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Edward Bancroft Thomas Schaeper: The Man Who Invented the Air Rifle

Elias Mitchell

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Edward Bancroft Thomas Schaeper was an American inventor who is credited with inventing the air rifle. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 16, 1840. Schaeper was a skilled machinist and he worked as a gunsmith for several years before he began experimenting with air rifles.

In 1861, Schaeper patented his first air rifle, which was a single-shot, breech-loading rifle. Schaeper's air rifle was a significant improvement over existing air rifles, and it quickly became popular with both civilians and the military.

Edward Bancroft

by Thomas J. Schaeper

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Schaeper continued to improve his air rifle design, and in 1885, he patented a repeating air rifle that was capable of firing multiple shots without reloading. Schaeper's repeating air rifle was a major breakthrough in air rifle technology, and it helped to make air rifles more popular than ever before.

Schaeper's air rifles were used by both the Union and Confederate armies during the American Civil War, and they continued to be used by the military for many years after the war. Schaeper's air rifles were also used by civilians for hunting and target shooting, and they remain popular with both groups today.

Schaeper died in Philadelphia on June 25, 1928. He was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1993.

Schaeper's Air Rifle Design

Schaeper's air rifles were unique in that they used a compressed air reservoir to propel the pellet. This design allowed for a more powerful and accurate rifle than existing air rifles, which used a spring-loaded piston to propel the pellet.

Schaeper's air rifles were also very well-made and they were known for their durability and reliability. Schaeper's air rifles were also very affordable, which made them popular with both civilians and the military.

Schaeper's Legacy

Edward Bancroft Thomas Schaeper was a brilliant inventor who made a significant contribution to the development of air rifles. Schaeper's air rifles were used by both the Union and Confederate armies during the American Civil War, and they continued to be used by the military for many years after the war.

Schaeper's air rifles were also used by civilians for hunting and target shooting, and they remain popular with both groups today. Schaeper's legacy lives on in the many air rifles that are used around the world today.

Edward Bancroft Thomas Schaeper Edward Bancroft Thomas J Schaeper