Lot 3318: Cased Pair of Boutet Percussion Conversion Dueling Pistolsįrance is also home to one of most renowned gunmakers ever to live, Nicolas-Noël Boutet. While they preferred the use of swords for settling disputes, pistols were still frequently used most famously in 1808 when Monsieurs Granpree and Tirevit engaged in a pistol duel while flying 2,000 feet over the city of Paris IN HOT AIR BALLOONS.

The French are certainly no stranger to dueling. Cased Pair of Boutet Percussion Conversion Dueling Pistols: Lot 3318 They are a chance to travel back in time to 1855 for a brief taste of the magic and wonders the Exposition held within its walls. Featuring magnificent cannon style barrels, intricate wood carvings, and extravagant silver snarling lion trigger guards & pommels, these dueling pistols are estimated at $50,000-$70,000. Gerald Klaz collection, these Gastinne-Renette percussion dueling pistols are absolutely gorgeous. Recently on loan to the Metropolitan Museum of Art from the Dr. With such a resume, it is no wonder why Renette and his pieces were chosen specifically by Napoleon III to be included in the Exposition. Renette was gunmaker to Napoleon III, the Spanish Royal Family, and was among the most renowned creators of dueling and target pistols in the 19 th century. One category in which the French regularly triumphed over their British counterparts was in the design and construction of highly ornate firearms and few could ever match those of Louis-Julien Gastinne-Renette. Lot 1282: Pair of Gastinne-Renette Percussion Pistols with Sculpted Silver Mounts and Relief Carved Stocks from the Exposition Universelle of 1855 Heated rivals for centuries, France and England have held contemptuous relations dating back to the 10 th century and the Exposition Universelle would finally put an end to the debate of which country was more advanced. Who doesn’t love a good rivalry? Certainly not Napoleon III who hosted the Exposition Universelle in 1855 to upstage London’s Great Exhibition held 4 years prior.

Pair of Gastinne-Renette Pistols from the Exposition Universelle: Lot 1282 Today, non-lethal pistol dueling exists much like competitive fencing does.Īn interesting window into the past, dueling pistols are a stark reminder of the dangerous consequences that came from disputes of another era.Ī classic pair of Wogdon dueling pistols from circa 1780. The Hamilton/Burr duel might be the most famous in history, but other prominent figures from across the ages such as Andrew Jackson, Édouard Manet, and “Wild Bill” Hickok have all engaged in duels as well.Ĭased Pair of engraved and gold inlaid percussion dueling pistols by LePage Dated 1836.Īlways ahead of his time, it was Benjamin Franklin who became one of the first–as well as one of the staunchest–American critics of the practice, calling it “uselessly violent.” By the beginning of World War I, dueling had already been outlawed in most of the Western World. While it might be hard to imagine with 21 st century hindsight, duels used to be a very popular and a frequent method to resolve disputes and defend one’s honor. Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr are about to make history. Barely even dawn, the vessels land on the shores of Weehawken, New Jersey, and two groups of men cautiously make their way towards each other. Two small row boats slowly make their way across the Hudson River on the morning of July 11, 1804. Want to be notified when a new blog is posted? Provide your email.

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