Cased pair of Devillers Patent centrefire breech loading duelling pistols by Piot Lepage, c.1905 (photo)

(XII.11069 XII.11069) Cased pair of Devillers Patent centrefire breech loading duelling pistols by Piot Lepage, about 1905, Belgium. These pistols are designed to fire wax bullets in a mock duel, in which the participants wear masks and coats for protection. The wooden and baize lined case contains a pair of pistols with fluted barrels and case hardened breech. Also contained in a draw are a steel cleaning rod, a wooden hammer and cartridges for shooting wax bullets. In the lower compartment are two steel hand guards in the shape of a heart, a brass cup, a glass bottle of oil with a cork stopper, a steel screwdriver, two cleaning rods, a mould for wax bullets, a selection of primers, two velvet target patches and four boxes for bullets.