Unknown pre-WW1 air pistol

Unknown pre-WW1 air pistol 

With thanks to John G.

1912 Buchel (German) catalogue:

John says:

Unfortunately the catalogue description is not informative. (Translation: No. 1662B. New model. Light. Elegant. Practical grip of parabellum form. No front weight. No. 162B: calibre 4.5mm, black finish, screw rear sight; pericorn front sight; smoothbore barrel. 27 Marks. No. 162Z: ditto, with finely rifled barrel. 28.50 Marks.)

So there is no mention of mechanism or maker.

Research is still in progress however, and the Polish collector who first spotted the actual pistol tells me he has now managed to buy it and he will let me have detailed information when he can...

the crucial point is, is it a springer or pump-up? A pump-up would be the simplest explanation, when it would be like the Brown pneumatic, with an added lever to operate the pump.

He later added:

I now have it on authority that this mystery pistol is a multi-stroke pneumatic, and not a springer. The compression chamber lies in front of the pump, with the usual non-return valve. The small lever in front of the trigger releases the barrel for loading.

As to who made it, this is still an unknown, but in my opinion it is most likely a short-lived Oscar Will product. My reason for thinking this is that about a year earlier in an Oscar Will catalogue the following multi-pump air rifle appeared (the lower gun illustrated), when it was declared as a new introduction. The pistol was also announced as "new".

The accompanying blurb translates as:

The compressed air rifle has been known for many years. However the same has not yet found general distribution, since the existing models (with bicycle pump under the barrel imported from Sweden) have the disadvantage that they can only be pumped in a highly cumbersome way. The repairs that were often necessary also had an unfavourable effect on users. These shortcomings have now been remedied to the best of my ability with this compressed air rifle with lever pumping, and there is no doubt that this rifle will soon enjoy the undivided popularity of the buying pubic.
Particular advantages are the barely perceptible popping noise when shooting and the easy pull of the trigger, which enables a reliable shot. The air is held in place for days or even weeks by a patented pneumatic system. The parts are interchangeable.
The rifle is operated in the following extremely simple manner: the lever is pulled back (which closes the valve) and then the pump lever is operated. One pump stroke is sufficient for every 5 m shooting distance.

There is a close similarity between the barrel housing of the pistol and the rifle. It would seem that neither rifle or pistol were commercially successful, as they soon disappeared from catalogues, and surviving examples are almost unknown.