minds aren't into radical change (what? no boom? where's the fire and smoke?). It was successfully used in night attacks (no flash or smoke) and guard duty (impervious to weather, repeater). Fortification defense was another successful use. Field use was a disaster - high attrition rate, and the troops distrust of an unfamiliar and unreliable weapon.
@@morrodds I do have a picture of a Leige Lock with the date 1572 engraved in the butt reservoir.
Can you purchase the air gun as shown ?
so cool
Murica first air assault rifle. I love it.
Lmao it's Austrian.
99% of the most advanced inventions and discoveries come from either Austria or Germany.
Your an amazingly talented man. If this exact gun had a 25 caliber barrel would it have more energy? Would the speed go up accordingly?
Shane K Probably less energy but higher speed. The area of the bore is proportional to the energy that can be delivered to the projectile, so - double the caliber will quadruple the theoretical energy delivered. Now the weight of the projectile comes into play as regards to the velocity. Plus the tune of the valve opening, transfer port volume, barrel length, valve diameter and stroke, and other factors bear of the ultimate power and efficiency of the gun. So if a .25 cal barrel (of the same length - good luck finding one) were added, you'd probably have higher velocity with a large amount of wasted air and lower muzzle energy.
You must be a rocket scientist. This stuff is just cool
So the modern pcp started from here?
How did he make itm
why don't you consider making some good hunting air rifles on the same quality as Dennis Quackenbush.
+Lucien Alacard
This is a hobby for me. My family would never allow me to quit my day job and make guns all day!
Any chance you have any plans dimensions anything so I could build one of these. I just find this to be something I would like to build for the fun of it. I would love to duplicate the entire kit pump flasks and everything exactly as original. Of course I would build better flasks for use and true to original for display.
Even high res pictures of the parts next to ruler would do. I have always been able to repair rebuild or make anything.
My preference would be to build as many parts as possible just as they did in the past. Casting forging/blacksmithing
Filing etc with Period tools and using Horn/bone for seals. I might even like to try to make a living making repicas of varying calibers..... In the current economy I really need to find something to make a decent living. Possibly air rifles seem to have enough people interested to keep me busy. To many things today require licensing and the govt controls are overwhelming and excessive.
+jolllyroger1 Start here:
www.scribd.com/doc/162870851/The-Construction-and-Operation-of-the-Air-Gun-Vol-1
+Martin Orro very awesome except scribed bites ... are you going to do it in a simple pdf or are you monetizing the book
The book is out of print and the scrbd link is the only complete online source I'm aware of. Not sure how they get around the copyright. I own both editions of the book and they were the basis for construction. This site still has some copies for sale:
www.greatwar.com/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=52
+Martin Orro hey I really appreciate that. ... I really loved the video of you shooting it. I see this air rifle As the ultimate shtf survival tool ...
why was the magazine mounted on the side?
So it will line up with the sliding breech.
hi whats the power velocity of this rifle and wich pellet fires¨????
see: orro.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/279-vs-.302-valve-orifice.bmp
Also check out www.orro.net
Girardoni made a pistol as well.
Where can you get shootable reproductions 800 psi should be nothing to fill especially with a PCP pump that can go to 3500 I know I can pump up to 2000 PSI for my 1 gun
how much do one of these cost
+Brett Duffy The last Girardoni replica, that I know of, sold for $26,000. None are available at this time.
+Martin Orro and what would the kinetic energy be on that like a hundred and twenty foot lbs
Here are 2 shot strings comparing different valve orifices from my replica.
orro.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/279-vs-.302-valve-orifice.bmp