Often a ships captain would have a pistol
sword or dagger commissioned for him as a sign of his
superiority. A gunsmith would decorate the stock with
silver and gold or ornate carvings. The doghead would
be carved in some ornate fashion or perhaps be shaped
like a lion, unicorn or some animal from the royal crest
of the owner. In many ways such weapons in the 18th century
would hold the same place of honor as a luxury car or
expensive watch might today.
The pistol of the day was a
flintlock mechanism which fired exactly like the rifles.
A single shot loaded via the front of the barrel. Rarely
would two men lock blades together with their faces inches
apart as depicted in the movies. If one were to get that
close, a dagger would most certainly have come into play.
With its built-in flintlock pistol, the Dagger Pistol
offered a pirate double protection and could prove very
handy in battle or intimidating victims.
