These pumps are now supplied by Bob Dean. If you need a pump for your air rifle or air cane, call him at 479-973-0218. He has my complete inventory. I no longer have any pumps or parts.
For aircanes threaded 11/16-16, $85. Many originals are
short - about a 9" stroke length so it would fit in a carrying
case.
I make longer (15"-16") stroke length pumps, so you can fill your aircane quicker. Piston diameters determine what pressure you can develop. The 3/4" diameter piston for a 220-lb. person is 500 p.s.i. The 5/8" diameter piston's attainable pressure is 720 p.s.i. Higher pressure is obtainable by "rapping." Instead of just using your weight, as in a normal pumping motion, one forces the pump by impacting the handle down. This is injurious to the wrists and not worth the pain for a small gain.
Many aircane pumps have 3/4" diameter pistons, so I figure the builder meant the cane to be used at 500 p.s.i. If the cane's pump had a 5/8" diameter piston, then the cane was designed to operate at ~700 p.s.i.
Rifle pumps with thread $135. Piston diameter 17/32"; pressure obtained is slightly over 1000 p.s.i. Blued steel tube, bronze end fittings and toehold, wood handles, brass piston and O-ring seal. Stroke length is 16".
The great number of pump strokes required to pressurize a gun was due to pumping losses. The pistons in most pumps were lapped in the bores and depended on an oil film for a seal. The higher the pressure, the more likely air would leak past the piston. In a worn pump, the oil could not maintain a seal, and blowby would be so great that only a low pressure could be achieved-no matter how hard or many times the pump was stroked. Moderate pressure could be attained by very rapidly stroking the pump, building up pressure before much of it could leak away.
The pump foot, guide and handle are made of bronze, not brass. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin. Brass is made of copper and zinc. Tin is a much more durable alloying element than zinc. We had a Bronze Age-not a brass age. Brass was too soft to be a vital metal to early cultures. The most enduring sculpture is bronze. Early tools and edged weapons were bronze. If Mr. Girandoni had used bronze, his rifles would have been less prone to breakage. Air rifle history would be very different.
Above: Rifle pump on left, cane pump on right.