Fantastic things, Giffards.
Do you have a link to the video?
IMG-20231129-WA0007.jpg
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Dave
Just watched an interesting YouTube video which included a section on this Gifford “Duelling Sport” pistol which was apparently featured as a side event in some early Olympic Games. This would have been an early form of “Paintball “ and involved the participants wearing protective coats with vital organs marked in chalk and protective headgear shooting at each other using wax balls.
Never seen a Gifford with the hand shield fitted before.
Brian
Last edited by Abasmajor; 21-05-2024 at 11:31 AM.
Fantastic things, Giffards.
Do you have a link to the video?
IMG-20231129-WA0007.jpg
IMG-20231129-WA0008.jpg
IMG-20231129-WA0006.jpg
Dave
Smell my cheese
Looks like wax bullets and low charges were used as well:
https://youtu.be/8IRvaCUYOoA?si=VgjNbW-hxWCSSw7Y
Link below.
https://youtu.be/1S1xryzPd9Q?si=YaMLt1Yrno2DOc
Brian
That was well worth the 18min viewing time - what a bunch of fascinating early airguns. My favourite would be the side lever double set trigger match rifle.
Never seen a Bate pistol - any collectors have one in the UK or did they mainly get shipped to the USA
Live pigeon shooting as well as pistol duelling featured in turn of the century Olympics. Nowadays they don't even have fullbore target shooting.
Nice pair here!
Vintage Airguns Gallery
..Above link posted with permission from Gareth W-B
In British slang an anorak is a person who has a very strong interest in niche subjects.