Pistol dueling

Pistol dueling was a competitive sport developed around 1900

Fencing, or sport dueling with swords, has existed at least since the Middle Ages and featured in the first Olympic Games of 1896.^[5] In 1901, Dr. John Paul Devillers, a French target shooter, developed a wax bullet specifically designed to allow non-fatal or sport pistol dueling between opponents. Devillers developed a mask to protect the face^[5][6] and persuaded the French gun making firm Piot-Lepage to manufacture appropriate weapons.^[7] In 1904, he founded La Societé de l'Assaut au Pistolet,^[8] effectively the first pistol sport dueling club.

By 1905, the club had over 100 members including

In 1908, pistol sport dueling was demonstrated at the London Olympics.^[9] In 1909, a match was conducted outside the Carnegie Hall in New York.^[9]

The sport continued into the second decade of the 20th century but became outmoded after the First World War. As stated by V.G. Kiernan, a historian of dueling, "the First World War may not have been the war to end all wars, but it was perhaps the duel to end all duels."^[10]

Rules

Competitors wore a face mask incorporating a heavy plate glass visor. Leather or heavy cloth overgarments protected the body. The pistols included a steel shield similar to that found on an épée to protect the shooter’s hand. The two competitors, would stand at a distance of twenty or twenty-five yards (18 or 23 meters) apart, each armed with a pistol carrying a single charge and wax bullet. Each duelist was accompanied by a commissaire de tir who would perform the role of Second and also use a stopwatch to measure the time taken for their duelist to fire. A director asked the duelists:

"Are you ready?"

At this question the competitors were to cock their weapons, then reply:

"Yes." Both must answer.

The director then gave the words:

"Fire! One!—Two!—Three!"

Each competitor had to aim and fire between the first sound of the word "fire" and the last of the word "three".^[8]

References