Worlds first BB gun

[DualMagMike]

William F Markham credited with inventing the worlds first BB gun in 1887. The "Chicago" hardly looked like a firearm at all, it was made mostly of wood and could hardly shoot straight but it was the first according to the United States Patent office. One newspaper joked it would be more effective as a club rather than a BB gun. Produced from 1887-1910 Markham sold his business to what we all know now as Daisy!

 

[sonny]

pretty cool

 

[Penry]

That is cool. Another fun one is the Girardoni air rifle. It was the one Lewis and Clark used. It was also used by the Austrian army from the late 1700s to the early 1800s.

 

[Glenroiland]

That is cool. Another fun one is the Girardoni air rifle. It was the one Lewis and Clark used. It was also used by the Austrian army from the late 1700s to the early 1800s.

You beat me to it!

 

[DamonZ28]

Wow, all very interesting, thanks for sharing!

 

[DualMagMike]

NOT a BB gun!

 

[mrzip]

Great post

 

[Lewis]

What a great piece of history.

Where did you find it? Not looking to buy one, more interested in the story of how you may have come across one or known what it was.

 

[DualMagMike]

I can't even recall where I got it but my records show it was in 2008. I had read about it in the Blue Book sometime earlier and when I found one I grabbed it.

 

[dogfood]

The origin of the .177 BB, itself, is interesting because its forerunner the birdshot type BB is slightly larger. Daisy, having grown in popularity, seems to have wanted to change the ammunition to a proprietary-sized projectile, albeit in .175, not .177. 
I recall reading something about kids using small ball bearings or something similar in factory junk heaps and using those in these early bb guns, only to have them get stuck as they were slightly oversized for the barrels. I'll dig around and see if I can find that source.

 

[DualMagMike]

it's .180 that is the ammo for the OP Chicago model and the rod underneath the butt stock is specifically made to clear the barrel in case of projectiles not clearing the muzzle...

 

[KWK]

There has been one on eBag for the very affordable price of $.995?. They must have made a ton of them for a wooden 1880's airgun to still show up fairly frequently as they do.. Not too many are as nice as Mike's as I'm sure you could imagine. Perhaps a young man lost his privilege to possess it for shooting something he ought not have? Happened to me as a youngster with a Daisy 1894. Dad soon relented though and after a few years it was destroyed. Lol, in those days my Christmas gifts were sometimes hand-me-downs as I am one of 6 sons. (I have 4 sisters) Being the 4th son in line it was not in exactly new condition when I received it. Parts could be found to it downstream in Big Buffalo creek for years after. When you got a .22rf little brother inherited your BB gun. My next younger brother got a new Daisy when I got my .22. That old 1894 was fubar!

 

[Deadeye Dick]

William F Markham credited with inventing the worlds first BB gun in 1887. The "Chicago" hardly looked like a firearm at all, it was made mostly of wood and could hardly shoot straight but it was the first according to the United States Patent office. One newspaper joked it would be more effective as a club rather than a BB gun. Produced from 1887-1910 Markham sold his business to what we all know now as Daisy!

So something good really did come from Chicago? Interesting that this evolved into Daisy.

 

[bf1956]

I can't even recall where I got it but my records show it was in 2008. I had read about it in the Blue Book sometime earlier and when I found one I grabbed it.

What is a reasonable price? I had a fella call me and offer me 2, 1 working and 1 not engaging sear.

 

[DualMagMike]

of course pending overall condition- $235 for a 60% example to $475 for 95% (Blue Book)