Dueling.

[Mutant Monster RAEG-HAPYP]

No, not card games. I'm talking about the dueling in Europe that lasted from the 17th century(maybe earlier) to the turn of the 20th century, and lasted until the end of the American Civil War from the states.

 

http://www.artofmanliness.com/2010/03/05/man-knowledge-an-affair-of-honor-the-duel/ An older article, but, it's a very interesting read on the subject. It is interesting that how we might look at this part of history as barbaric, but, it was seemingly viewed as honorable, even a sign of masculinity, in its time.

 

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/duel-104161025/ Another read.

 

From what I've read, it wasn't always two guys with flintlock pistols, but, that seems to be what people associate with dueling. Here is an example of dueling pistols:

 

 

These were not your standard flintlock pistols. Dueling pistols were designed for said purpose. While I could not find any auction history on what dueling pistols can sell for, a pair sold for $1.76 million dollars in 2004. It is number two on this list: http://www.gunzmart.com/blog/5-expensive-firearms-ever-sold-auction/

[Fusion X. Denver]

Won't lie, part of me has wanted a fight club amongst my friends. Nothing serious, just general wrestling/fighting for sparring purposes. With gloves and headgear and stuff.

I suppose it's not really the same thing, but I just like fighting friends in games and competitions, might as well add spars/duels to the list.

[Mutant Monster RAEG-HAPYP]

What is very interesting to me is that people would argue that dueling actually prevented violence. A duel could occur for even the most petty reason.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZcghgb2myE&feature=share

 

Old documentary that's just over 45 minutes, but, since I brought up dueling pistols, I might as well leave it here.

[Fusion X. Denver]

Funny timing, I checked This Day in History and today was the day Aaron Burr shot Alexander Hamilton, the only duel in history I really remembered learning from school.

Seemed boring to learn about at the time, but kinda cool to look over in retrospect. Still need to see the play.

[Mutant Monster RAEG-HAPYP]

Funny timing, I checked This Day in History and today was the day Aaron Burr shot Alexander Hamilton, the only duel in history I really remembered learning from school.

Seemed boring to learn about at the time, but kinda cool to look over in retrospect. Still need to see the play.

IIRC, that duel sorta led to the decline of dueling in the states. Eventually, the Civil War broke out, following by the Old West. It lasted much longer in Europe.