Pistol and Revolver Shooting

by A. L. A. Himmelwright

International Matches.—The U. S. Revolver Association also negotiates and conducts all the international matches. The first of these matches was between France and the United States and took place on June 16, 1900. This match attracted world-wide attention, and was won by the United States. The conditions of the match were as follows; Ten men on a side; the Americans to shoot at Greenville, N. J., and the Frenchmen in Paris. Results to be cabled. Each side to appoint an umpire to witness the shooting of the opposing side. Each man to shoot 30 shots on the French target at 16 meters and 30 shots on the Standard American target at 50 yards.

Following are the complete scores of the members of both teams on the two targets:

French Team—

		On French Target		On American Target		Grand Total
M. Dutfoy		244		253		497
Comte de Chabannes		240		250		490
M. M. Faure		241		248		489
Paul Gastinne		238		251		489
Comte Clary		247		241		488
Capt. Chauchat		243		241		484
Com. Dilschneider		236		242		478
P. Moreau		239		236		475
M. Trinité		233		239		472
M. Labbé		226		240		466
Totals		2387		2441		4828

American Team—

		On French Target		On American Target		Grand Total
J. A. Dietz		263		260		523
W. E. Petty		259		252		511
R. H. Sayre		253		251		504
B. F. Wilder		239		263		502
G. W. Waterhouse		253		246		499
L. R. Piercy		244		241		485
W. G. Hudson		222		250		472
J. B. Crabtree		225		244		469
W. A. Smith		224		240		464
A. L. A. Himmelwright		228		232		460
Totals		2410		2479		4889
Americans led by		23		38		61

The first match did not satisfy the revolver experts of France, who claimed that the French team was not national in its character, that instead of representing the whole of France it represented Paris alone. About June, 1902, it was suggested that a second international contest be held, and the French gentlemen began at once to gather material for a representative team. The army, the navy, and the revolver and pistol clubs of France united in their efforts to organize as strong a team as possible.

The conditions of the second match were the subject of considerable negotiation by correspondence and as finally agreed upon were as follows:

Fifteen men on a side. Each man to shoot 60 shots in 10 strings of 6 shots each on the Standard American Target at 50 yards. Each side to appoint two umpires to witness the shooting of their opponents. Results to be cabled.

The American marksmen assembled at the Walnut Hill range of the Massachusetts Rifle Association, near Boston, devoting three days to preliminary practice shooting and selecting the team. It was originally agreed upon that the match was to take place on June 30, 1903, and the American team shot their scores on that day. Owing to delays in transportation, the targets intended for the French team did not reach them promptly and their side of the match was shot several days later. The members constituting the teams and their respective scores are as follows: