Lincoln Air Pistol

Lincoln Air Pistol.

With thanks to Brian for the following two pics.

With thanks to John A for this pic of two Lincolns, one large, one smaller.

John's caption is as follows:

Top: ‘Giant’ breakdown barrel ‘Lincoln’ .22 serial no. 2012 possibly from as late as 1937. *These were still being put-up by Mr. Jeffries’ old machinist ten years after production really ceased c.1927;

Bottom: Earlier, ‘standard’ size ‘Lincoln’ .177 serial no. 479.

Thanks to Dave for these pics. Note the serial no.711 and the number 712 stamped on the trigger:

Thanks to Matthew for these pics:

Lincoln Air Pistol - Patent Information.

With thanks to Peter for these scans of research by Dennis Commins.

Lincoln Air Pistol - .22 calibre Standard.

With thanks to LD for these pics.

Lincoln Air Pistol - Serial No.706 - Added Wood Grips.

With thanks to LD for these pics.

Lincoln Air Pistol - Serial No.137.

This pistol was advertised on Gunstar in 2015.

Lincoln Air Pistol serial no.482 

This pistol was advertised on Gunstar recently.

Lincoln Air Pistol (cased) 

This pistol featured in a Freeads ad last November, part of a pistols collection for sale.

Lincoln Air Pistol serial no. 869 

This pistol is for sale on Gunstar at the time of posting for £950.

Lincoln pistols (three patterns)

With thanks to John G.

Lincoln Air Pistol serial no. 753

Spotted on Free Ads.

Lincoln Air Pistol serial no.898 

This pistol is for sale in the Holts Auctioneers June 2019 auction.

Lincoln Air Pistol 

Lincoln Air Pistol serial no. 610 

With thanks to Tim at www.timdysonairguns.co.uk.

Early Lincoln air pistol (serial no. 110) 

With thanks to 'Dragonbone' on this forum.

John Griffiths, author of the Encyclopedia of Spring Air Pistols, said of this pistol:

The “Lincoln-style” pistols (i.e. those that conform to patent GB 181277, applied for by Lincoln Jeffries Jr. in 1921) presumably started manufacture in about that year. Limited evidence suggests that they were serial numbered from 101, as no example with a double digit serial number has yet been seen. So this pistol with serial number 110 is exceptional in being the lowest serial numberyet recorded. This date of introduction was well after the time that LJ Sr handed over the reins to LJ Jr (1913).

The name “LINCOLN” was not coined until sometime after serial number 175, and up to then markings were variable, but did not carry the LINCOLN name. The serrations on serial number 137 are not typical and this is the only example I know with this feature. The light and heavy stampings are consistent with the use of different dies, and this has been noted on other examples. For example,serial number 175 on its top flat has ‘Lincoln Jeffries’ lightly stamped and ‘Junr’ heavily stamped after it, not perfectly lined up. I suspect this was from using an old die from the Lincoln Jeffries Senior era and a newer ‘Junr’ die to update things. 

We have to remember that these pistols were largely hand built in small numbers, not like the efficient production lines of Webley, so there will be a lot of variation in the smaller features.