This dueling flintlock pistol is by Robert Wogdon (1733-1813), a well-known London gunsmith from Lincolnshire who operated at Haymarket, London, from 1774 to 1802. No details as to the pistol used by the Duke of York have so far been found. The poem later references him again and notes, "This death we lay not, Wogdon to thy blame; Cullum must have his fame as well as you. 19th September 2018. These types are similar to duelling pistols in that they were muzzle-loading weapons that were sometimes expensively made and sold in matched, cased pairs with a set of accessories. The Mantons, Griffin & Tow, H.W. He died the following day. Robert Wogdon (January 1734 - 28 March 1813) died aged 79 and was buried with his wife Jane (died 15 February 1805, aged 69) in the chancel of St Bartholomew's Church, located on the outskirts of Buntingford, Hertfordshire.[6]. All the metal has a smooth gray-brown patina. This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API. 0.00. For this reason, very few duels can now be confidently identified as those in which Wogdon pistols were used. Burr was never tried for Hamiltons death, but rather than revive his political career, the duel was its death knell. These consisted of wax bullets in a cartridge without any powder charge; the bullet was propelled only by the explosion of the cartridge's primer. He died early the next morning. Its long barrel, measuring nearly twelve inches in length, indicates its intended use for targets. (44.5 cm); D. 6 3/4 in. Stoney Bowes, not one to give up easily, appealed against Marys divorce suit but Mary eventually gained her freedom. He went perilously close to putting a ball through the dukes head, grazing one of the royal curls an action which would not have improved his military career prospects. The Duke had earlier indicated to Colonel Lennox that he wished to desire no protection from his rank. Had Lennox refused to challenge the Duke, his reputation as an officer and a gentleman would have been irrevocably compromised. Hamilton was morally and religiously opposed to dueling and is widely believed to have intended to delope (throw away his shot) rather than aim at Burr. SOLD. Its long barrel, measuring nearly twelve inches in length, indicates its intended use for targets. Given the large number of cased pairs of his duelling pistols that have survived to this day, his production was significant. The top center of the oval has what appears to be some kind of bird figure and a sword. Use your arrow keys to navigate the tabs below, and your tab key to choose an item, Title: Starting in 1795 to 1803, he operated with a partner, John Barton, as Wogdon & Barton so this pistol is 1795 or earlier. Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr. More Info. Although their purpose was combat or self-defense, holster pistols were used on occasion to fight duels. One of the most common varieties was having a set number of paces walked off and the positions marked in advance. From about 1770 onwards, gunsmiths were producing pistols expressly made for duelling.[2]. The trigger guard finial is an engraved acorn. His pistols were so well known that "Stanzas on Duelling Inscribed to Wogdon, the Celebrated Pistol-Maker" from 1782 starts with the lines "Hail Wogdon! Instead of firing into the sky or the ground, aiming for a near miss would show seriousness and would appear to any witnesses to have been a legitimate attempt but avoid taking a life. The Mantons, Griffin & Tow, H.W. Often the duelists would each select one pistol from a cased pair, but in some duels they would each use one of their own, and if a second round of fire was demanded they could use the other. Reliability was important because if a duellist's pistol failed to fire, he was considered to have taken his shot and was not permitted to re-cock the pistol and try shooting again. Lock plates engraved Wogdon & Barton, having push-on half-cock safeties, semi-rain proof pans, and roller frizzen springs (one spring repaired). His total production of duelling pistols over the 39 years that he was a gunmaker is unknown. Graceful yet practical and perfectly balanced in the hand, they privilege overall formal quality and flawless mechanical work over applied adornments. For example, when the Duke of York was challenged by his nephew Charles Lennox when they were serving in the Coldstream Guards, Lennoxs Wogdon pistols from 12 paces at Wimbledon Common was chosen, and they were to fire upon the signal. A duelling pistol is a type of pistol that was manufactured in matching pairs to be used in a duel, when duels were customary. By 1780, Wogdon had settled on the final form for his duelling pistols and saw no reason for any . Taking deliberate aim, was considered vicious and discouraged. Churchs pair supposedly had concealed set triggers, but in reality, set triggers were a standard feature of these pistols rather than a secret designed to give one duelist an advantage over the other, and that pair simply did not have a visible adjustment screw. 3 lb. (41 cm); L. of barrel 11 15/16 in. Robert Wogdon (British, 17341813), Gunsmith: Some say Hamilton threw away his shot on purpose as he had declared he intended to do privately and then Burr fired, while others suggest Hamilton fired reflexively after being shot. Two shots are believed to have rung out almost simultaneously. A major source of income for Robert Wogdon was the production of duelling pistols, though perhaps significantly he never referred in his invoices to his pistols as being duelling pistols, but were rather a neat pair or brace. In some instances multiple rounds were fired without injury. The plain stepped locks are simply engraved Wogdon, with a plain narrow safety catch. One could be excused for not recognising the pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel as having been made by the famous Wogdon. Thus, firing too early might make you more likely to miss and have to risk being shot at from a shorter range. [3][4] Wogdon formed a partnership in 1794 with John Barton, after which their pistols were signed Wogdon and Barton. This nice single dueling flintlock pistol by a very well known maker is ready for your English flintlock pistol collection. Lot 1278: Cased pair of Walter Adams percussion dueling pistols. SOLD. [2] Exactly what happened next has been debated and veiled in mystery ever since. Wogdon retired in 1803 and died in 1813. Gunmaker John Rigby indicated this was done by Wogdon to try to remedy the fact that duelists often fired high and missed their mark, but in reality bending the bore down would not have helped, and shooting high could have been more easily remedied by different height sights. Stoney Bowes was to spend the remaining 22 years of his life as a prisoner, his mounting debts still unpaid, and still pursuing yet more legal avenues to regain control of Marys fortune. Robert Wogdon made many and varied firearms - pocket and livery pistols, double-barrelled pistols, sporting guns and rifles, carbines and blunderbusses - but he was most renowned for his duelling pistols. A 28-Bore Flintlock Duelling PistolBy Wogdon & Barton, London, Circa 1800. Remarkable design and engineering continues to mark out the British gun trade. The custom fitted case has a later three-compartment powder flasks, balls, and an original section from the ramrod of gun "A." Committed to designing and building . Gunmakers to Bow St. Police, 1801-3. Wogdon made the pistols used in the infamous BurrHamilton duel, which were later claimed to have concealed "hair triggers" (also known as set triggers). The poem alludes to fate but suggests a duelists destiny lay in Wogdons hand. The breech plug tangs, butt caps, and trigger guards have decorative engraving. Two Engraved English Flintlock Pistols -A) Desirable Wogdon & Barton Dueling PistolWogdon dueling pistols are among the most historical and were used in the most famous of all American duels: the Burr-Hamilton affair. Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel. This is an edited extract from Robert Wogdon, Wogdon & Barton, John Barton, London Gunmakers 1764-1819, price 75, published by Bonhams. "Pair of Wogdon & Barton Flintlock Dueling Pistols (AH6322)" for sale online. (17.1 cm); Wt. Stoneys dying wish was that Mary would marry him. The refinished stock is also very good and has some dings and worn spots in the otherwise distinct checkering, some faint hairline cracks and repairs in the forend, hammering marks on the butt, and general dings and scratches throughout. Special care was taken when moulding the lead bullets to ensure that there were no voids which would affect accuracy. 283, sold to MMA). Ref: 582. 0.5 oz. If the matter could not be resolved through formal correspondence, the conflict would most commonly be settled with a formal exchange of shots from proper dueling pistols: a Wogdon affair.. Hamilton did not elaborate but indicated his remarks were political, not personal, which would imply that Burrs honor had not been drawn into question. Famous for duelling pistols. [4], All component parts were manufactured, hand-finished and then adjusted with great care and precision, which made duelling pistols much more costly than standard firearms of the period. 14.75"". RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. He was only 19 years old. Cased Pair of John Blissett & Son Percussion Dueling Pistols: Lot 332 Four British Prime Ministers have engaged in duels throughout history. However, there is rarely any information as to the type, ownership or maker of the pistols used. A fine pair of flintlock duelling pistols by the master makers Wogdon and Barton of London, are coming up for auction in the Militaria & Ethnographica Sale at Tennants Auctioneers on 5 th October with an estimate of 14,000 - 18,000 plus buyer's premium. When his second wife divorced him in 1834, Alexander Hamilton Jr. served as her lawyer. The butt cap and trigger guard are polished bright. The doctors concluded that Stoneys injuries might well prove fatal. (22.7 g); glass bottle (f): H. 1 1/2 in. Hamilton received a .54-caliber wound to the abdomen from an English-made Wogdon & Barton flintlock smoothbore dueling pistol. Colonel Lennox and the Duke, accompanied by their seconds, met on Wimbledon Common on the morning of 26 May. He died on September 14, 1836, a poor and broken man, on the same day that the divorce was finalized. The barrels are marked Wogdon & Barton London in script on the top flat. Materials. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. Colonel Lennox would have faced a real dilemma over this incident. To order, please call 01666 502200 or email: subscriptions@bonhams.com, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Luxury stationery: a wonderfully sensuous experience. From about 1790 firearms were generally fitted with mahogany cases, whose interiors were lined with green baize (woolen cloth) and subdivided into discrete compartments for the weapon, tools, and accessories. His total production of duelling pistols over the 39 years that he was a gunmaker is unknown. Collectors Firearms, LLC. The poem later references him again and notes, "This death we lay not, Wogdon to thy blame; Cullum must have his fame as well as you. The 10"" swamped at the muzzle octagon 67 caliber smooth bore barrels have good bores with light roughness. Often if one duelist had not fired around the same time, they would not even return fire unless they were seriously at odds with their opponent. Tools and Accesories. Wogdon's duelling pistols were fitted with set triggers as a standard feature, so they cannot be regarded as "secret" devices that other duellists of the era would be completely unaware of. This is a very nice pair of dueling pistols by a well-known maker of quality flintlock pistols. [3][4] Wogdon formed a partnership in 1794 with John Barton, after which their pistols were signed Wogdon and Barton. Gunsmith John Barton British. Interestingly these pistols look identical to the pistols used in the Burr-Hamilton duel of 1804, including the 'concealed hair triggers' Description The barrels which are gently swamped to the muzzle, are 10.25 octagonal, sighted, browned twist with a smooth bore size of .550. Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded. Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. Mortimer, and many other talented English gunmakers certainly manufactured incredibly fine dueling pistols and helped create new innovations in their designs over time, but Wogdon truly specialized in them. Certainly during his working life he was referred to as the celebrated Wogdon and also, he [Wogdon] is a famous man for making pistols. These shots were fired at 25 yards with rapid dueling style aim rather than carefully deliberate aim. Initially standard holster or travelling pistols were mainly used, but by the end of the century special-purpose duelling pistols were being made by craftsmen in England, France, Germany, Austria, and the United States. The stock on gun 1, which is lighter than gun 2, is vey good with no cracks, a chip around the rear barrel key, a small chip at the rear trigger guard attachment pin on the right, and scattered usage dents and dings. Burrs intention seems quite clear. Cobra Derringers are beautifully handcrafted with a wide range of calibers and barrel lengths that provides versatile and reliable service for a lifetime. This time by his father and Vice President Aaron Burr. This supremely elegant target pistol is among their most accomplished work. Wogdon & Barton dueling pistols Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. The overall length is approx. Robert Wogdon, a gunmaker most famous for his dueling pistols, partnered with John Barton late in his career. The overall length is approx. 14.75"". This was a legal proceeding in which a persons guilt or innocence was determined by the outcome of a fight. Pistols with calibers of 0.45in (11mm), 0.52in (13mm), 0.58in (15mm) or even 0.65in (17mm) were common. (39.4 cm); Wt. 15". 1.3 oz. 344. Wood for Gunsmithing and restoration. Two pairs of pistols allowed for a second exchange of shots if both missed and the challenger of the duel was intent on continuing. A discussion of the poem in The Critical Review; or, Annals of Literature from 1782 notes, "The artist to whom these stanzas are inscribed is famous for his skill in making pistols, whose aim is remarkably true" and notes the lines, "No one can tell how short he shall remain, If honour calls and Wogdon bids him die" as among the best in the poem. The stock is very good with the typical flat sided Wogdon style grips, two fastening wedges, no cracks or chips (except a small chip at the forward lock screw), and the wear expected of a 225 plus year old flintlock pistol. Many later pistols have heavier barrels and half-stocks while the early pistols are lighter and full-stocked. Mechanically fine. Robert Wogdon & John Barton Gunmakers, 14 Haymarket, 1795-1803. 0.00. Lot 231: Cased pair of H. Bales flintlock dueling pistols. He returned shortly before the War of 1812. Original Tools. The seven days having expired and no club member recollecting to have heard such words, Colonel Lennox felt justified in concluding that they were never uttered. Of course if you could hit your opponent first, you might not have to be fired upon at all. 15"". [15] The rules of the "French method" of duelling required the duellists to begin back-to-back, walk a set number of paces before turning and firing. (1219 g); powder flask (b): H. 4 1/8 in. The Burr and Hamilton Duel at Weehawken, New Jersey, July 11, 1804 Duelling pistols are often single-shot flintlock or percussion black-powder pistols which fire a lead ball. Stoney demanded Bate reveal the author of these articles; Bate refused and Stoney challenged him to a duel as the Countess of Strathmores champion. Pistol dueling was an associate (non-medal) event at the 1906 and 1908 Olympic games (see Olympic dueling). Robert Wogdon manufactured the pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel, the most famous duel in American history. Wogdon had apprenticed to the Irish gunmaker Edward Norton in Lincolnshire. Threading and drilling tooling. [16][17] The famous fictional duel between Pierre and Dolokhov in the novel War and Peace was of this kind. Other Materials. A discussion of the poem in "The Critical Review; or, Annals of Literature" from 1782 notes, "The artist to whom these stanzas are inscribed is famous for his skill in making pistols, whose aim is remarkably true" and notes the lines "No one can tell how short he shall remain, If honour calls and Wogdon bids him die" as among the best in the poem. The guns had several special features, including heavy brass forends for steadier aim and both front and rear sights for a more accurate shot. Swords or dueling pistols were standard, but rifles and other firearms were also used in rarer instances, and, in theory, duels could be fought with any agreed upon weapons under just about any terms, even in hot air balloons with blunderbusses over Paris. [5] These gave the person using them an advantage over their opponent by reducing the amount of finger pressure required to fire the pistol, which greatly increased accuracy of the shot. One of a pair of silver-mounted duelling pistols, hallmarked 1776, with the first recorded use of the helmet and falchion side-plate. Price and Eacker exchanged shots multiple times the following day without injury and considered their affair settled. "Loan Exhibition of European Arms and Armor," August 3September 27, 1931, no. 0.00. Lennox replied that he could not consider His Royal Highness as any other than the son of his King. Look at any Wogdon duelling pistol, be it one from his early production years in the mid-1770s or one made towards the end of his career when in partnership with John Barton in the early 1800s, and they all have that unmistakable Wogdon style. They resulted in the deaths of two men from an illustrious American family just a few years apart. They are immediately recognizable by their elegant proportions, restrained ornament, and technical refinement. Burr was unharmed but stood in shock before being rushed away from the scene as was customary. Flints. He died in 1813, and by that time hundreds of men are believed to have been injured or killed by his pistols in duels. 1.5 oz. (1219 g); powder flask (b): H. 4 1/8 in. He formally called upon the Duke either to give up the name of his false informant or afford him satisfaction. The Duke did not return fire. The duel took place at exactly the same place where Philips father was to meet Aaron Burr three years later. (30.3 cm); Cal. When Charles Lee and John Laurens dueled during the American Revolution, they each brought a pair. The barrels are marked Wogdon & Barton London in script on the top flat. Once one man fired, he was generally expected to stand at that spot and await his opponents shot within the remaining time and before crossing the barrier. It also breaks from the longstanding tradition of decorative opulence in fine Continental European firearms.London gunmakers favored subtle embellishments that complemented the firearms deliberate and meticulous assemblies. Pistol: wood (walnut), steel, gold, brass, horn; ramrod: wood (walnut), brass, steel; case: wood (mahogany), velvet, brass; powder flask: brass, steel, leather; bullet mold: steel; screwdriver: wood (walnut), brass, steel; cleaning rod: wood (walnut), brass, steel; bottle: glass, Dimensions: Very good with more than half of the period refurbished brown, distinct Damascus patterns, and bright gold vent on the barrel; mottled silver-gray patina on the lock, gray and brown patina on the iron furniture, dark aged patina on the silver, replaced ramrod shaft, minor oxidation/pitting, and general mild wear. However, for at least twenty years before the BurrHamilton duel, English duelling pistols by all the top makers had been customarily fitted with set triggers. Click here for more information. 0.00. Churchs dueling pistols were originally similar to the Wogdon & Barton pair in our next auction but at some point had brass forends fitted to them. Steel and Brass Section, Rod and Sheet. Robert Wogdon made many and varied firearms pocket and livery pistols, double-barrelled pistols, sporting guns and rifles, carbines and blunderbusses but he was most renowned for his duelling pistols. 2023 Rock Island Auction Company. By candlelight it was obvious that Stoney had been seriously injured with three stab wounds to the chest. The best hunting horse. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. Graceful, understated, and built with fine attention to detail, it belonged to a cousin of George IV, Prince William Frederick, second Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh, whose arms are engraved on the grips gold escutcheon. Contrary to popular belief, duelling pistols were made as a cased pair, not to provide a weapon for each adversary but rather so each adversary could have a second pistol if a second shot was required. Many of Wogdons pistols have bent barrels. Wogdons guns were designed to be aimed quickly, reliably fire, and shoot true. (36.9 g); bullet mould (d): L. 4 13/16 (12.2 cm); Cal. The brown damascus style finish is visible in several areas along with scattered dents and manufacturing defects. Hosted and Maintained by TwoPointZero IT. (10 cm); Wt. Wogdon had apprenticed to the Irish gunmaker Edward Norton in Lincolnshire. The Critical Review; or, Annals of Literature, hot air balloons with blunderbusses over Paris, Duke of York was challenged by his nephew Charles Lennox. Duelling pistols have long and heavy barrels - the added weight helped steady aim and reduce recoil. The next day it was Hamiltons turn to face Eacker at ten paces. Browse SCHEELS selection of handguns and pistols featuring top brands like Glock, SIG, Smith & Wesson, & more. The pistols have smoothbore Damascus barrels with gold vent liners, dovetailed silver blade front sights, "Wogdon & Barton London" signed on top, registration markings for County Down in Ireland, engraved borders at the breech, and casehardened standing breeches with fixed notch rear sights and engraving. A Rare Pair Of 40-Bore Flintlock Overcoat Or Travelling PistolsBy Wogdon & Barton Of London, Circa 1800. The stock on gun 2 is fine with no cracks or chips and the dents and dings expected of light to moderate use. Haymarket, 1774-1802. He completed his term as Vice-President but his political career was effectively over. [18] For an eye-witness account of such a duel, see Reynolds (1839).[14]. When General Hamilton arrived, the seconds measured out the distance, 10 full paces, and cast lots for the choice of position. "The Best Damn Gunshop in the World" Gunsmith Robert Wogdon British Bentham concluded that Burr was little better than a murderer. Tools for wood. (10.5 cm); Wt. Literature: For similar examples see Robert Wogdon, Wogdon & Barton, John Barton by John OSullivan & De Witt Bailey pp 180 185. [7] For some in the eighteenth century, duelling with less-accurate, smooth-bore weapons was preferred as they viewed it as allowing the judgement of God to take a role in deciding the outcome of the encounter. Stoney was to make Marys life a nightmare, subjecting her and her children to eight years of continuing physical and mental abuse, including threats of rape and murder. Robert Wogdon (January 1734 - 28 March 1813) died aged 79 and was buried with his wife Jane (died 15 February 1805, aged 69) in the chancel of St Bartholomew's Church, located on the outskirts of Buntingford, Hertfordshire. You can safely challenge a friend to a duel with muzzleloading pistols today by using modern dueling targets that leave only bragging rights on the line. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. [3], In continental Europe, the use of smooth-bored pistols was considered cowardly, and rifled pistols were the norm. There's a lot going on in this escutcheon! A Rifled Pocket Pistol by Smith. Again, the affair began with politics. Robert Wogdon and John Barton operated at 14 Haymarket, London, from 1795 to 1803. The barrels were given a blued or browned finish to reduce glare. [11] The short range most duels took place at, combined with the accuracy of rifled pistols meant their use substantially increased the chances of a fatality during a duel. Guns International #: 102053710 Seller's Inventory #: AH6322. Lot 3247: A very desirable cased pair of Wogdon & Barton flintlock dueling pistols from circa 1795-1803.

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