This article will unveil the origins of the humble Dolla air pistol. We will discover the five variations of this air pistol, its manufacturers and some interesting personal relationships between them with Friedrich Langenhan central above all others. A story spanning two world wars which ultimately ends with the Soviet invasion of east Germany in 1945.
Continue reading “Friedrich Langenhan and the Langenhan Dolla Air Pistols”Lincoln Jeffries “Scout” (c. 1922 to 1926)











This is the very rare Lincoln Jeffries “Scout”. It’s a pop-out pistol that was manufactured between c. 1922 and 1926 during the dawn of the British airgun revolution. It was available either blued or nickel-plated. Many had no markings other than on the grip whereas a few were stamped “LINCOLN JEFFRIES JUNR 120 STEELHOUSE LANE BIRMINGHAM” on the front edge of the grip frame.
Continue reading “Lincoln Jeffries “Scout” (c. 1922 to 1926)”J.G. Anschütz Dolla MKII (c.1929 to 1939)






This is the Dolla MKII manufactured by J.G. Anschütz between c.1929 and 1939 in Zella St Blasii-Mehlis, Thüringen, Germany – probably the gun capital of Germany at the time. Yes, that’s right, this pistol was made by the famous Anschütz family that are renowned throughout the world for their Olympic quality biathlon and target rifles.
Continue reading “J.G. Anschütz Dolla MKII (c.1929 to 1939)”The British Cub (c. 1930’s to 1940’s)







The British Cub pop-out air pistol was manufactured by Modern Arms Co. (Marco) and was available in two or perhaps three variants. The first variant was produced from the late 1920s to the early 1930s. It was manufactured from cast iron and had a nickel-plated finish. On both sides of the grip is a relief of a lion’s head and the words “British Cub”.
Continue reading “The British Cub (c. 1930’s to 1940’s)”Henry Marcus Quackenbush and the Quackenbush Model 1 Air Rifle (mfd. 1876 to 1938)
In this article, I am going to talk about extension ladders, nutcrackers, oh, and a whole load of airguns! We’ve encountered Quackenbush in a couple of previous articles and now it is his turn to be centre stage. Together, we will discover all about Henry Quackenbush and his significant contribution to airguns. I warn you though, this is probably my largest article so far. Quackenbush did so much for the field of airguns that it would do him, and you, a disservice to gloss over his accomplishments. Oh, there’s a bit of a “gem” to be discovered too….
Continue reading “Henry Marcus Quackenbush and the Quackenbush Model 1 Air Rifle (mfd. 1876 to 1938)”The Whittall by Frank Clarke (circa 1918)






A new addition for the collection – The Whittall by Frank Clarke circa 1918. Possibly named after Whittall Street, Birmingham, England, where Frank Clarke and so many other gun manufacturers were situated. Smoothbore brass barrel “Dolla” popout style air pistol. The pin is not original and appears to be made from a nail, a piece of rubber and some type of knurled sleeve. I will commission a replica pin, true to the original, to be manufactured in due course.
Continue reading “The Whittall by Frank Clarke (circa 1918)”