Birmingham Arms Fair. 15th September 2024.

 

 

 AA & ME 

Birmingham Arms Fair 

15th September 2024

 

 

Thank you to all those who visited our stand No.56 at this exhibition. 

Always enjoyable and good to catch-up with collectors, enthusiasts and dealers.

Dave Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

 

William Pattison, Gunmaker. Settler. 1832.

 

William Pattison

Gunmaker

Sydney. 1832

Ex. Newtown Limavady

                                                                      Ireland

                                 Courtesy of the National Library of Australia.

            Please refer to our older posts dated 6/3/2016, 10/11/2016 & 3/7/2018.

                                          David Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Sangfroid in Dublin.

 

                            Sangfroid

                                   in

                                                         Dublin

Dr. Codd gives a very good instance of coolness and presence of mind under adverse circumstances.

Being near Steven’s Hospital in Dublin early one summer’s morning he noticed some carriages containing gentlemen proceeding in the direction of Phoenix Park.

He tells us how “impelled by curiosity" he followed, until they halted near to the Under Secretary’s Lodge. He then observed two gentlemen, armed with pistols, placed opposite each other, at a short distance, and that one of them faced the dazzling sun (his second having evidently lost the toss for choice of position). The man thus exposed to such a dangerous impediment of vision, wheeled round, and with perfect sangfriod transferred the pistol to his left hand, with which he fired and hit his adversary. Such presence of mind made a strong impression upon Dr. Codd.

  (Courtesy of Duelling Days in the Army by William Douglas)

                     David Stroud ramrodantiques.co.uk

Duelling: Too little gunpowder and use of the Kerry Safeguard.

                         Use of too little gunpowder.                            

and  “The Kerry Safeguard”

 

Dr. Cobb notes a case where a Mr Browne owed his life to the smallness of the charge of powder used.  “ A duel between Captain Nolan and Mr. Browne” says the doctor, "afforded me an opportunity of witnessing a memorable instance of the numerous cases on record where lives were saved by the stoppage of the pistol-balls that hit vital regions.

The aforementioned gentlemen quarrelled about land in County Roscommon. The meeting took place near Phibsborough in one of the so called Bishop’s Fields, into which Captain Nolan was carried, as he was feeble through a chronic rheumatism. I 

( Dr.Cobb) attended him professionally, and they fought at twelve yards distance.

After one harmless round, the Captain (notorious for his certain hitting in many previous combats), objected to the small charge of powder in the pistols, remarking  that they were mere squibs, and that although he would hit Mr Browne in the next round, the ball would not do much harm.

Accordingly, he did hit him but the ball after passing along his forearm, was stopped in the coat-sleeves of his elbow, which he had been firmly pressed to his hip-bone in order to steady his hand, a position known as the “Kerry safeguard”.

Had the charge held another pinch of powder the ball would have inevitably entered Mr. Brownes liver."

No date.

    (Courtesy of Duelling Days in the Army by William Douglas.)

                          David Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

A quarrel originating in the West Indies: Finally settled in Yorkshire.

                        

                             Yorkshire

                                                               Duel

On Sunday morning, the 11th instant, at four o'clock, a duel was fought near to York, between Lieutenant Colonel Bell and Mr Crigan, surgeon, both of the 46th regiment of foot, quartered in that city, in which the latter was shot through the body. - He died on Tuesday evening. The Lieutenant Colonel and the seconds had previously left the city. We understand that the cause of the rencontre originated in the West Indies!!

 

         (Courtesy of The Sporting Magazine, June 1797)  

                     David Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Firing at a mark. May 1803.

                         

                         Firing at a mark.

 

An extract from a letter written to the editor of The Sporting Magazine in May 1803.

 " The sword was the weapon of our forefathers, but skill had so great and certain a superiority, that a good swordsman might almost put on paper, every pass and parry which he would allow his ignorant antagonist. To remedy this evident inequality, pistols gradually came into use, as a mean of putting men on more of an equal footing.

Of all offensive weapons, the pistol seemed that in which skill could do little. No one dreamt that individuals who claimed the apellation of men of honour, would deliberately set to work, like a mechanic at his trade, to acquire a superiority in the use of what had only been adopted for the sake of putting all on a footing! Some, however, having unfortunately too much time on their hands , employ it in acquiring a degree of skill so great as to be able to hit a wafer, or the pip of a card; and then, presuming more on their science than courage, swagger into company, and challenge a man who perhaps never touched a pistol before, and probably could not hit the end of a waggon. Is the man who takes his ground, conscious of such superiority, a man of honour?.. we say no.

The very essence of a duel requires, that the opponents shall be on a fair and equal footing, at least, that any inequality shall not be owing to the wilful exertions of either party. A split ball, slugs, or unfair pistol, will not be allowed. And what are these when compared with constant pratice and skill? It ought, we humbly concieve, to be reckoned as dishonourable to practice at a mark, as any action which can disgrace a gentleman. Why does our young spark practise?-- That, if ever he is called upon, he may have an advantage over his antagonist. Let the pistol be held sacred as the arbiter of the laws of honour, and let the man who practises in private, or practises at all, be branded with infamy with him who marks cards or loads dice, for he regulates the chance nearly as much. Those who innocently practise at a mark, merely as an amusement , must have little ingenuity if they cannot find another and a better."  

Anon.

        (Courtesy of The Sporting Magazine, May, 1803)

                   David Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk

Dublin Theatre Dispute. May 1797.

 

 

Dublin Theatre Dispute.

May 1797 

Lieutenant Fitzgerald of the marines and Lieutenant Smith of the 25th regiment, lately met to settle a quarrel which happened at the theatre in Dublin, a short time previous.

The first fire the balls took no effect, but Lieutenant Fitzgeralds second fire wounded Lieutenant Smith in the side, on which the business was amicably adjusted.

                       -----------------------------------------------

                  (Courtesy of The Sporting Magazine 1797)

                        David Stroud. ramrodantiques.co.uk