Girardoni air rifle

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Girandoni air rifle
Girandoni system Austrian repeating air rifle, circa 1795, believed to have been taken on the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Type	Air rifle
Place of origin	Holy Roman Empire
Service history
In service	1780–1816
Used by	Austrian Empire
Production history
Designer	Bartolomeo Girandoni
Designed	1779 or 1780
No. built	1,300
Specifications
Mass	4.5 kg (9.9 lb)
Length	120 cm (3.9 ft)
Cartridge	spherical balls
Caliber	.46", 11.7 mm 146.3 grains (9.48 g), or .51", 13 mm, 201.49 grains (13.06 g)
Muzzle velocity	about 600 fps (152 m/s), 117 ft lbs (159 J)
Feed system	20/21 round magazine or hopper
Sights	Iron

The Girandoni air rifle is an air gun designed by Italian inventor Bartolomeo Girandoni circa 1779. The weapon was also known as the Windbüchse ("wind rifle" in German). One of the rifle's more famous associations is its use on the Lewis and Clark Expedition to explore and map the Louisiana Purchase of 1803.