Pistols from the Burr-Hamilton Duel These dueling pistols belonged to Hamilton’s brother-in-law, who had once fought a non-injury duel with Aaron Burr. Hamilton’s son Philip had borrowed them for his own fatal duel in 1799. During a cleaning in 1884, a hidden hair trigger came to light, allowing for a more rapid firing with one-twentieth the force of pull on the trigger. Hamilton gained no advantage from it. Courtesy JPMorgan Chase History Program.