Robert Wogdon, a gunmaker most famous for his dueling pistols, partnered with John Barton late in his career. 0.5 oz. The barrels were given a blued or browned finish to reduce glare. Pair of Four-Barreled Turnover Percussion Pistols of Henry Pelham Fiennes Pelham-Clinton, 4th Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne (17851851), with Pair of Box-Lock Turn-Off Pocket Pistols, Case, and Accessories, Double-Barrel Breech-Loading Pinfire Shotgun, Breech-Loading Rimfire Cartridge Pistol with Case and Accessories. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/29592. The engraving on the escutcheon merits further research. 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. Pistol Kits; Chemicals and Compounds. The finest London firearms made in the classic British style of the early nineteenth century rank among the most stately and innovative in the history of gunmaking. 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. [13][Note 4], There were various forms of pistol duel. The pistols are quite unique with their saw handled butts and spurred trigger guards the design of which would have been specified by the owner. [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. Hamiltons pistol went off and struck the ground. The stock on gun 2 is fine with no cracks or chips and the dents and dings expected of light to moderate use. The Colt Single Action Army revolver and the Winchester Model. 15". For this reason, very few duels can now be confidently identified as those in which Wogdon pistols were used. Pistols with rifled barrels spin-stabilize the shot when it is fired, resulting in much improved accuracy. More Info. Price and Eacker exchanged shots multiple times the following day without injury and considered their affair settled. 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. Committed to designing and building . 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. [21], Pairs of duelling pistols were often supplied in compartmentalised wooden cases along with a powder flask, rods for cleaning and loading, spare flints, spanners and other tools, and a bullet mould. The best hunting horse. The lock, which is bright along with the cock, is marked in script ""Wogdon"". 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. (1726.5 g), Classification: Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel. 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. SUBSCRIBE today for our lowest ever deal, SIX ISSUES for JUST 6 by clicking on THIS link. When his second wife divorced him in 1834, Alexander Hamilton Jr. served as her lawyer. 20002023 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Whatever the eventual outcome, it was the expected duty of both the parties seconds to record faithfully all details of the duel, from the original insult, the issuing of the challenge to the eventual outcome. Colonel Lennox would have faced a real dilemma over this incident. The barrels are marked Wogdon & Barton London in script on the top flat. The locks are signed "Wogdon/&/Barton" and have frizzen rollers, sliding half-cock safeties, and stepped tails. Hamilton had opposed Burrs political campaigns since the 1790s, and letters were published indicating Hamilton at a dinner expressed his opposition to Burr politically, called him a dangerous man, and held a still more despicable opinion of Burr. This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. In the late 18th century and early 19th century in Europe as well as America, if a gentleman, or in rare cases a lady, or someone close to them faced an insult, they were expected to demand a proper apology or satisfaction., To refuse or decline a challenge risked their reputation and being posted as a poltroon (an utter coward). Cobra Firearms is a firearm and accessory manufacturer located in Salt Lake City, UT specializing in American made derringers and handguns that are unique. Price: 28,500 Maker: Robert Wogdon Date: circa 1780 Each Pistol with 10 inch browned swamped octagonal barrel signed along the top flat, engraved with a transverse band of beadwork at the rear of the breech and with silver fore sight, case-hardened foliate engraved tang decorated with a band of beadwork in front of the rear sight . Many of Wogdons pistols have bent barrels. One of the most common varieties was having a set number of paces walked off and the positions marked in advance. The name Robert Wogdon is one that appears frequently in tales of the most infamous duels. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments. There's a lot going on in this escutcheon! [1] The name Wogdon became synonymous with dueling, to the extent that duels in England were sometimes referred to as "a Wogdon affair". Impact also services the needs of law enforcement and military with our wide variety of tactical weapons and . They, and the cocks, have raised decorative edges. Tools for metal. Nonetheless, smoothbore dueling pistols, generally around 28 bore (.54 caliber), were the weapons of choice by the late 18th century. The Met Collection API is where all makers, creators, researchers, and dreamers can now connect to the most up-to-date data and images for more than 470,000 artworks in The Met collection. An aesthetic vocabulary of blued, case-hardened, and browned steel and richly finished walnut, both with tasteful gold and silver accents, defines much of their best work. [2] Burrs intention seems quite clear. If either party was injured at all, the seconds were generally expected to work to declare the duel was over. As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes. This is a very nice pair of dueling pistols by a well-known maker of quality flintlock pistols. The Mantons, Griffin & Tow, H.W. This is famously represented in the book and film The Last Duel. This was a legal proceeding in which a persons guilt or innocence was determined by the outcome of a fight. 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. Robert Wogdon and John Barton operated at 14 Haymarket, London, from 1795 to 1803. Died aged 79. The 10"" swamped at the muzzle octagon 67 caliber smooth bore barrels have good bores with light roughness. Like most of the earlier English dueling pistols, this pair has a lighter build. At a meeting three days later of officers of the Coldstream Guards to deliberate on whether Colonel Lennox had behaved as became an officer and gentleman, the officers resolved: It is the opinion of the Coldstream Regiment that Colonel Lennox had behaved with courage but from the peculiar difficulty of his case, not with judgement. Soon afterwards Colonel Lennox resigned his commission in the Duke of Yorks regiment. 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. With John Barton, traded Wogdon & Barton from 1795, succeeded by Barton, 1803. Use your arrow keys to navigate the tabs below, and your tab key to choose an item, Title: (6.7 cm); W. 17 1/2 in. [Note 2] Injuries from such bullets, coupled with the primitive state of emergency medicine at the time when duels were commonplace, meant that pistol duels frequently resulted in fatalities, often some hours or days afterwards. (3.8 cm); Wt. 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. 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. Famous for duelling pistols. 2023 Rock Island Auction Company. He then fled to Europe where he continued to conspire to steal land in the West. 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! They are immediately recognizable by their elegant proportions, restrained ornament, and technical refinement. 1 lb. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. Their "saw handle" stocks are one of just many designs English gunmakers experimented with in their efforts to create deadly accurate dueling pistols. The 9 5/8"" octagon 64 caliber swamped smooth bore barrel has a fair bore with pitting. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. (17.1 cm); Wt. 37.154.3ag. (6.7 cm); W. 17 1/2 in. By candlelight it was obvious that Stoney had been seriously injured with three stab wounds to the chest. While other well-known English gunmakers such as Joseph Manton manufactured fine dueling pistols, Wogdon specialized in them. Instead, the duelists should fire quickly. The sliding-safety locks are marked in script "Wogdon" over "&" over "Barton". [2] The name Wogdon became synonymous with dueling, to the extent that duels in England were sometimes referred to as "a Wogdon affair". 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.. This resulted in the death of a Member of Parliament, An account of an 1825 duel in Paris between two Irishmen states that one brought his pair of English, "Pair of Flintlock Duelling Pistols ca. Mary Eleanor Bowes was the richest heiress in England at that time. (41 cm); L. of barrel 11 15/16 in. Free ground shipping on all US Online Orders over $100! Mortimer & Son dueling pistols was presented by the Prince Regent to Spanish rebel Francisco Sayus in 1811 and was later owned by Confederate Secretary of the Navy Stephen R. Mallory. Flintlock Target Pistol of Prince William Frederick, Second Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (17761834), with Case and Accessories, Gunsmith: (17.1 cm); Wt. They have small blade front and fixed notch rear sights. Despite duelling being always regarded as illegal, in practice it was widely tolerated by both the juries and the sentencing judges. [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. As you can see, hitting a man-sized target with a muzzleloading pistol wouldnt have been particularly difficult. The barrels have a decorative band around the breech end. Both sets of pistols have single set triggers. He was, at his death, described by his long-term friend, surgeon Jesse Foot, who had attended his duelling injuries 33 years earlier, as a villain to the backbone cowardly, insidious, hypocritical, tyrannic, mean, violent, selfish, jealous, revengeful, inhuman and savage without a counterveiling quality. After one man had fired, the other could fire within the remaining allotted time. That may have been one option, but it doesnt appear to have been common. Hosted and Maintained by TwoPointZero IT. 12.9 oz. (36.9 g); bullet mould (d): L. 4 13/16 (12.2 cm); Cal. The guns had several special features, including heavy brass forends for steadier aim and both front and rear sights for a more accurate shot. 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. .38 in. (44.5 cm); D. 6 3/4 in. 14.75". 344. He is recorded as 'Gunmaker, at Mr. Maw's Haberdasher, Cockspur St., Charing Cross' in 1764. Materials. Whatever its origin, the name Wogdon certainly has a funereal ring to it, and very appropriate for the gunmaker whose duelling pistols were to send many men to their premature deaths. All the metal has a smooth gray-brown patina. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. Lot 3247: A very desirable cased pair of Wogdon & Barton flintlock dueling pistols from circa 1795-1803. A duelling pistol is a type of pistol that was manufactured in matching pairs to be used in a duel, when duels were customary. This time by his father and Vice President Aaron Burr. (10.5 cm); Wt. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Burrs shot had struck him in the ribs and caused serious damage to his organs and left him paralyzed. Patron of that Leaden death!" 4.8 oz. More Info. E ach pistol with 10 inch rebrowned sighted octagonal barrel inscribed 'Wogdon & Barton London' on the top flat, gold lined touch hole, foliate engraved tang incorporating the rear sight, flat bevel edged signed lock with stepped tail and sliding safety, set trigger, figured walnut full stock, swelling flat sided butt, engraved iron furniture Wogdon had apprenticed to the Irish gunmaker Edward Norton in Lincolnshire. Lot 1275: Cased Pair of Griffin & Tow flintlock dueling pistols circa 1780. Research suggests the attribution is spurious, though the quality is superb. Dueling pistol makers continued to innovate through the end of the flintlock era and into the percussion era. (42.5 g); screwdriver (e): L. 3 15/16 in. 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. A Rifled Pocket Pistol by Smith. Patron of that Leaden death!" The trigger guard finial is an engraved acorn. 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. The pistols used in the Hamilton=Burr duel, which belonged to Hamiltons brother-in-law. 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. 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. Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. The custom fitted case has a later three-compartment powder flasks, balls, and an original section from the ramrod of gun "A." SOLD. Given both men had time to take deliberate aim, neither may walk away unscathed, and the chance of death was high. Of course if you could hit your opponent first, you might not have to be fired upon at all. Much to everyones surprise, following the wedding Stoney made a rapid and complete recovery. 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. The barrels have a decorative band around the breech end. The hooks or spurs on the trigger guard can be used with your middle finger to help steady the pistol. The butt cap and trigger guard are polished bright. As the distance closed they could fire at will. The sliding-safety locks are marked in script ""Wogdon"" over ""&"" over ""Barton"". Click here for more information. [3] Other features were saw handles, platinum-lined touch-holes and hair triggers. It has an iron blade front sight and standing notch rear sight (these were often used as target pistols) at the breech tang and a gold lined vert. As the challenged party, Hamilton selected Churchs pistols as the weapons. "Loan Exhibition of European Arms and Armor," August 3September 27, 1931, no. More has been written about this duel than any other in American history. Had Lennox refused to challenge the Duke, his reputation as an officer and a gentleman would have been irrevocably compromised. (42.5 g); screwdriver (e): L. 3 15/16 in. Compounds and Solutions for Wood. 1834); Theodore Offerman, New York (until d. 1937; his estate sale, American Art Association-Anderson Galleries, Inc., New York, November 1113, 1937, no. Original Tools. The victor is presumed to be the just party in the case because the divine would have chosen the winner. This nice single dueling flintlock pistol by a very well known maker is ready for your English flintlock pistol collection. 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. As a result, duelling pistols with rifled barrels were considered unsporting by many, although there was no unfairness so long as the pistols were identical. 0.00. Copyright 2023 All rights reserved. A Scarce Double Barrel Pocket Pistol . He died on September 14, 1836, a poor and broken man, on the same day that the divorce was finalized. [7] The bullets loaded in them could weigh 214 grains (0.49 ounces; 13.9 grams) in .52 caliber, or more in larger calibers. Wogdon was partnered with John Barton at 14 Haymarket Street in London in 1795-1803. Firearms-Pistols-Flintlock, Credit Line: 14.75"". Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. The brown damascus style finish is visible in several areas along with scattered dents and manufacturing defects. Starting in 1795 to 1803, he operated with a partner, John Barton, as Wogdon & Barton so this pistol is 1795 or earlier. [3], Duelling pistols had long barrels - typically around 10in (250mm) and fired large, heavy bullets. Browse SCHEELS selection of handguns and pistols featuring top brands like Glock, SIG, Smith & Wesson, & more. His total production of duelling pistols over the 39 years that he was a gunmaker is unknown. Bentham concluded that Burr was little better than a murderer. Desirable Cased Pair of Engraved Wogdon & Barton Flintlock Dueling Pistols Auction Date: August 28, 2022 Estimated Price: $ 6,500 - $ 9,500 Price Realized: Details A) Wogdon & Barton Dueling Pistol Manufacturer: English Model: Flintlock Pistol Type: Pistol Gauge: 54 Barrel: 10 inch octagon Finish: brown/casehardened/blue Grip: Stock: walnut At first glance, the surviving pistol is not immediately recognisable as the work of Robert Wogdon. 181520", "THE TAMING OF THE DUEL: MASCULINITY, HONOUR AND RITUAL VIOLENCE IN LONDON, 16601800", "www.exetermemories.co.uk/EM/_events/last_duel.php", "Material Culture and Military History: Test-Firing Early Modern Small Arms", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Duelling_pistol&oldid=1132214902, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 7 January 2023, at 20:30. The Duke had earlier indicated to Colonel Lennox that he wished to desire no protection from his rank. One particularly deadly option for a serious dispute was to have both men stand a set number of paces apart, cock and raise their pistols upon command, take aim at another command, and then fire simultaneously upon the final command. 0.00. Mechanically fine. Standard flintlock pistols can have a noticeable delay between pulling the trigger and actually firing the bullet unless precisely tuned. The whereabouts of the second Wogdon pistol are unknown. A PAIR OF FLINTLOCK DUELLING PISTOLS BY WOGDON & BARTON, LONDON, CIRCA 1800 With octagonal signed barrels each retaining much original browned finish to the underside, gold-lined touch-holes, deeply scroll engraved tangs, signed flat bevelled bolted locks each with roller, gold-lined priming-pan and some original faded case-hardened finish, set triggers, figured walnut full stocks, engraved . The Most Famous Set of Dueling Pistols - Wogdon & Barton Until the building's demolition in 2019, you could view the most famous set of dueling pistols in history on display at the former JPMorgan Chase Tower, at 270 Park Avenue, NY, New York. 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. The top center of the oval has what appears to be some kind of bird figure and a sword. Two discarded Wogdon pistols were discovered. The 9 5/8"" octagon 64 caliber swamped smooth bore barrel has a fair bore with pitting. Finally, a published letter made reference to a particularly despicable opinion Hamilton had expressed about Burr. Lennox replied that he could not consider His Royal Highness as any other than the son of his King. Literature: For similar examples see Robert Wogdon, Wogdon & Barton, John Barton by John OSullivan & De Witt Bailey pp 180 185. The Mantons, Griffin & Tow, H.W. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. This supremely elegant target pistol is among their most accomplished work. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. Alternatively, the duelists might exchange shots in turn instead of firing at the same time as was the case in the Laurens-Grimk duel in 1775. Wogdon had apprenticed to the Irish gunmaker Edward Norton in Lincolnshire. He left no records and never used serial numbers on his guns. 1 lb. Collectors Firearms, LLC. He was dead within thirty-six hours. Flintlock Target Pistol of Prince William Frederick, Second Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (17761834), with Case and Accessories, Wogdon & Barton (British, London 17951803), John Barton (British, recorded 17951819), 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, Pistol (a): L. 16 1/8 in. Her promiscuous behaviour was well known and a series of anonymous, scurrilous articles with barely veiled references to her appeared in Reverend Bates Morning Post. 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. Holster pistols, or horse pistols were used on horseback and carried in pairs in a leather holster slung across a horse's saddle. 7 oz. He was only 19 years old. Purpose-built duelling pistols have various improvements to make them more reliable and accurate. [12], It is often stated that duelling pistols came in identical pairs to put each duellist on an equal footing. 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. The breech plug tangs, butt caps, and trigger guards have decorative engraving. Poem, Stanzas on Duelling, by an Irish Volunteer, 1783, began Hail Wogden, Patron of that Leaden death. All the metal has a smooth gray-brown patina. Starting in 1795 to 1803, he operated with a partner, John Barton, as Wogdon & Barton so this pistol is 1795 or earlier. Estimated at $7,500-$12,000, these dueling pistols are beautiful, rare, and historically significant. SOLD. [3], In continental Europe, the use of smooth-bored pistols was considered cowardly, and rifled pistols were the norm. Both parties presented and fired in succession. Pair of Wogdon & Barton Flintlock Dueling Pistols (AH6322), 7626 Westheimer @ Voss, Houston, Texas 77063. [2] The name Wogdon became synonymous with dueling, to the extent that duels in England were sometimes referred to as "a Wogdon affair". (9.6 mm); Wt. 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. 14.75"". Great Britain and Ireland, 1600-1800 A.D. He died in 1813, and by that time hundreds of men are believed to have been injured or killed by his pistols in duels. They go back centuries to trial by combat, also known as the judicial duel. The events leading up to the duel, the newspaper articles, the near fatal injuries Stoney had suffered, had all been a complete sham engineered by Stoney and Bate to trick Bowes into marriage, giving Stoney control over her huge fortune. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act.
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