Pistols from Dong
A typical Dunsk pistol
We have become English more than once
In the battles they dulled
But gold in us
Bought on the market.
Robert Burns. Scottish glory
In the battles they dulled
But gold in us
Bought on the market.
Robert Burns. Scottish glory
Weapon from museums. This article was born like this: one of the readers of "VO", having read an article about Scottish broadswords, took and wrote to me that, in addition to very peculiar broadswords, the Highlanders also had very interesting pistols, one might say, unique, more not met with anyone. "Write about them, interesting!" And yes, indeed, this is a very interesting sample of weapons, and it was possible to write about it for a long time, but there were no interesting photographs and illustrations. And then suddenly all the "stars converged", and at the same time both were found. Well, if so, then writing about these Scottish pistols was only a matter of technique.
These pistols are called by the British and the Scots call the Highland Pistol or Scottish Pistol, which translates as "highland pistol" or "Scottish pistol". Although they also have another interesting name indicating the place of their appearance: pistols from Dong.
Please note that, in addition to photographs, the article uses beautiful illustrations in which we see the Scottish Highlanders in their national costumes with characteristic weapons in their hands. They were painted by Kenneth MacLay Jr. (1802-1878), a wonderful miniaturist who painted people and their clothes with photographic accuracy. He painted portraits in oil, but was also a recognized master of watercolors. As one of the earliest members of the Scottish Academy of Painting, he exhibited at least five works a year, usually in series. And the most famous series of color drawings in watercolors were images of the Highlanders of Scotland, executed by him for the collection of Queen Victoria, which were then reproduced in the form of lithographs and painted by hand. These include portraits in highland costume of the late Prince Consort, Duke of Edinburgh, as well as illustrations depicting representatives of thirty-five major Scottish clans. Work of stunning volume and quality. Maclay lived in Edinburgh, where he died. In this illustration, we see XNUMXth century clanmen, one of whom is armed with a claymore sword. This is the power of tradition in Scotland
Now a little general, so to speak stories pistols in Scotland.
Records of pistol use in Scotland first appear around the middle of the 1566th century. For example, it is reported that a wheel-lock pistol was used in the murder of the Italian secretary of Queen Mary of Scots Mary David Rizzio in 1570. It was followed by the famous assassination of James Stuart I, Earl of Moray, in XNUMX. He, too, was shot with a wheeled pistol. Then all pistols were produced either in England or in continental Europe. This is not to say that there were no Scottish gunsmiths in the XNUMXth century, but there were definitely few of them, and they most likely did not deal with firearms. Well, maybe they could fix it.
However, in the early XNUMXth century in Scotland, wheeled pistols with a fishtail grip became widespread. They can often be seen in pairs with locks on both the left and right, suggesting that they were intended to be fired with two hands. And it was at this point in Scottish history that such pistols became a common part of the armament of the high nobility, often along with a broadsword and a shield (or "target" as the Scots called the shield, and it was often richly decorated and covered with leather), as well as various daggers.
In this illustration, we see two Scottish pistols at the highlander on the right. That's how it was customary to wear them! Kenney McLay Jr.
Then the wheel lock was replaced by a flint percussion lock, and with it, at the end of the XNUMXth century, a new style of design of such pistols appeared. And it existed until about the end of the XNUMXth century, although by the end of this period, pistols designed in this way became simply a decorative part of traditional mountain clothing. In addition, pistols of this type were later adopted by the mountain regiments of the British army, and officers usually carried them under the left hand.
Their main difference from all others: the all-metal construction of the pistol, the absence of a fence around the trigger and the unique shape of the handle.
Twin pistols from Dong. Right view. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
It is believed that pistols of this type originated in the area of the village of Doone in Stirlingshire, which became the center of pistol production in Scotland. Doone was originally a small village near Stirling, which was once the capital of Scotland. Back then, Dun was at a crossroads where pastoralists used to ferry their livestock from Highland to Sterling and other major cities, and many highlanders did their shopping in Dun on their way home. And since they returned, selling cattle, with money, they bought pistols there to protect themselves from robbers and raise their authority. At first it was a weapon produced in Europe.
These are the same pistols. Left view. Note that the flat handle allowed a medallion to be placed on it, which could have been inlaid with mother-of-pearl or a strange gem. It was possible to insert a decent-sized gem or just a piece of cut rock crystal with colored paper under it! Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
But in 1647, a Flemish refugee blacksmith named Thomas Caddell settled in the Dune and found a second home there. He was a blacksmith by profession, but he soon began making pistols, and his art reached such a level of skill that he became famous throughout Scotland. These pistols used flintlock percussion mechanisms similar to those used by other manufacturers of the time. However, these weapons had certain characteristics that completely distinguished them from weapons made elsewhere.
Lock one of the same pistols. Signature says they were made by Master Campbell
Caddell used steel welding methods that the Vikings used 700 years ago. This meant that his steel was of a higher quality than many of his competitors. Due to a shortage of suitable wood in Scotland to make grips for his pistols, Caddell began to make his weapons entirely from steel. In addition, his pistols had neither a trigger guard nor a safety catch, which made them quicker to fire.
A pair of pistols by John Campbell. Photo from one of the auctions
A long and again steel ramrod was kept under the barrel. But the main and most noticeable feature of the Dong pistols was the handle with curls at the end in the form of ram's horns or a slotted heart. Usually an "apple" (a spherical top) was placed here, which often served as a pencil case. The same pistols had a similar part between the horns, but of a smaller size, which could also be unscrewed and had a thin needle at the end, which could be used to clean the ignition hole of the barrel.
A pair of pistols by Master Murdoch. Photo from one of the auctions
Despite the fact that Caddell's pistols were more expensive than those of his competitors, their quality and reputation for highly reliable weapons were so high that the Highlanders specially saved money just to buy his pistols! And the weapons of foreign manufacturers were ignored.
Another pistol by Murdoch. Christie's auction, 1972
The factory, founded by Thomas Caddell, became a family business, run by five generations of this family (interestingly, the founder's son, grandson and great-grandson was also named Thomas Caddell!). Other pistol factories were opened in the area, many of which were founded by people who worked as apprentices at the Caddell factory: Murdoch, Christie, Campbell, Macleod, etc.
The muzzle of the pistol is made by Murdoch. Photo from one of the auctions
Some of the pistols produced in these factories were richly decorated with intricate engraving, and gold and silver inlays cost more than 50 guineas. Nobility wore such pistols with pride. But the real "caddell" remained unrivaled.
Two more clanmen, one of whom is armed with just a terrible ax and a pair of Dun pistols! Kenneth McLay Jr.
Pistols like this were in high demand, especially among Highlander officers, in the 1730s and 1740s. Later, pistols were made from other materials: brass and bronze. Well, the "golden age" of Scottish armourers fell on the period between 1625 and 1775.
Even when the Scottish-style pistols did not have a distinctive grip, they were still all-metal. Pistol by Master Joe Christie of Stirling, 1754
Presumably, it was the pistol made in Dun that became the first weapon from which the first shot was fired in the American War of Independence, and it was fired by Major Pitcairn, a British officer. George Washington also received from his officers two pistols made in Dun, which he bequeathed to give to Major General Lafayette after his death.
A purely army pistol by Isaac Bissell - a master from Birmingham
The popularity of pistols from Dong was so high that they soon began to be produced in England. Many of the pistols used by the 42nd Highlander Regiment (the famous Black Watch Regiment) during the wars with France and India were actually manufactured by a Birmingham manufacturer named John Blisset.
A richly engraved silver-grip pistol made by John Blisset
By about 1795, many Highland regiments had largely abandoned pistols. Due to competition from other European manufacturers, the factories in Dun were also closed, since it was no longer profitable to produce them there. The buildings of the Caddell and Murdoch factories have survived to our time, but they are preserved in the Dun as historic buildings. However, high quality replicas of Highland pistols are still produced in other countries, such as ... India! In fact, today India is one of the main manufacturers of replica pistols from the Dong.
Capsule pistol made by Master Campbell
In 1810, the Reverend Alexander Forsyth invented a new method of ignition using "explosive mercury." By 1825, "explosive mercury" began to be placed in a copper cap, on which the trigger was hit, and the flame from its charge was transmitted through a special hole to the gunpowder in the barrel. This is how the capsule weapon appeared. In 1822, King George IV visited Scotland for the first time in 200 years. One of the organizers of the visit was Sir Walter Scott, who by this time had already become famous in Great Britain. This visit drew public attention to everything related to Scotland, sparked an explosion of interest in wearing tartan and aroused interest in Scottish weapons. London and Birmingham pistol manufacturers quickly took advantage of this and began producing excellent pistols made in the Scottish style. Among them were primers, otherwise identical to pistols from the Highland.
Capsule Scottish pistol. Right view. It is believed that this pistol may have been manufactured by Edward or William Bond in London. The metals used are steel and silver. Its handle is silver plated and delicately engraved with foliage and ropes. The barrel is round in the center and polygonal on the breech and muzzle. The round part is engraved with foliage. The trigger is engraved with foliage, repeated on the lock plate with the manufacturer's name. All steel parts are blued, which contrasts perfectly with the silver
The same gun. Left view. The iron article for the belt is clearly visible and the engraving inside the medallion on the handle, which depicts shields with the image of the Union Jack flag, cannon, cannonballs, drum and flags
Information