A duelling pistol is a pistol used in a classical duel. As a general rule, they are single-shot flintlock or percussion black powder pistols which fire a lead musket ball. Duelling pistols were manufactured and sold in pairs of identical appearance, reliability and accuracy.
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Standard flintlock pistols have a noticeable delay between pulling the trigger and actually firing the bullet. To fix this and other disadvantages, purpose-built duelling pistols featured various improvements to make them more reliable and accurate, such as heavier barrels, a spur on the trigger guard, saw handles, platinum-lined touch-holes or hair triggers. Special care was taken when moulding the bullets so as to ensure that there was no hollow part in them. The loading was also carefully undertaken. Given that duels were generally fought at short distances (20 to 40 feet (6.1 to 12 m) was typical[1]) between stationary opponents, accuracy was not a major problem.
Duelling pistols generally had quite large calibers: 0.45 in (11 mm) was typical, as were calibers of 0.52 in (13 mm), or larger. The bullets loaded in them could weigh half an ounce (214 grains (13.9 g)) in .52 caliber, or more in larger calibers. Additionally, a bullet fired from a duelling pistol could have a muzzle velocity of up to approximately 800 feet per second (240 m/s), which, with a .52 caliber bullet, would give it a lethality which compares favourably with more modern automatic pistol cartridges such as .45 ACP. These factors, coupled with the primitive state of emergency medicine at the time meant that duelling pistols could inflict very severe gunshot wounds. As a result, fatalities were common in pistol duels.
Most duelling pistols had smooth bores, though some had "scratch rifling" (a subtle form of rifling which was difficult to see with the naked eye). Pistols with rifled barrels spin-stabilise the shot when it is fired, resulting in much improved accuracy. As a result, duelling pistols with rifled barrels were considered unsporting by many.
The use of pistols in duels became popular in Britain, France and America during the mid-eighteenth century. Initially holster or travelling pistols were mainly used, but by the end of the century special-purpose duelling pistols were being made by craftsmen in England, France Germany, Austria and America.
The most famous and innovative manufacturers were London-based companies such as Wogdon & Barton, Durs Egg, Manton, Mortimer, Nock, and Purdey.
The duelling pistols of this time were sold in pairs, usually in compartmentalised wooden cases along with a powder flask, rods for cleaning and loading, spare flints and a bullet mould.