Oscar Will 'Patent' Air Pistol.
With thanks to Manuel for permission to post this pic:
It's the pistol version of this rifle:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/681456/message/1439064280/Paff-type+gun+%28Patent-Luftgewehr+Venu s'%29
Oscar Will 'Patent' Air Pistol - David Swan Collection.
With thanks to Rod Meek of Anderson & Garland Auctioneers ( http://www.andersonandgarland.com) for permission to post these pics of a gun auctioned in 2015.
Auction blurb:
"An Oscar Will patent .177cal. air pistol, no. 72, circa 1900, fitted hinged barrel action, and walnut chequer cut bag type grip, 22in. long overall.
Hammer Price: £580.00"
Oscar Will 'Patent' Air Pistol (pair, new pics)
With thanks to John G for these new pics of pistols already pictured above.
John says: "These pistols look massive and complex but are basically just basic break-barrel designs. The thumb catch is the barrel release. They are not as powerful as they look, as you can see from the short piston length... You can see that the piston has a central rod that engages with the sear, and up to then most airguns used the side of the piston to do this. Weirdly this concept was patented on two separate occasions by two “inventors”, by L. Poilvache in Belgium in 1887, and by Oscar Will in 1896."
Oscar Will 'Patent' Air Pistol
See also:
https://forum.vintageairgunsgallery.com/rock-island-auctions/tell-model-1-air-pistol-etc/