Just How Deadly Were Guns In The 18th Century?

Mike Loades has the world of pistol duelling firmly in his sights. We stare down the barrel of famous encounters, such as Hamilton vs. Burr, and restage a pistol duel to explore how duelling evolved from swords to firearms in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Mike also gets hands on with the technology of skilfully crafted original duelling pistols, from hair triggers to hidden rifled barrels. And BBC Diplomatic Correspondent, James Landale, recounts the incredible story of his ancestor who fought a lethal duel with his bank manager!
When the smoke clears, you'll know all about the incredible story of duelling.
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#historyhit #alexanderhamilton #duel

[@TJ_Beam]

Seeing Mr Loades on a thumbnail is an automatic click… love this man and his knowledge and passion.

[@tHiNk413]

Also I his voice to me borders on ASMR, don't ask me why

[@WalterWild-uu1td]

There is an anecdote recited by an English authority (he even wrote a pamphlet!) on dueling. He was a witness to a duel between an ordinary man and a man who was known as a regular duelist. In the actual duel, the ordinary man discharged his weapon and missed. The semi professional man pulled his trigger and his pistol misfired. He insisted that he was due another shot. But the "specialist" interposed, saying that if the pro got a second try and killed his opponent, he would see the duelist hanged for murder. The specialist pointed out the participants were required to stand and "receive fire;" but that it was not the ordinary man's fault the other man's pistol misfired. He had stood to the effort and done his part...and that was sufficient to satisfy his honor. While duelists might wish for the death of their opponent, the practice was a test of courage and honor, not bloodthirstiness.

[@lutzderlurch7877]

That is what a lot of media and subsequently the public get wrong: The important part was not the chance to harm your opponent. The important part was being seen exposing yourself to the chance of harm and death (ideally with a gentlemanly demeanor and attitude)

[@Bobbymaccys]

Never miss a Mike Loades episode!

[@kenbyers8036]

Mike Loades knowledge of weapons ancient or otherwise is phenomenal. He also an exceptional historian. Or he has great writers. 😊

[@richardsuggs8108]

Dueling wasn’t outlawed in North Carolina until sometime in the 1960s. Sometimes I wish it was still legal.

[@tbjtbj4786]

I do to. It would stop a lot of lawsuit and a lot of modern day nonsense.

[@davidweihe6052]

@@tbjtbj4786It would transform ordinary lawsuits into Premeditated Murder, as duels were since the time of King Athelstan of Wessex. And transform “lawyers” into gunslingers, as happened in an episode of “Sliders” where Benjamin Siegel, Esq. was the grandson of “Bugsy” Siegel the famed gangster.

[@andrewwilson8210]

The last fatal dual in Canada was John Wilson - my ancestor. Was over a girl. He was a lawyer and defended himself in court, did a few other important things in early Canada.

[@masqerader]

Think you mean duel, also there was one apparently in Quebec in 1838

[@andrewwilson8210]

@@masqerader no. Check your facts before mansplaining. The last fatal duel in Upper Canada [Ontario] took place in Perth 13 June 1833. Defending his honour, John Wilson shot and killed Robert Lyon, who had called him a liar and assaulted him. Wilson and his second were charged with murder, but were acquitted.

[@masqerader]

​@@andrewwilson8210 yes upper Canada but not the last fatal duel in Canada which happened in lower Canada in 1838

[@ENIGMAXII2112]

@@andrewwilson8210 I do smell a wager, or better still, a duel with you and that other fellow, masquerader...

[@luckyspurs]

You could genuinely have only watched Mike Loades on Time Commanders, never seen him for 20 years and instantly recognise his energy within moments now. It's amazing.

[@justjones5430]

Mike is my favourite historian by far! 😊

[@grahambamford9073]

Ive seen on another channel a pair of black powder dueling pistols that were designed to shoot wax bullets, it was thought of as a sport, you would wear a face guard and shoot at each other for fun......😮 it would hurt but not kill, kind of like modern day paintball.

[@johncartwright8154]

'Paintball duelling' using replica period pistols. That would be an interesting business venture for settling arguments!

[@brandonobaza8610]

Sounds like the Lepage wax bullet dueling pistols. Forgotten Weapons has an episode on those.

[@grahambamford9073]

@@brandonobaza8610 that's the one 👍

[@johgu92]

​​​@@johncartwright8154 Alright I'm in, but only in full period costumes.

[@kungfreddie]

I think that's something that came after dueling was prosecuted more harshly.. like in the end of 19th century.

[@atricdouglas4123]

Riffling does not reduce ‘oscillations’ necessarily but rather imparts gyroscopic rigidity to the projectile thereby improving the firearms accuracy compared to a non-riffled firearm.

[@ardshielcomplex8917]

"Riffling" is that doing the wild thaing in her lounge room ?

[@chriswalker2753]

No. The projectile will have surface imperfections that deflect it as a result of air resistance. When it spins, these imperfections are effectively presented in all directions, so the projectile doesn't veer (or, if you like, a deflection to the left is rapidly cancelled by a deflection to the right).

[@paavobergmann4920]

@@chriswalker2753 That´s the case in arrows. A curved path is effectivey turned into a narrow cone. Firearm projectiles usually spin much faster, to the point were gyroscopic effects do play a role.

[@soultraveller5027]

On youtube there is always one so- on -so an armchair general ''expert''who knows better who thinks he's found an error to chip in to challenge a figure like mike Loades it's so laughable well done sir 4123

[@britts9215]

This is actually very complex, so I think his explanation was good enough for most persons, but I think he should have left out the word 'oscillations'. The oscillations are more of an issue for non spherical projectiles, which most are. Dueling pistols not so; as it is a sphere and why much less rate of rifling is needed for a sphere. The gyroscope effect is secondary and the effect of having the spin of the ball primarily being perpendicular to the barrel line is primary, while dynamic effect of the spin on the interaction with the air is also lesser with a sphere. The ball is going to be spinning if it is fired, the rifling makes sure the spin is primarily perpendicular to the flight path. If the projectiles is nonspherical, the given explanation fits better, and the gyroscope effect on the damping of oscillations and the mitigation of deflections cuased by imperfections in the projectile and inconsistency in the air are much larger factors. Spherical projectiles is effectively a special case where the effect of the rifling is on a lesser component and so much less rifling is needed. The needed spin for a ball is usually less than a twist per foot, where modern projectiles need several twists per foot to damp oscillations and deflections imparted by the air.

[@mirandahotspring4019]

Best duel ever has the be the one in the movie 'Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines' where they duelled with blunderbusses from hot air balloons! There is a story it was based on the legend of a duel between two Frenchmen, Monsieur de Grandpré and Monsieur le Pique, who decided to settle a dispute over a lover by having a balloon duel in 1808. The story goes that the men constructed identical balloons and went up in the air at 9 o'clock in the morning with their seconds and armed with blunderbusses. The balloons ascended from the gardens of Tuileries surrounded by a crowd of curious onlookers who thought they were observing a balloon race. After a signal was given, le Pique fired the first shot and missed. Grandpré then fired, his shot hit its mark and le Pique’s balloon collapsed and descended with “fearful rapidity” which then hit a house top and they were both "dashed to pieces." How the hell le Pique missed a hot air balloon with a blunderbuss is anyone's guess!

[@dbmail545]

To understand the lethality of black powder handguns, study the "shootout at the OK corral". Most of the participants suffered gunshot wounds and the losers often had dozens of pistol wounds. The only "one-shot-kill" was the poor schmuck that got both barrels of Doc Holiday's Greener. I did a bit of terminal ballistics with my Ruger NMA and was quite surprised how much less effective black powder was than smokeless powder.

[@skymaster4121]

Well, that wasn’t a shootout, it was an execution

[@brgilbert2]

Ah Mr. Loades, found you at last. I am trying to find a video detailing how military leaders at the start of W.W.I were not prepared for the results incurred by the use of modern weapons with 19th, 18th, 17th and so forth century tactics. The example displayed was the use of machine guns and balloons representing soldiers, about 6,000 balloons placed in a field as I recall. Was that one of your earlier videos??

[@ant7936]

Interesting pistol duel in Forester's Midshipman Hornblower!

[@RandiRain]

I think I just found the perfect thing to decide this whole Biden/Trump thing in the US.

[@Sasquatch_Driver]

Add in they have to load their own and they have to be flintlock

[@tonybarrett8543]

Trump would be able to manage it, even if awkwardly, Biden wouldn't. So, under duelling rules, it would not be allowed. I'm just making a statement regarding the rules of duelling, not a political one.

[@GavTatu]

or just stop electing old men !

[@chivo850]

Biden would be screwed. He would have the barrel pointed at himself. Or he would look down the barrel, "Is this camera on?" Or he would be confused on what direction he should fire in. Or, for sure...he would be struck by a round leaving Trump unharmed...and he would turn around, bleeding from the chest, "We did it. We won this day. What? Im bleeding? NOOO! It's my adversary's blood. They use to call me CornPop, cause I could shoot a mite off of a flie's head! Then I'd take off to go to the kiddy pool to let the darker kids touch the blonde hairs on my leg...and......" *collapses unconcious*

[@oxcart4172]

Trump would lose, but leave a note claiming that he actually won, really!

[@chocolatemonk]

Answer: just as effin deadly as they are today

[@Sabrowsky]

Andrew Jackson being described as a "hothead" is the most charitable way I've ever heard him being described, Guy was a bit of a lunatic at times.

[@ManiusCuriusDenatus]

Interesting question: 18th C you're dealing with highly inaccurate weapons, but much larger caliber shot. They are much slower projectiles so they tend to smash and splinter bones. Modern projectiles are generally much higher velocity and with self defense ammo they're hollow point, rather than FMJ. However ammunition today are of a much smaller caliber. generally. I'd probably say it's down to the relative quality of medical care in the 18th v. 21st C. I'd rather be hit today than back then.

[@dp-sr1fd]

They were not highly inaccurate, original smoothbore flintlock duelling pistols can produce a group of ten shots less than four inches diameter at twenty five metres. they were usually about .50" calibre with a muzzle velocity, if loaded with full powder charge, comparable to a modern pistol.

[@ManiusCuriusDenatus]

@@dp-sr1fd I would love to see someone have a four inch grouping with 10 shots at 80 feet with a smoothbore pistol. I mean with consistancy and not a one off feat of expert marksmanship or luck. I really can't see that.

[@dp-sr1fd]

@@ManiusCuriusDenatusThe World record score for the "Cominazzo" event with an original smoothbore flintlock pistol is held by a German his score was 94 out of 100. The event is shot on a PL7 target. The ten ring is two inches diameter and the nine ring is four inches diameter, that means he got four out of ten shots in a two inch bull's eye and the other six in the four inch nine ring. Many competitions are held with muzzle loading firearms both nationally and internationally at ranges up to one thousand yards with original and reproduction firearms. I have been a member of the Muzzleloading Association of Great Britain for thirty five years and have witnessed some incredible shooting.

[@ManiusCuriusDenatus]

@@dp-sr1fd That is fascinating. I appreciate the information. I am certainly going to look up that organization. Thanks you!

[@dp-sr1fd]

@@ManiusCuriusDenatus It is a very rewarding sport, to both collect and shoot these fascinating firearms is really good. We do have a website and shoot mid and long range at Bisley and there are local branches up and down the country. Sadly we are struggling to keep membership because it is difficult to recruit new members due in part to the difficulty in getting the appropriate firearm licenses. Also shooting as a sport is always shown in a negative light in the media it seems, but it is great fun and I have met many really nice people from all over the world.

[@phil20_20]

Maybe you can explain the cane fighting in Congress!

[@felixthecat265]

The bit where he was testing the set trigger made me wince.. cocking a set trigger is the LAST thing you do before shooting. You cock and prime a set triggered gun with the set trigger cocked..

[@hiredgoon13]

1ish lb trigger is common among target rifles and pistols today, and apparently was common in history as well

[@jordanyhearm5372]

Mike loades is a god

[@theeddorian]

Women also were known to duel right into the 19th century, and there are accounts and illustrations of women dueling men dating back to the Medieval period.

[@saurannuraliyev1695]

Over the years, there have been claims that Alexander Pushkin participated in as many as 26 duels. However, historians have been able only to ascertain five ...

[@GrumpyGenXGramps]

WHY would anyone be convicted of “murder” if a participant/winner of a DUAL?? Both parties are well aware of the consequences and have agreed upon it. Right down to the place, time and choice of pistol! I know that many States have “Mutual Combat Laws”. I’ve only known them to be used in modern days for fist fights and admittedly don’t know how they would come into play if two men agreed upon it but I just don’t see how the State can charge a man for agreeing to be the willful participant in a dual?! Especially if each party were to SIGN some agreement of “no liability”, etc. I would be extremely curious what WOULD happen if it were to happen here in 2024.

[@jeffreymontgomery4091]

"DRAW me not without REASON. HOLSTER me not without HONOR."

[@hektor6766]

Empty words justifying brutality.

[@j_taylor]

So you'd have to help a grandmother with her weekly shop before you could stop thrashing your pistol around? Kinky.

[@Baron-Ortega]

Wellington detested duelling which shows he must have been pushed

[@gwynwellliver4489]

Duelers would cross the Ohio River from Louisville, KY to duel in New Albany, IN.

[@mostly_insane2291]

Most historians agree the Western shootout wasn’t as common as Hollywood would have us believe.

[@jamestregler1584]

Still in Vogue in old New Orleans 😎

[@lutzderlurch7877]

It says 'part two, the pistol' ... where might one find part one?

[@jackvoss5841]

Guns of the past centuries were about deadly enough to almost kill you. And, if you survived the bulletin strike, they bled you. The practice of medicine in that day, finished off a lot of survivors. Courtesy of Half Vast Flying

[@BradloRaul]

My understanding is; as the wealth of society shifted from landed aristocracy with a lot of idle time and a military upbringing to the professional merchant/investor classes pistols gave the new rich a fighting chance.

[@54mgtf22]

Interesting

[@kabuti2839]

My step great grandmother told me her grandfather killed a man he had been feuding with & that, in case of a conviction, his friends had provided o horse, saddled & waiting but he was aquitted.

[@Davefinney370]

I do the same horse thing whenever a friend gets married.

[@kabuti2839]

@@Davefinney370 I'll drink to that!

[@knightowl3577]

My ancestors, duelled with shillelaghs and fists. Much more civilised.

[@williesnyder2899]

“Do not go off half-cocked”??

[@georgesakellaropoulos8162]

Considering the capabilities of medicine at the time, guns were quite capable of causing damage that couldn't be dealt with.

[@luckyspurs]

7:26 What an absolute waste, to die at 19 duelling.

[@thesrow1056]

Very few duals resulted in deaths. Often it was more a debate or negotiation

[@andrewallen9993]

It sounds like dueling with bankers who wont lend you money should most definitely make a return.

[@ENIGMAXII2112]

It sure bloody should make a return...

[@DallingerM]

Mike Loades is a legend ... but I think we’re all still waiting for a Kevin Hicks History Hit Collaboration!!!

[@mikeryan7468]

The French English man is back lol

[@ragnarthered2179]

History hit + history squad=history hitsquad

[@BarrowedtimeBrian]

Not a huge fan of his!!

[@cleverusername9369]

I'll cosign on this

[@DallingerM]

@@BarrowedtimeBrian of Kevin?! I seriously think he’s the best guy out there right now ... What is it you don’t like?

[@steveday4797]

Mike Loades is a great presenter

[@travisinthetrunk]

I love his energy. You can tell he loves what he does.

[@PrudenceClearwater-Ristotle]

@@travisinthetrunk A wonderful man

[@williammurray1341]

My maternal grandfather's great great grandfather was 2-0-1 in pistol duals. It became an issue when he ran for president in 1824.

[@FelixstoweFoamForge]

To be fair, I think the move to pistols was because they were actually less likely to be lethal than a fight with swords. One shot each, you both miss, you can call honour, (a dirty word), satisfied, and end it. With swords, it has to go on until someone gets hurt. Not that pistol duels weren't dangerous, just a bit more controlled. Give Ridley Scots "the Duelists" a look.

[@jonathanengdahl9045]

Sword duels are probably more likely to injure both parties. It is incredibly difficult to go in for the kill with a sword without being struck yourself

[@FelixstoweFoamForge]

@@jonathanengdahl9045 Thats my point, so yup.

[@robinburt5735]

Sword duels though were generally ended when someone was cut, which normally wasn't anything serious. Getting hit by a large ball of lead that took a bit of clothing with it was often fatal.

[@martingreen2018]

Sword duels were usually to first blood, not to the death.

[@jonathanengdahl9045]

@@FelixstoweFoamForge You see this in fencing where points are given to the one who hit the other faster by a factor of milliseconds. Even the best swordsmen wouldnt have a long duelling life. An expert marksman with a high quality pistol however could just keep dropping them

[@thomaswebb2584]

Interestingly, Church also fought a duel against Burr, shooting off Burr's vest button. Church had his pistols made specially in England, and they've 'found' to be rigged, or at least one was. It's Interesting though, that the Hamilton faction went after Burr because he had won the governorship of New York over their shared father-in-law. Hamilton being 'anti-duel' is perhaps revisionist history, due to having been in duels before, even one against James Madison, which Burr apparently dissuaded.

[@nopenheimer]

Seeing him walk back and forth in front of the head-high barrel when testing the trigger pull feels just wrong.

[@frankschlanker]

Mike Loades is fantastic at telling these stories.

[@MrSloika]

Very few face-to-face gun fights took place in the American Western frontier. It's mostly a Hollywood invention. The reality is that gun violence was not as common in American West as is popularly believed. Most frontier municipalities actually forbade the carrying of loaded firearms within city limits. BTW, most working cowboys did not own a revolver. During the Western frontier era a revolver cost $30-$35 which was a month's pay for the average cowboy. The most common firearm owned by a cowboy was a cheap imported (mostly from Belgium) shotgun.

[@TonyNicholls-gi9le]

As always Mike, Terrific narrative. If only you could have been my History teacher. I'm 78 now and my History teachers were all good, But you would have been GREAT.

[@technochief2000]

Anything with Mike Loades is absolute fire 🔥

[@coffeefox5703]

A gun is a gun. You can kill with a flintlock pistol and I 100% would not want to be at the receiving end if that bullet hits. All guns are "deadly" - period.

[@T4G95]

You would take a modern .22 much better than you would a historic ball shaped lead shot. Bullet shape and size makes a huge difference. These old things did a lot of damage in comparison to a lot of modern pistols. But you only had one shot.

[@jefflatham3247]

Thank You for yet another great video Mr. Loades !

[@GypsyHunter232UK]

WE DON'T SEE ENOUGH OF MKE LOADS ON TV OR ON HERE

[@sandgrownun66]

However, we do see too many people writing in all caps here.

[@sandgrownun66]

But sadly, we do see too many people who write in all caps like a narcissist.

[@sandgrownun66]

But sadly, we do see too many people who feel the need to write in all caps .

[@davidstrother496]

The video should have simply been titled, Dueling in the 18th Century, rather than How Deadly Were Guns in The 18th Century. It is more about the practice of dueling, than the deadliness of the weapons. Of course the weapons were deadly if one is hit in a part of the body that contains the vital organs.

[@scottlewisparsons9551]

Thank you for a very interesting video. All the best from Sydney Australia 🇦🇺

[@stuartduke999]

Brilliant piece of work! Many thanks Mike and the team!💥🏆

[@joshlesure3196]

Thoroughly enjoyed this video! Mike Loades always does an awesome job!

[@thomasesau2376]

Wellington had said, "Real men didn't duel pistols, real men dueled with cannon." This may be anecdotal but it certainly sounds like the Iron Duke's dry humor.

[@thetruerift]

"Jesus christ, Wellsey, how the fuck did you haul a 16 pounder to the field?"

[@PaulPennypacker]

R 87😊​@@thetruerift

[@robashton8606]

"Inflammatory correspondence" ? Crikey!

[@OldMusicFan83]

Mention Abraham Lincoln being challenged by later Union General James Shields. As the man challenged, Lincoln selected Long Swords. The dual was to be fought on a River sandbar. Their Seconds negotiated a resolution, so it never happened.

[@bendjohans3863]

i pity that dueslls are illegal today... politics would be lot better if the morons in power would have to fear consequences for their nonsence

[@BradloRaul]

They always were illegal. Upper class male society looked the other way, and there was no professional police force to investigate.

[@brandonobaza8610]

20:07 What is it with inventors and sheds? 😂

[@erintyres3609]

13:58 "Lots were drawn to establish who had the right of first fire. If he missed, the duelist who had fired first was obliged to stand his ground and receive his adversary's return fire." OMG

[@rogerclark9285]

Well done but for one thing. A well tuned flintlock is quite fast in firing. You can barely, if at all, distinguish between the ignition time of a percussion gun and a flintlock.

[@MaceGill]

Grain makes a difference too. A fine FFFF in the primer will fire faster than a coarser grain.

[@RonTodd-gb1eo]

Now we settle disputes by making lawyers rich.

[@Habs2802]

The title of this vid is misleading. It's not about accuracy, stopping power or wounds. It's about the history of dueling.

[@ChocoLater1]

Smartass. You just have a need to sound smart. The title is ok.

[@Shortparks]

Yeah, it's common nowadayz, I don't like it.

[@whzpoor]

Mike is immortal, i remember Time Commanders - he's not aged!

[@dangermouse957]

Mate love the channel but please at least wear eye protection, especially with black powder.

[@stubbsieshorse327]

I have seen the pistols in Kirkaldy museum - it was surreal to think the part they played in the history of duelling. They looked very powerful and not a little bit intimidating - I can image the tremble in the users arm of one who is not familiar with them. This makes the killing of a seasoned soldier like Morgan even more unbelievable at the hands of the novice Lansdale. One small ( and pedantic) point is the information that accompanies the pistols. It said that the first duel (the one where someone died before the Morgan/Lansdale duel) took place in South Queensferry - it didn't. It took place near North Queensferry - a distance of 2 miles away as the crow flies and 5 miles by road. There is a plaque atop the hill that overlooks North Queensferry where it took place.

[@jameswaterfield]

It should be noted that a 'pace' is actually the distance covered between the time you lift a foot and the time you put it back down, half a pace is a step.

[@DonFrades]

Standing directly in front of the gun? A big no-no, whether it's loaded or not.

[@peterwilson5528]

You mentioned firing at Will I searched the whole video and never found anyone called Will?

[@terencephillips6833]

They didn’t have a lot of sense in those days did they , you wouldn’t catch a modern man willingly standing in front of a loaded pistol waiting to be shot .

[@thomasesau2376]

I've read that dueling challenges made newspaper editor "the most dangerous occupation" in 19th century America.

[@Juggtacula]

Pardon me, are you Aaron Burr, sir?

[@seanmorse1389]

As usual, excellent job. Mr. Loades is a treasure.

[@davidbruns9263]

Mike is the best . He’s the guy you want to have next to you when trouble happens

[@fosterfuchs]

Good thing this tradition didn't persist into modern times. Dueling Uzis would be a lot more deadly.

[@nem447]

might be a good thing, we'd have less idiots on the planet

[@ronlane4311]

The deadliest thing about guns in the 18th Century was the Medical Care available.

[@PalmettoNDN]

Dumb comment fired off before watching the video by someone who's never fired a musket or bothered to actually study history.

[@ronlane4311]

@@PalmettoNDN - to bad you are wrong on all counts and have only proved how factually challenged you are.

[@PrudenceClearwater-Ristotle]

@@PalmettoNDN Your comment is actually the "dumbest" response on this thread. Get a grip Sir, and take a joke please. Thanks.

[@perryedwards4746]

very very interesting! I was engrossed.

[@Twirlyhead]

any wound could be fatal before antibiotics.

[@jamesneufeld-b7e]

It's only good sense to practice beforehand.

[@SlideRulePirate]

The chap on the right at 33:34 is holding his piece in a most _gangsta_ fashion.

[@chrisgibson5267]

Carried on a door? Doors were, of course, far stouter, and if it was fitted with rising hinges, this would allow one to be quickly lifted free of the frame and carried to the scene of the duel. I'll see myself out.

[@vicentcampsvilallonga]

It is likely that these duels were very famous in the Anglo-Saxon world, but to say that they were the most important duels in the world is saying too much. There have been gun and sword duels throughout Europe, even between one man against several opponents at the same time and There were also famous duelists who fought throughout Europe. "Diego de Paredes" is an example, but not the only one. Great report. Congratulations

[@amandagrayson389]

I am not into military history however Mike Loades is fantastic and has drawn me into the world of war and weaponry for decades.

[@ENIGMAXII2112]

You are into military histroy, that is why you are here...

[@TheAlexagius]

I know the scope of the video is duelling pistols but the title is broad, so I wonder if in a future video you could feature some Lorenzoni System or Kalthoff firearms? Pre-cartridge repeating firearms are very cool.

[@DidierDidier-kc4nm]

Good to see again Mike .Very interresti g vidéo!

[@IntrepidFraidyCat]

Brings to mind the dueling scene in the movie Highlander. ....😆

[@skymaster4121]

“I’m sorry I called your lady an old dry pussy!” 😂

[@Jayjay-qe6um]

The last known pistol duel happened in Uruguay, fought in 1971 between Danilo Sena and Enrique Erro, in which neither of the combatants was injured.

[@santibouphavong]

They were deadly as long as the projectile actually hits you. When rifling the barrel became a thing then the firearms from the old days were definitely deadly

[@giraffesinc.2193]

This was such an amazing video! Sorry for the side comment, but it astonishes me (as an American) how close Britons are to one another when conversing. We'd back up another foot, at least!

[@PrudenceClearwater-Ristotle]

Is that why you're always shouting ;)

[@13infbatt]

Those pistols are beautiful

[@stevenlord782]

Absolutely fascinating. These old firearms are a treasure & a oleasure to watch in use. Thankyou.

[@robertgrey6101]

Chivalry gone mad. Honour ? What honour ??

[@whateveranyhow]

I wouldn’t call it the most famous duel in the World. E.g. for me the first that comes to mind would be the duel between Dante’s and Pushkin. I guess you could call Hamilton’s duel the most famous in certain regions (US?), but not universally across the world

[@saurannuraliyev1695]

Americans never heard of Pushkin though

[@davehogg63]

The 2 Landells old and new, bear a remarkable resemblance.

[@drgunnwilliams8239]

Percussion cap not lock!

[@Face2theScr33n]

"Muzzle flip" only applies for follow up shots in autoloading firearms. A single shot pistol is totally unaffected. Longer barrels improve power, not necessarily accuracy. Quality of the bore is what makes an accurate barrel.