POTD: Dueling in America – An American Dueling Pistol
Sam.S 08.08.23
Welcome to today’s Photo of the Day! Here we have an American Dueling pistol retailed by Robertson of Philadelphia. I thought this would be a good opportunity to cover American dealing in a short format. Dueling remained a common practice in the 19th century as a way for gentlemen to defend their honor when insulted. Opponents followed elaborate ritualized rules of conduct, standing a set distance apart and firing pistols on command, often just to draw blood. Seconds (chosen acquaintances or lawyers who were trusted) made sure proper etiquette was observed throughout the duration. It really was a very formal and choreographed practice. Though numerous states banned dueling over the course of the 1800s, the tradition persisted in declining usage, with the last fatal duel occurring in 1877. By then, the formal dueling codes had largely disappeared, though some adherence to the rituals remained, especially in the American South.
“…this pistol was owned by Thomas Francis Bayard Sr. (1828-1898), a Democrat who served as United States Attorney for Delaware, a senator from Delaware from 1869 to 1885, then U.S. Secretary of State under President Grover Cleveland from March 1885 to March 1889, and finally as U.S. ambassador to Great Britain from 1893 to 1897. He spoke against laws and amendments against discrimination. Bayard was in Philadelphia working in partnership with William Shippen in 1854-1858 and likely purchased this pistol as part of a dueling set at that time. The thumb plate is inscribed with Bayard’s initials. The lock is signed “ROBERTSON,” and “PHILADELPHIA” is marked on top of the smoothbore barrel which also has a bead front sight. William Robertson of Philadelphia was active at least as early as 1829. He appears to have closed his shop in 1855, but his shop sign can still be seen in a photograph of John Krider’s shop next door on Walnut Street c.1869. The fact that the pistol has a smoothbore, a fixed notch rear sight, and a single set trigger indicate it was built for dueling rather than target shooting as most target pistols by this period would have been rifled and could have utilized adjustable sights. The barrel also has Birmingham proofs on the bottom. The lock also has a sliding half-cock safety. The trigger guard is spurred. The breech plug, lock, and furniture mostly have scroll and floral engraving. The forend has a horn cap, and the wrist is checkered.”
Lot 368: Dueling Pistol Retailed by Robertson of Philadelphia – Engraved Percussion Historic Dueling Pistol Retailed by Robertson of Philadelphia with Documentation. (n.d.-q). Rock Island Auction Company. photograph. Retrieved August 7, 2023, from https://www.rockislandauction.com/detail/77/368/dueling-pistol-retailed-by-robertson-of-philadelphia.
