Chire A Rouen  - 1844

     Chire A Rouen translated from French means – made in Rouen by Chire.  Chire is a very rare gunmaker, as I and other major duelling set collectors around the USA know only this set.  The maker is written of in The New Stoekel reference book, page 2110, Volume 3, at European makers.  Rouen is located about 70 miles northwest of Paris.

DESCRIPTION:

      This set is a rare quad casing of two dueling pistols and two smaller muff pistols, which are, considered the seconds’ pistols.  This feature in a cased pair of large dueling pistols is extremely rare.  Each butt of the large pistols has a hinged covered compartment for storage of percussion caps and patches.  The lock and top of each barrel is engraved, inlaid in gold “CHIRE A. ROUEN” 

      The case itself is Birdseye maple veneer with brass bound corners and edges.  It is typical French style interior casing.  The case contains two large dueling pistols, two smaller seconds’ pistols, a very fancy design pressed bronze powder flask, a wooden mallet for charging, a wooden round box with extra nipples and bullet puller, cleaning rod, bullet molds for both size pistols, and a charging rod to seat the bullet.

      The condition of this set is one of very little use and no abuse.  It appears to have been made and finished in “white”.  The locks and hammers as well as the trigger guards are engraved.  Lock sides on the seconds’ pistols are also engraved.  This is a very unique set of French duelers, complete with all accessories.

Offered for sale from my collection for:  $23,000.00 

 Click on photos for larger images

The Duel:  Dujarier was the editor of La Presse and Bouvallon was the editor of the Globe.  They had taken different positions on many of the subjects of the day.  Both attended a dinner party in Paris, 1845, at the Palais Royal, the expense was fifty-five Francs per head!  A dispute occurred, Bouvallon was the challenger, and at the first fire shot his antagonist in the head, and killed him instantly.  Bouvallon was tried for murder at Rouen, March of 1846.  The pistols used were made for Bouvallon by Chire A Rouen in 1844.  It is of interest that this is also the city of the trial.  

The Defense was, that the deceased was killed by the accused in a duel, according to the rules of honor regulating such combats.  It was gravely objected on the part of the prosecution, that the defendant was not entitled to avail himself of these laws, because, at one period of his life, he had been guilty of stealing a watch.  The lawyer stated,” A French jury would only tolerate duels among men of honor, and a man would forfeit his privilege to commit murder, if it was believed he had ever been a thief.”  

Forty-six witnesses were examined.  Alexander Dumas (the writer) was first.  He was a friend to both parties, but knowing how unskilled Dujarier was with a pistol sent his son with Dujarier to a shooting-gallery, where Dujarier was able to hit a mark as large as a man only twice in fourteen times.  But the testimony of Dumas went strongly to the respectability of the parties as men of honor!  Another witness was Lola Montes, the mistress of Dujarier.  She took measures to prevent the duel but was too late, she was bequeathed the principal part of his considerable estate.

The judge instructed the jury, that to kill a man in a duel is murder by the law of France, but that the jury had the right to declare that Bouvallon killed Dujarier under alleviating circumstances.  The jury found the accused “not guilty”.  But, Bouvallon was fined twenty thousand francs, for the benefit of the mother and nephews of Dujarier, and in default of payment was to suffer two years of imprisonment.