Duelists used wax bullets.
The duel was explosive gestures of pride. Often, however, two of the enemy came into the fight with a mutual agreement to shoot in the air or in the ground. Even if they were aiming at each other, flint weapons of those years were so unpredictable, that deadly outcome of the duel was over infrequently. Dueling practice has moved from words to swords to guns. The duel was so popular that it was forbidden in many countries because of the large loss of officers.
As it often happens, at one point in the past in the early 20th century there was a sport that was dueling a duel in a milder form and at the same time guaranteed entertainment – dueling with wax bullets. Because still petery shot each other, the difference was that the losing party “theory is declared dead… and supposedly fatal results created General merriment”.
Here is what he told the new York times about public safe first duel in America in 1909. The fight took place in Carnegie hall between the two members of the Carnegie club, sword and pistol. The men counted out the 18 metre distance, dressed in black clothes and masks on their faces. Their French dueling pistols .44 caliber were loaded with imported French bullets made of wax, and a small audience enjoying the ongoing drama.
Bloodless duels appeared in France in the early 1900-ies, when in Paris was opened the “Dueling school”. In this elite Academy duels practiced safe bullets, training petery worn to protect the face mask, but, nevertheless, they followed the traditional rules and honored the dueling code. A variant of the sport was even featured on the summer Olympic games in London in 1908, in addition to the international Championships in pistol and revolver.
Wax bullets, however, were not completely safe. Without adequate protection and at a short distance a bullet could still cause damage. The audience also had to be careful from rebound shots, especially fearing for your eyes.
This sport has a lot to do with paintball is perhaps the most recognizable modern counterpart, which also requires protective equipment. Paintball guns can also be used for duels tete-a-tete.
At the time, as anyone can play paintball, dueling with wax bullets require a certain skill and experience. In 1908, famous British bully Walter Winans said that they should take part only to experts, do not allow the idea of “carelessness” of such a class. According to Winans, the biggest danger is the confusion with the charges of the gun.
In the 20th century weapon technology has greatly advanced, weapons became more accurate, as the duel – all the more dangerous. Nowadays, the duel does not matter, shoot lead or wax bullet, is considered a relic of the past. While “safe” duel faded, wax bullets left. They are used for magic tricks, target shooting. They are safer and cheaper than conventional bullets.
