He was only 19 years old. The barrels were given a blued or browned finish to reduce glare. 1.5 oz. 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. 2023 Rock Island Auction Company. Robert Wogdon, a gunmaker most famous for his dueling pistols, partnered with John Barton late in his career. Pair of Wogdon & Barton Flintlock Dueling Pistols (AH6322), 7626 Westheimer @ Voss, Houston, Texas 77063. 283, sold to MMA). Starting in 1795 to 1803, he operated with a partner, John Barton, as Wogdon & Barton so this pistol is 1795 or earlier. Forging damascus steel barrels the rarest of skills, The Fields bucket list for a sporting year, Seasons greetings a love letter to postage stamps. Stoney Bowes, not one to give up easily, appealed against Marys divorce suit but Mary eventually gained her freedom. The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. Like most of the earlier English dueling pistols, this pair has a lighter build. 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]. The 9 5/8"" octagon 64 caliber swamped smooth bore barrel has a fair bore with pitting. The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. The stock on gun 2 is fine with no cracks or chips and the dents and dings expected of light to moderate use. John OSullivan and De Witt Bailey chart the life and work of the gunmaker known for his duelling pistols in their new book, Robert Wogdon, Wogdon & Barton, John Barton, London Gunmakers 1764-1819. Purpose-built duelling pistols have various improvements to make them more reliable and accurate. Guns International #: 102054289 Seller's Inventory #: AH6306. Lot 1275: Cased Pair of Griffin & Tow flintlock dueling pistols circa 1780. One of a pair of silver-mounted duelling pistols, the earliest Wogdon set with silver by Michael Barnett, registered on 29 June 1781. [7] The name Wogden in particular became associated with duelling pistols, to the extent that a duel was sometimes referred to by lawyers as a "Wogden Case". An Irish duelling pistol, dated 1774, a collectors term for a gun where the barrel is longer than 10in, with a short, straight butt. Compounds and Solutions for Metals. The circumstances of the duel began when the Duke of York let it be known, that Colonel Lennox had heard words spoken to him at Daubignys [a gentlemans club] to which no gentleman ought to have submitted. Upon the signal, they could advance towards one another and choose when to fire. "Loan Exhibition of European Arms and Armor," August 3September 27, 1931, no. 14.75"". [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 part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes. 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. They, and the cocks, have raised decorative edges. (36.9 g); bullet mould (d): L. 4 13/16 (12.2 cm); Cal. 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. 0.00. (17.1 cm); Wt. Its the story of a, In 1873, two of America's greatest gunmakers would unveil the defining arms of the era. Read British gunmakers of the 21st century for more about the companies continuing a long tradition. Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel. 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. Tragically, on 21 November 1801, Churchs Wogdon pistols were used in a duel between Hamiltons eldest son, Philip, and George Eaker, a Jefferson supporter who had publicly made insulting remarks about Alexander Hamilton. Materials. Ref: 582. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. Such alterations would have taken place at some time after it left Wogdons shop. Wogdon retired in 1803 and died in 1813. Of course if you could hit your opponent first, you might not have to be fired upon at all. 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. No details as to the pistol used by the Duke of York have so far been found. 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. Mechanically fine. 1.5 oz. A 28-Bore Flintlock Duelling PistolBy Wogdon & Barton, London, Circa 1800. He is recorded as 'Gunmaker, at Mr. Maw's Haberdasher, Cockspur St., Charing Cross' in 1764. (1726.5 g). 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). This article about a company of the UK is a stub. Two pairs of pistols allowed for a second exchange of shots if both missed and the challenger of the duel was intent on continuing. These were break action, single-shot weapons that were fitted with a shield in front of the trigger, to protect the hand holding the pistol. Copyright 2023 All rights reserved. Mary had already filed for divorce, unheard of in 18th-century England, and this only added to her notoriety. Died aged 79. [Note 3], Most English pistols had smooth bores, though some had scratch rifling, a subtle form of rifling which was difficult to see with the naked eye. [6], Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh. [5], As duels were generally fought at short distances which were paced out, typically 35 to 45 feet (11 to 14m),[6] between stationary opponents, extreme accuracy was not required. At first glance, the surviving pistol is not immediately recognisable as the work of Robert Wogdon. 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. 15". 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. When facing down a, The birth of the legendary Barrett M82 sniper rifle, is a fascinating American tale of inspiration, dedication, and innovation. Mechanically fine. Compounds and Solutions for Wood. He was dead within thirty-six hours. 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. His Royal Highness replied he should say nothing, after which all parties left the ground. Burr was charged with murder but the case never reached trial. [3], In continental Europe, the use of smooth-bored pistols was considered cowardly, and rifled pistols were the norm. Despite duelling being always regarded as illegal, in practice it was widely tolerated by both the juries and the sentencing judges. 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. Burr was unharmed but stood in shock before being rushed away from the scene as was customary. 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 guns had several special features, including heavy brass forends for steadier aim and both front and rear sights for a more accurate shot. The seconds turned their backs, so they could deny being credible witnesses to what transpired should they be drawn into court. 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. Its long barrel, measuring nearly twelve inches in length, indicates its intended use for targets. Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh, "Flintlock Target Pistol of Prince William Frederick, Second Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (17761834), with Case and Accessories", "Robert Wogdon, Gunmaker, London (1737-1813)", "The Pistols of Robert Wogdon | Andrea Penrose Author", "The Little-Known Story of the Gun That Killed Alexander Hamilton", Information on Wogdon and his grave in Layston Church, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wogdon_%26_Barton&oldid=1131084818, This page was last edited on 2 January 2023, at 13:34. This rare public showing marked the first time these pistols have been displayed in Washington, D.C. Both parties presented and fired in succession. Wogdon made the pistols used in the infamous BurrHamilton duel, which were later claimed to have concealed "hair triggers" (also known as set triggers). He died on September 14, 1836, a poor and broken man, on the same day that the divorce was finalized. The Duke did not return fire. From about 1770 onwards, gunsmiths were producing pistols expressly made for duelling.[2]. 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. Committed to designing and building . This supremely elegant target pistol is among their most accomplished work. He died in 1813, and by that time hundreds of men are believed to have been injured or killed by his pistols in duels. Robert Wogdon and John Barton operated at 14 Haymarket, London, from 1795 to 1803. [3] Other features were saw handles, platinum-lined touch-holes and hair triggers. Lot 3247: A very desirable cased pair of Wogdon & Barton flintlock dueling pistols from circa 1795-1803. Holster pistols, or horse pistols were used on horseback and carried in pairs in a leather holster slung across a horse's saddle. The barrels are marked Wogdon & Barton London in script on the top flat. The breech plug tangs, butt caps, and trigger guards have decorative engraving. This nice single dueling flintlock pistol by a very well known maker is ready for your English flintlock pistol collection. Design [ edit] Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded. 1.3 oz. Graceful yet practical and perfectly balanced in the hand, they privilege overall formal quality and flawless mechanical work over applied adornments. His father told him to fire to miss, known as deloping, rather than take a mans life. 15"". While that is the origin, people clearly had misgivings about whether God would come to their aid in a duel both back in the Middle Ages and in the early modern era. See "A." While other well-known English gunmakers such as Joseph Manton manufactured fine dueling pistols, Wogdon specialized in them. 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 engraving on the escutcheon merits further research. [3] Spurs on the trigger guards began appearing after around 1805 to provide a rest for the middle finger to improve the shooter's grip. Robert Wogden was one of the preeminent gunsmiths of his era. Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. 20002023 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. [12], Pairs of duelling pistols can be easily confused with holster pistols and travelling pistols. With John Barton traded as Wogdon & Barton, from 1795, succeeded by Barton, 1803. On 13 January 1777 at the Adelphi Tavern and Coffeehouse, Bate was accosted by Stoney and the duel proceeded without any witnesses. 4.8 oz. One could be excused for not recognising the pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel as having been made by the famous Wogdon. Wogdon retired in 1803 and died in 1813. The barrels are marked Wogdon & Barton London in script on the top flat. 2023 Rock Island Auction Company. The overall length is approx. 3 lb. In 1797, Alexander Hamilton's brother-in-law, John Baker Church, had obtained an exquisite pair of custom-made dueling pistols made by Wogdon. 19th September 2018. Click here for more information. 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. 0.5 oz. 1 lb. Like that pair, these pistols have "concealed" single set triggers, a standard feature of their pistols rather than a secret designed to give one duelist an advantage over the other. Until the mid-18th century, duels were typically fought with swords. The usual duelling distance of 12 paces was measured out and it was agreed that both parties would fire at the given signal. While the design looks a bit odd, the author has found most sawhandle pistols point very naturally. In 1801, young Philip Hamilton, son of founding father Alexander Hamilton, and his friend and theater manager Stephen Price challenged New York City attorney George Eacker to a duel after confronting Eacker about a Independence Day speech he had given critical of Alexander Hamilton. 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. As part of, Samuel Brunn (English, London, recorded 17951820), Louis Perrin (French, Paris, active 182365), James Purdey the Elder (British, London 17841863 Margate), J. C. A. Brun (French, Paris, active 184972), Louis Nicolas Auguste Flobert (French, Paris, 18191894). ANTIQUE Engraved WOGDON FLINTLOCK Dueling Pistol Pistol Maker of the Pistols Used in the BURR-HAMILTON Duel! He died the following day. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. They have small blade front and fixed notch rear sights. 15". Thus, firing too early might make you more likely to miss and have to risk being shot at from a shorter range. 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 . Derringer Handguns For Sale :: Guns.com 2/18/2023 7 oz. 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. Famous for duelling pistols. Not surprisingly, the few duels in which Wogdons pistols were known to have been used took place between opponents who were well-known public figures. [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. 4.8 oz. 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. 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. Burrs intention seems quite clear. 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. Burr appears to have had no such qualms and had been practicing his marksmanship. 1.3 oz. Stoneys dying wish was that Mary would marry him. (44.5 cm); D. 6 3/4 in. Stoney demanded Bate reveal the author of these articles; Bate refused and Stoney challenged him to a duel as the Countess of Strathmores champion. The name of one gunmaker recurs repeatedly in tales of the most infamous duels Robert Wogdon, says John O'Sullivan and De Witt Bailey, in this edited extract from Robert Wogdon, Wogdon & Barton, John Barton, London Gunmkaers 1764-1819. 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. "The Best Damn Gunshop in the World" The name Wogdon or, as it was sometimes recorded, Wogden or Wegden, suggests its origin might have been in some long-forgotten ancient craft or trade, or the name of one of the more than 3,000 lost medieval villages, the names of which have long since disappeared from the map. 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. More has been written about this duel than any other in American history. Whether Lennox had used his Wogdons in his duel with Swift is not known. Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. To this day, debate still rages as to whether Alexander Hamilton deliberately fired high over Burrs head to demonstrate he had no intention of shooting Burr, or whether his pistol prematurely discharged due to the set trigger before he could properly bring his pistol to bear. [2] (10 cm); Wt. By 1780, Wogdon had settled on the final form for his duelling pistols and saw no reason for any . 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. 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. Only one of the pair of pistols made by Robert Wogdon that were used in this duel has survived, and is on permanent exhibition at the Museum of London; it presumably belonged to Colonel Lennox. When it came down to staring down an opponent, many men put their trust in gunmakers like Robert Wogdon rather than divine intervention. More Info. Hamilton languished until 2 p.m. on July 12, 1804. There are currently no customer product questions on this lot. Original Tools. SUBSCRIBE today for our lowest ever deal, SIX ISSUES for JUST 6 by clicking on THIS link. Gunmakers to Bow St. Police, 1801-3. 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. All the metal has a smooth gray-brown patina. He returned shortly before the War of 1812. The Wogdon pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel belonged to Hamiltons brother-in-law, Colonel John Barker Church. Other Materials. Click Photo to Enlarge Guns International #: 101363115 Seller's Inventory #: 190413 Category Antique Pistols - Flintlock Handguns - European Pistols Seller's Information On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. (36.9 g); bullet mould (d): L. 4 13/16 (12.2 cm); Cal. Poem, Stanzas on Duelling, by an Irish Volunteer, 1783, began Hail Wogden, Patron of that Leaden death. 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. Burr was never tried for Hamiltons death, but rather than revive his political career, the duel was its death knell. Undoubtedly the most famous duel with Wogdon pistols, and certainly the most famous pistol duel in the United States, took place on 11 July 1804 at Weehawken, New Jersey, between the former Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, and the sitting Vice-President of the United States, Aaron Burr. Church himself had fought a bloodless duel with Burr a few years earlier. Haymarket, 1774-1802. 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. Finally, a published letter made reference to a particularly despicable opinion Hamilton had expressed about Burr. 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. The barrels are marked Wogdon & Barton London in script on the top flat. Mary Eleanor Bowes was the richest heiress in England at that time. In some duels, the pistols were carefully and identically loaded, and each duellist was offered his choice of the indistinguishable loaded pistols. A fine duelling pistol by one of the best makers, in good condition, Robert Wogdon was apprenticed to Edward Newton of Grantham, Lincolnshire in 1748. Wogdons guns were designed to be aimed quickly, reliably fire, and shoot true. The actions on both pistols function correctly. Spring Steel. Had Lennox refused to challenge the Duke, his reputation as an officer and a gentleman would have been irrevocably compromised. The doctors concluded that Stoneys injuries might well prove fatal. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments. 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. All the shooter has to do to set the trigger is press it forward, something readily found in examination by anyone knowledgeable with dueling pistols, and a feature I would expect the seconds to explain if one or both duelists was inexperienced. Lot 231: Cased pair of H. Bales flintlock dueling pistols. 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 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. Many of Wogdons pistols have bent barrels. Cobra Firearms is a firearm and accessory manufacturer located in Salt Lake City, UT specializing in American made derringers and handguns that are unique. 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. But you had never gained so great a name, In England had your pistols killed as few." 7626 Westheimer @ Voss, Houston, Texas 77063.
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