Found a Weird Gun Today! Replica Gun? Cap Gun? BB Gun? No Idea!

[FreeBirdTim]

Found a really rusty gun today while detecting along a stone wall in the woods. Not much left of it, but maybe someone can ID it. Must be a toy gun, but not sure what kind it may be. I don't see how it could fire anything, so I'm leaning toward a replica gun of some sort.

There's stamping on the side, but it's very hard to read. All I can see is "Grand Rapids, Mich.", but there's more above that stamping. Any help on who made this gun or what the heck it is would be greatly appreciated!

 

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[1637]

just cool
brad

 

[ARC]

Arcade game ?

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Arcade game gun is a good guess, but I'm not sure. That would probably explain the bottom piece. I've got to read the top stamping in order to figure this one out. I'll keep trying, but I'm not too hopeful.

 

[ARC]

Need to hit that top part above Grand Rapids with a wire brush real quick... knock some crap off.

That "name" or whatever is gonna be the "key" to this.

 

[texjim]

Thats a cool finds

 

[releventchair]

Grand Rapids is a city in Michigan.(MICH may be below GRAND RAPIDS on your piece.
A city known for furniture in the past but it seems if foggy memory serves correctly ,l.o.l. an amusement/novelty company was there too at one time not coming to mind...
There are other grand rapids though.

 

[Timber99]

Cycloid. Rapid Rifle Company, Ltd. Grand Rapids, Michigan. 1898-1901.
Not much info but here is the link I found.
Postscripts: A Short History of the Air Rifle

 

[cw0909]

from your link, almost looks like it says Cyclone Cycloid
Cycloid. Rapid Rifle Company, Ltd. Grand Rapids, Michigan. 1898-1901.
Cyclone. Rapid Rifle Company Ltd. Grand Rapids, Michigan. 1898-1901.
nice find

Cycloid. Rapid Rifle Company, Ltd. Grand Rapids, Michigan. 1898-1901.
Not much info but here is the link I found.
Postscripts: A Short History of the Air Rifle

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Wow, I think Timber99 got it! It's part of an air rifle that was made from 1898- 1901! Pretty cool find!

I'll try to clean it up more on Sunday and see if I can get the exact name of the gun. Too bad there isn't much left of it, but it's still a unique find...

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Okay, here's more info about this gun. The name on the side is "Cycloid Cycle Co. Grand Rapids, Mich." Here's a link that details the gun and the company:

Blue Book of Airgun Values - CYCLOID/RAPID

 

[stefen]

 

[Timber99]

I found a picture and it sure looks like yours is a cycloid air rifle.
After reading the bit of history going with the photo,because of its rarity I would hazard
your relic is worth several times its original purchase price. very cool find.
The Collection pic is fig.11 about middle of the page.

 

[ARC]

Cycloid Cycle Co... heh
I knew it said something across the top.
Could not make it out.
Good I.D.

 

[Trezurehunter]

Neat piece.

 

[releventchair]

Not many were manufactured it seems from your research.
A rare find then!

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Thanks, guys! And thanks for that great photo as well. It was an impressive gun when it was new.

One more thing. I found a thin brass cylinder near the gun. I'm wondering if it held BB's or maybe if it's part of the gun. Seems kind of wimpy to be a piston, though. It's the same diameter as the barrel, but maybe that just a coincidence. Check out the pics and let me know what you think.

 

[ARC]

Looks like a "fit" to me.