Pistols vs Rifles?

[user 50061]

Every shooter with a muzzleloading rifle/smoothbore should own a pistol, IMHO.

I am idly considering a 20 gauge smoothbore flintlock pistol to match my trade-gun. Not for reenacting purposes, mainly for ***** and giggles.

 

[JCKelly]

My first pistol would shoot but I'm pleased not to have a photo of it. Here is my last pistol, a Kuntz-style built for my Dad near his end. For those machinists 'mongst you, yes I did file the barrel half-round & a little swamped. Saved some $$ by soldering sterling sheet over brass for side-plate & some inlays.

 

[SOLANCO]

Wondering whether dueling pistols were ever decorated in a way pertaining to their intended use. With morbidity? Or black humor?
Also wondering who would buy a set? If you had a duel to fight, commissioning the pistols would postpone it a bit. Would the heat of insult fade? Or do you buy a pair "just in case"? Or does John Doe keep a cased set on hand and rent them at need? Or, like me, are their firearms you just want?

 

[dave_person]

Wondering whether dueling pistols were ever decorated in a way pertaining to their intended use. With morbidity? Or black humor?
Also wondering who would buy a set? If you had a duel to fight, commissioning the pistols would postpone it a bit. Would the heat of insult fade? Or do you buy a pair "just in case"? Or does John Doe keep a cased set on hand and rent them at need? Or, like me, are their firearms you just want?

Hi,
I can only comment on British dueling pistols but they were the finest in the world. They were usually plain as dirt without any distracting bling or decoration save engraving. There are exceptions mounted in silver, with ornate pommels, and bright trigger guards but those are uncommon. The hallmarks of fully evolved dueling pistols are full octagon smooth bore barrels with front and rear sights, precisely bored and polished to be amazingly accurate out to 15 yards. They did not have decoration or engraving related to dueling because dueling was illegal. They had set "hair" triggers, and the finest flintlocks ever made usually with waterproof pans, roller frizzens, stirruped tumblers, and safety bolts. Workmanship was perfect and a cased set could cost 20 pounds at a time when a working family of 4 could live comfortably on 50 pounds a year. Gentleman and officers of means, the ones who generally felt they had honor to defend, bought a cased pair of pistols as a normal practice assuming they may need to "defend their honor" at some time. Others, less well off might borrow a cased pair if they were challenged to a duel. Hamilton did that for his famous duel as did his son. The cases were not made for display of the pistols, which were usually tucked away at home. The cases were to protect the pistols during travel and provide all of the elements necessary to shoot them whenever or wherever needed. The wooden case was always supplied with a stiff leather cover to protect it during travel. Unfortunately, you can read a great deal of garbage on the internet about dueling pistols and their history.

dave

 

[JohnnieT]

Hi,
I can only comment on British dueling pistols but they were the finest in the world. They were usually plain as dirt without any distracting bling or decoration save engraving. There are exceptions mounted in silver, with ornate pommels, and bright trigger guards but those are uncommon. The hallmarks of fully evolved dueling pistols are full octagon smooth bore barrels with front and rear sights, precisely bored and polished to be amazingly accurate out to 15 yards. They did not have decoration or engraving related to dueling because dueling was illegal. They had set "hair" triggers, and the finest flintlocks ever made usually with waterproof pans, roller frizzens, stirruped tumblers, and safety bolts. Workmanship was perfect and a cased set could cost 20 pounds at a time when a working family of 4 could live comfortably on 50 pounds a year. Gentleman and officers of means, the ones who generally felt they had honor to defend, bought a cased pair of pistols as a normal practice assuming they may need to "defend their honor" at some time. Others, less well off might borrow a cased pair if they were challenged to a duel. Hamilton did that for his famous duel as did his son. The cases were not made for display of the pistols, which were usually tucked away at home. The cases were to protect the pistols during travel and provide all of the elements necessary to shoot them whenever or wherever needed. The wooden case was always supplied with a stiff leather cover to protect it during travel. Unfortunately, you can read a great deal of garbage on the internet about dueling pistols and their history.

dave

Thanks for the very interesting summary. Very informative and definitely challenges some of the more common conceptions of dueling pistols and pistols in general.

 

[Robby]

Never challenge the fellow with just one dueling pistol.
Robby

 

[Pete G]

Never challenge the fellow with just one dueling pistol.
Robby

...unless you have first pick

 

[macr0w]

I got my kit in the mail a few days ago.
Should I do a build thread or should just post up when I finish it.
It's probably going to take me a while.
It looks pretty good though.

 

[SOLANCO]

Thank you dave person for the information.