Oleander Ardens
12-06-2006, 18:56
I'am a regular shooter of airguns, train at least twice a week and simply like them a lot. As a kid my brother and I used it as our father to snipe birds and small mammals. I just discovered now that they were also used by some of the sharpshooters of my region, Tyrol in the 18th century and that Giradoni of Ampezzo invented a stunning beauty, capable of delivering 20 aimed shots in a minute deadly until 150 yards...:dizzy2:
After this it was deemed wise to take back the airguns and issue them only to select, specially trained Tyrolean sharpshooter units. The last order given by the Emperor prior to his death was “to select the most promising and skilful soldiers to use these guns.” Because of extensive service work, and most importantly, the lack of Emperor Joseph’s interest and involvement, the airguns still had not been issued on December 16, 1792. However, the Tyrol Sharp Shooter Corps indicated “that these weapons were really accurate and effective” in the Turkish War and in 1790 against Prussia. (Contrary to many accounts, they never saw service against any of Napoleon's troops.) The air rifles were later supplied only with the wheeled and short hand pumps behind the lines – the idea being that captured airguns would not be very useful without the pumps!
From: http://www.beemans.net/images/Austrian%20airguns.htm
Great site that is!!!
After this it was deemed wise to take back the airguns and issue them only to select, specially trained Tyrolean sharpshooter units. The last order given by the Emperor prior to his death was “to select the most promising and skilful soldiers to use these guns.” Because of extensive service work, and most importantly, the lack of Emperor Joseph’s interest and involvement, the airguns still had not been issued on December 16, 1792. However, the Tyrol Sharp Shooter Corps indicated “that these weapons were really accurate and effective” in the Turkish War and in 1790 against Prussia. (Contrary to many accounts, they never saw service against any of Napoleon's troops.) The air rifles were later supplied only with the wheeled and short hand pumps behind the lines – the idea being that captured airguns would not be very useful without the pumps!
From: http://www.beemans.net/images/Austrian%20airguns.htm
Great site that is!!!