GEM THE GEM .177 Air Rifles

The Gem started off back in the 1870’s, 20 years before many guns we consider as the beginning of the airgun era appeared.

The American design was adopted in Germany, and manufacturing started. Made less from engineered steel, and more from castings.

A classic Vintage rifle which was produced from around 1870 to about 1930.

This fine example is a .177 calibre. The history of the Gem rifle is all a bit vague and there are plenty of publications, but most of them are contradictory, no surprise there either. What is for certain though is that many were manufactured in Germany for Quackenbush when Haviland and Gunn sold their patents to Mr Henry Marcus Quackenbush of New York.

35” overall length with fixed front and rear sights. The wooden stock is in very good condition for its years with a few age/use related marks. A steel butt plate is held by two screws.

'GEM URED IN GERMANY' must be 'manufactured' is imprinted on the barrel.

The barrel is held shut by one of two main latch designs. This style has a rounded end to the latch, which for the period looked like a porcelain doll’s head, so they called it a doll’s head latch

See page 122 of Hillers Air Rifles for reference.

The loading and firing actions work perfectly.

the Pre-War Gem Air Rifle has become a highly sought-after collector’s item. Its limited production numbers, estimated to be in the thousands, have made it relatively rare in today’s market

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SHOOTS WELL :)

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