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Air Pistols

Air guns are not technically or legally firearms, but for many shooters, they're the next best thing. Like their combustion-based counterparts, air-propelled firearms have made great strides in their development. Air guns are believed to have originated in mid-16th century Europe. During that time, they operated by either a spring loaded bellows or compressed air stored in an external reservoir.

By the late 1700s, powerful pneumatic weapons found their way into military conflict. The Austrian army had an entire regiment armed with .44-caliber repeating air weapons that were used with great effectiveness against Napoleon's forces. In the United States, air guns taken along on the famed Lewis and Clark expedition were known by Native Americans as smokeless thunder sticks.

Today, companies like Daisy and Umarex produce high-velocity carbon dioxide-powered BB guns, pellet pistols, and other types of air handguns. A range of manufacturers crank out powerful air pistol replicas. The replicas resemble firearms ranging from Glock semi automatics to Smith & Wesson handguns, as well as low-impact airsoft guns used for police training and competitive shooting.


Quick Facts

  • In 2014, a rare circa 1880s Giffard French air pistol featured on the History Channel series "Pawn Stars" surprisingly sold well below its $2,000 to $4,00 estimate, going for only $384
  • A lot of 3 Iver Johnson air pistols sold at Rock Island Auction in 2014 for an unexpected $3,737
  • In December 2010 at Christie's London, the Walther air pistol held by Sean Connery in the poster for the 1963 James Bond film "From Russia With Love" sold for a world record price of £277,250

Recommended Items at Auction

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A .177 ACCLES & SHELVOKE 'THE WARRIOR' SIDE-LEVER AIR-PISTOL, serial no. 2670,
Nov 27, 10:00 AM GMT
A .177 ACCLES & SHELVOKE 'THE WARRIOR' SIDE-LEVER AIR-PISTOL, serial no. 2670,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £200- £300
£2000 Bids
A SCARCE BOXED .22 BREAK-BARREL AIR-PISTOL SIGNED MILBRO, MODEL 'COUGAR', no visible serial number,
Nov 27, 10:00 AM GMT
A SCARCE BOXED .22 BREAK-BARREL AIR-PISTOL SIGNED MILBRO, MODEL 'COUGAR', no visible serial number,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £100- £200
£1000 Bids
A RARE BOXED .177 'THUNDERBOLT JUNIOR' CONCENTRIC AIR-PISTOL, no visible serial number,
Nov 27, 10:00 AM GMT
A RARE BOXED .177 'THUNDERBOLT JUNIOR' CONCENTRIC AIR-PISTOL, no visible serial number,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £300- £500
£3000 Bids
A BOXED .177 WEBLEY & SCOTT 'JUNIOR' AIR-PISTOL, batch no. 575,
Nov 27, 10:00 AM GMT
A BOXED .177 WEBLEY & SCOTT 'JUNIOR' AIR-PISTOL, batch no. 575,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £80- £120
£800 Bids
A .177 PRE-WAR WEBLEY & SCOTT SLANT-GRIP 'MKI' AIR-PISTOL, serial no. 57372,
Nov 27, 10:00 AM GMT
A .177 PRE-WAR WEBLEY & SCOTT SLANT-GRIP 'MKI' AIR-PISTOL, serial no. 57372,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £100- £150
£1000 Bids
A BOXED .22 WEBLEY & SCOTT 'PREMIER MKII' AIR-PISTOL, batch no. 997,
Nov 27, 10:00 AM GMT
A BOXED .22 WEBLEY & SCOTT 'PREMIER MKII' AIR-PISTOL, batch no. 997,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £120- £180
£1200 Bids
TWO VARIATIONS OF THE PRE-WAR WEBLEY & SCOTT 'SENIOR' AIR-PISTOLS, serial numbers S6193 and S12444,
Nov 27, 10:00 AM GMT
TWO VARIATIONS OF THE PRE-WAR WEBLEY & SCOTT 'SENIOR' AIR-PISTOLS, serial numbers S6193 and S12444,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £120- £180
£1200 Bids
TWO BOXED .177 & .22 WEBLEY AIR-PISTOLS, MODELS 'TYPHOON' AND 'HURRICANE', no visible serial numbers,
Nov 27, 10:00 AM GMT
TWO BOXED .177 & .22 WEBLEY AIR-PISTOLS, MODELS 'TYPHOON' AND 'HURRICANE', no visible serial numbers,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £150- £250
£1500 Bids
A RARE .177 VENUS WAFFENWERK 'TELL 3' AIR-PISTOL, serial no. 314,
Nov 27, 10:00 AM GMT
A RARE .177 VENUS WAFFENWERK 'TELL 3' AIR-PISTOL, serial no. 314,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £500- £700
£5000 Bids
A BOXED BSA .22 '240 MAGNUM' AIR-PISTOL, serial no. AN04288,
Nov 27, 10:00 AM GMT
A BOXED BSA .22 '240 MAGNUM' AIR-PISTOL, serial no. AN04288,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £100- £150
£1000 Bids
A BOXED .177 WEBLEY & SCOTT 'SENIOR' AIR-PISTOL, batch no. 330,
Nov 27, 10:00 AM GMT
A BOXED .177 WEBLEY & SCOTT 'SENIOR' AIR-PISTOL, batch no. 330,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £100- £150
£1000 Bids
A SCARCE .22 WEBLEY & SCOTT STOVE-ENAMELLED 'PREMIER MK I' AIR-PISTOL, batch no 350, in a later case,
Nov 27, 10:00 AM GMT
A SCARCE .22 WEBLEY & SCOTT STOVE-ENAMELLED 'PREMIER MK I' AIR-PISTOL, batch no 350, in a later case,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £100- £150
£1000 Bids
A RARE .177 FRANK CLARKE TITAN PLUNGE-COCKING AIR-PISTOL, serial no. 21,
Nov 27, 10:00 AM GMT
A RARE .177 FRANK CLARKE TITAN PLUNGE-COCKING AIR-PISTOL, serial no. 21,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £200- £300
£2000 Bids
A GOOD WESTLEY RICHARDS .177 SECOND MODEL 'HIGHEST POSSIBLE' AIR-PISTOL, serial no. 1063,
Nov 27, 10:00 AM GMT
A GOOD WESTLEY RICHARDS .177 SECOND MODEL 'HIGHEST POSSIBLE' AIR-PISTOL, serial no. 1063,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £1,000- £1,200
£1,0000 Bids
A RARE .22 ACCLES & SHELVOKE 'WARRIOR' SIDE-LEVER AIR-PISTOL, serial no. 1911,
Nov 27, 10:00 AM GMT
A RARE .22 ACCLES & SHELVOKE 'WARRIOR' SIDE-LEVER AIR-PISTOL, serial no. 1911,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £300- £500
£3000 Bids
A BOXED .177 WEBLEY & SCOTT 'MKI STRAIGHT-GRIP' AIR-PISTOL, serial no. 39165,
Nov 27, 10:00 AM GMT
A BOXED .177 WEBLEY & SCOTT 'MKI STRAIGHT-GRIP' AIR-PISTOL, serial no. 39165,
by Holts Auctioneers
Est: £100- £150
£1000 Bids

Sellers Who Sell Air Pistols


Holts Auctioneers

Holts Auctioneers