An incredibly rare Frank Clark ‘Bull Dog’ .177 Calibre Air Pistol (smooth bore)
Manufactured in 1902 -1904 by Bergmann’s Industriewerke Establissement fur Neuheiiten (Bergmann’s Industrial Establishment for Innnovation) in Germany. This pistol was imported and retailed by Frank Clarke as the ‘Bulldog’ vest pocket air pistol or by others as the ‘Little Nipper’ around circa 1902 -1909.
Made from a Zinc Alloy casting this is one of the first uses of this material for air gun production. This pistol is also one of the smallest commercially produced air pistols..
It is operated by pulling the cocking rod at the front until the sear engages a slug is placed in the rear of the pistol by unscrewing the breech screw. This example does actually cock and fire. It has a small crack to the front of the cylinder this however was common due to the fragile nature of the material used in manufacture and probably why there are so few examples. We wouldn’t recommend regular use as it is so fragile.
It come with a wooden box with a hinged lid which was probably later made but does compliment the little pistol. Also a box of ‘redskin’ slugs.
A very rare example as only a very few are known to exist.