The hooks or spurs on the trigger guard can be used with your middle finger to help steady the pistol. 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. Pistols - garthvincent.com Are they bred or made? Original Tools. (3.8 cm); Wt. In some situations, the duelist who had already fired was also supposed to keep advancing until the opponent had fired. The stock on gun 2 is fine with no cracks or chips and the dents and dings expected of light to moderate use. (6.7 cm); W. 17 1/2 in. There are currently no customer product questions on this lot. At the time, the Duke of York, second son of the reigning King George III, was Colonel of the Coldstream Guards, and one Charles Lennox, nephew and heir to the Duke of Richmond, was Lieutenant-Colonel of the same regiment. 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. The overall length is approx. [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 barrels are marked Wogdon & Barton London in script on the top flat. Research suggests the attribution is spurious, though the quality is superb. Whether it was in this form when used by Colonel Lennox in the 1789 duel, or still in its original full stocked form, is unknown. A Flintlock Duelling Pistol by Wogdon and Barton - Garth Vincent Each 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 including trigger guard with pineapple finial, horn tipped ramrod; contained in their original baize lined mahogany case with accessories including a leather bodied flask, flint wallet and cleaning rod, the exterior with recessed brass carrying handle. Pistols with rifled barrels spin-stabilize the shot when it is fired, resulting in much improved accuracy. 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 duel took place at exactly the same place where Philips father was to meet Aaron Burr three years later. Many later pistols have heavier barrels and half-stocks while the early pistols are lighter and full-stocked. The butt cap and trigger guard are polished bright. [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. Somewhat reluctantly, Mary agreed and four days later Stoney was carried on a stretcher down the aisle of St Jamess Church, Piccadilly, to marry Mary Elizabeth Bowes, Dowager Countess of Strathmore. The Mantons, Griffin & Tow, H.W. SOLD. 0.8 oz. Burr appears to have had no such qualms and had been practicing his marksmanship. The refinished stock is good and has some dings and worn spots in the otherwise distinct checkering, crack between the ramrod entry pipe and trigger guard finial, repair above the nose of the lock, and some scattered minor dings and scratches. 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. As the distance closed they could fire at will. In the Lee-Laurens duel mentioned above, the two men resolved to walk towards one another and fire at will and exchanged shots at just five or six paces. 283, sold to MMA). 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. Hamilton languished until 2 p.m. on July 12, 1804. Flints. Estimated at $7,500-$12,000, these dueling pistols are beautiful, rare, and historically significant. Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr. Upon the signal, they could advance towards one another and choose when to fire. 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! All rights reserved. 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. Both sets of pistols have single set triggers. 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. WOGDON & BARTON. The 10" swamped at the muzzle octagon 67 caliber smooth bore barrels have good bores with light roughness. Wogdon was partnered with John Barton at 14 Haymarket Street in London in 1795-1803. [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. Perhaps the most bizarre duel in which Wogdon pistols were used took place on 13 January 1777 between the Reverend Henry Bate and Andrew Robinson Stoney. Starting in 1795 to 1803, he operated with a partner, John Barton, as Wogdon & Barton so this pistol is 1795 or earlier. Lennox replied that he could not consider His Royal Highness as any other than the son of his King.
Wood for Gunsmithing and restoration. Although their purpose was combat or self-defense, holster pistols were used on occasion to fight duels. The barrels have a decorative band around the breech end. During his lifetime Wogdons pistols were considered to be of unsurpassed quality and reliability, to the point that they were even sold to clients in North America. Wogdon apprenticed to Edward Newton in 1748, according to Howard Blackmore in Gunmakers of London, 1350-1850. After he finished his apprenticeship, he ran his own shop and then partnered with John Barton in 1795 and retired in 1803. Burr, with his political prospects already fading, demanded an explanation of what Hamilton had said about him, and a series of notes were exchanged. Bentham concluded that Burr was little better than a murderer. 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. [12], It is often stated that duelling pistols came in identical pairs to put each duellist on an equal footing. 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). 14.75". It has an inoperative hammer safety. 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 . All the metal has a smooth gray-brown patina. The breech plug tangs, butt caps, and trigger guards have decorative engraving. 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. Wogdon retired in 1803 and died in 1813. This rare public showing marked the first time these pistols have been displayed in Washington, D.C. The 9 5/8"" octagon 64 caliber swamped smooth bore barrel has a fair bore with pitting. Both pistols have their original iron-tipped ramrods with an attached worm at the end. (10 cm); Wt. As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes. The plot was foiled, but he was acquitted. This is famously represented in the book and film The Last Duel. The brown damascus style finish is . 3 lb. The wedge and wrist escutcheons are silver, and the latter have a monogram that appears to be the initials "LD." A duelling pistol is a type of pistol that was manufactured in matching pairs to be used in a duel, when duels were customary. The various component parts of these firearms were individually produced under the direction of a master gunmaker by highly specialized craftsmen, including a lock smith, barrel forger, stocker, and engraver. The top center of the oval has what appears to be some kind of bird figure and a sword. With re-browned swamped octagonal sighted barrel (bore pitted) with crudely refreshed signature along the top flat and line of beadwork at the rear, silver fore-sight, border engraved tang with back-sight and decorated with a shell and foliage, signed detented flat . Flintlock Target Pistol of Prince William Frederick, Second Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (17761834), with Case and Accessories, Gunsmith:
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. Duelling Pistols | Unique Arms Collector There were also varieties of barrier duels in which the duelist started a set number of paces apart with a barrier in the center. 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. Of course if you could hit your opponent first, you might not have to be fired upon at all. 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. 1.5 oz. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. More Info. Where neither principal owned a pistol, then a pair might be produced to be shared. (1726.5 g), Classification:
Given both men had time to take deliberate aim, neither may walk away unscathed, and the chance of death was high. Graceful yet practical and perfectly balanced in the hand, they privilege overall formal quality and flawless mechanical work over applied adornments. Compounds and Solutions for Wood. The actions on both pistols function correctly. Lot 3248 in the upcoming August 26-28 Premier Auction: A classic pair of Wogdon dueling pistols from circa 1780. "Pair of Wogdon & Barton Flintlock Dueling Pistols (AH6322)" for sale online. Dueling pistols hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy Exactly what happened next has been debated and veiled in mystery ever since. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. They loaded the pistols and the parties took their stations. Description The barrels are 10 octagonal, sighted, browned twist with bore size of .476 and scratch rifled. An Irish duelling pistol, dated 1774, a collectors term for a gun where the barrel is longer than 10in, with a short, straight butt. "Pair of Wogdon & Barton Flintlock Dueling Pistols (AH6322)" for sale His Royal Highness replied he should say nothing, after which all parties left the ground. Materials. Thus, firing too early might make you more likely to miss and have to risk being shot at from a shorter range. 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. 1.3 oz. When a duel was fought with a single pair of pistols it was because neither duellist owned their own and the pistols were supplied by a third party. He was dead within thirty-six hours. The barrels on earlier guns were cylindrical, while later ones tended to be octagonal. Compounds and Solutions for Metals. These pistols from the National Maritime Museum are engraved Horatio Nelson 1780. Handguns, Pistols, & Revolvers | SCHEELS.com This article about a company of the UK is a stub. Churchs Wogdon & Barton pistols were used on July 11, 1804, close to where the young Hamilton had been mortally wounded. 15". The Duke had earlier indicated to Colonel Lennox that he wished to desire no protection from his rank. He was found guilty of conspiracy to abduct Mary and sentenced to three years in prison, though he managed to spend his prison term in comfort due to his continued access to Marys estate. Four years later, in 1808, Burr met Jeremy Bentham, the noted English philosopher, and Bentham claimed to have been certain of his (Burrs) ability to kill Hamilton. The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. As you can see, hitting a man-sized target with a muzzleloading pistol wouldnt have been particularly difficult. This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. The trigger guard finial is an engraved acorn. 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. This emphasis on the purity of form references the Neoclassical style then in vogue. He left no records and never used serial numbers on his guns. Bonhams : A 28-Bore Flintlock Duelling Pistol Forging damascus steel barrels the rarest of skills, The Fields bucket list for a sporting year, Seasons greetings a love letter to postage stamps. Guns International #: 102054289
Seller's Inventory #: AH6306. A PAIR OF ENGLISH FLINTLOCK DUELING PISTOLS by Wogdon & Barton, London The sighted browned octagonal twist steel barrels engraved Wogdon & Barton London, the touch-holes lined in gold with hooked breeches and engraved tangs.Set triggers. Gunsmith Robert Wogdon British
Burrs shot had struck him in the ribs and caused serious damage to his organs and left him paralyzed. (10 cm); Wt. [18] For an eye-witness account of such a duel, see Reynolds (1839).[14]. Wogdon had apprenticed to the Irish gunmaker Edward Norton in Lincolnshire. 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. Two shots are believed to have rung out almost simultaneously. The hard part would have been shooting both accurately and quickly with your life on the line. 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. 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). (39.4 cm); Wt. 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. Colonel Burr arrived first. This pair is rifled, something forbidden by the 18th century dueling codes but that became more accepted in the 19th century, especially in continental Europe where it became standard. .36 in (9.3 mm); Wt. Whether Lennox had used his Wogdons in his duel with Swift is not known. The Burr and Hamilton Duel at Weehawken, New Jersey, July 11, 1804 (30.3 cm); Cal. One of the most common varieties was having a set number of paces walked off and the positions marked in advance. 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. Hamilton did not elaborate but indicated his remarks were political, not personal, which would imply that Burrs honor had not been drawn into question. More has been written about this duel than any other in American history. 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. (41 cm); L. of barrel 11 15/16 in. It was requested that the Duke say he considered Colonel Lennox a man of honour and courage. 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 The doctors concluded that Stoneys injuries might well prove fatal. 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. 0.00. 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. A Very Fine Cased Pair of 28-Bore Duelling Pistols. Famous for duelling pistols. The usual duelling distance of 12 paces was measured out and it was agreed that both parties would fire at the given signal. [20], The use of pistols in duels became popular in the United Kingdom, France, and colonial America during the mid-eighteenth century. 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. 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. Two pairs of pistols allowed for a second exchange of shots if both missed and the challenger of the duel was intent on continuing. This is a very nice pair of dueling pistols by a well-known maker of quality flintlock pistols. The relined case has moderate age and storage related wear. Carried to his Manhattan home, Hamilton lingered in agony, the pistol ball lodged next to his spine. British Flintlock Dueling Pistol by Wogdon for sale. - Collectors Firearms [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. (22.7 g); glass bottle (f): H. 1 1/2 in. The plain stepped locks are simply engraved Wogdon, with a plain narrow safety catch. Robert Wogdon & John Barton Gunmakers, 14 Haymarket, 1795-1803. One of a pair of silver-mounted duelling pistols, hallmarked 1776, with the first recorded use of the helmet and falchion side-plate. Pistols with calibers of 0.45in (11mm), 0.52in (13mm), 0.58in (15mm) or even 0.65in (17mm) were common. Collecting, preserving, researching, publishing, and exhibiting distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. One could be excused for not recognising the pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel as having been made by the famous Wogdon. 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. Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded. Pistol dueling was an associate (non-medal) event at the 1906 and 1908 Olympic games (see Olympic dueling). Robert Wogdon and John Barton operated at 14 Haymarket, London, from 1795 to 1803. 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. Poem, Stanzas on Duelling, by an Irish Volunteer, 1783, began Hail Wogden! [13][Note 4], There were various forms of pistol duel. "Loan Exhibition of European Arms and Armor," August 3September 27, 1931, no. 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. "The Best Damn Gunshop in the World" Robert Wogdon and John Barton operated at 14 Haymarket, London, from 1795 to 1803. Gunsmith John Barton British. Firearms-Pistols-Flintlock, Credit Line:
Two discarded Wogdon pistols were discovered. ANTIQUE Engraved WOGDON FLINTLOCK Dueling Pistol Pistol Maker of the However, it was acceptable for duels to be fought with different pistols and for each duellist to use their own pair, so they could use weapons they were familiar with. 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. Duelling pistols have long and heavy barrels - the added weight helped steady aim and reduce recoil. Colonel Lennox would have faced a real dilemma over this incident. Antique Dueling Pistols for Sale | Rock Island Auction A Scarce Double Barrel Pocket Pistol . He carried on his business in Haymarket from 1774 until his retirement in 1802. A Fine Duelling Pistol by Wogdon & Barton - Garth Vincent To refuse to take part in the duel would have had the same result. Generally, if both duelists fired without effect, the challenger could declare himself satisfied or demand another exchange. It has a dovetailed blade front sight, "Wogdon & Barton London" in script on top of the barrel, a gold vent liner, notch rear sight on top of the breech, "Wogdon & Barton" on the . 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. 15". The lock, which is bright along with the cock, is marked in script ""Wogdon"". Robert Wogdon: duelling pistols - The Field Wogdon & Barton - Wikipedia After he forcibly abducted Mary to the north of England, a warrant was issued for Stoney Bowes arrest. [7] The bullets loaded in them could weigh 214 grains (0.49 ounces; 13.9 grams) in .52 caliber, or more in larger calibers. The Colt Single Action Army revolver and the Winchester Model. The 9 5/8"" octagon 64 caliber swamped smooth bore barrel has a fair bore with pitting. He was only 19 years old. [3], Duelling pistols had long barrels - typically around 10in (250mm) and fired large, heavy bullets. The next day it was Hamiltons turn to face Eacker at ten paces. 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. As the challenged party, Hamilton selected Churchs pistols as the weapons. Mary had already filed for divorce, unheard of in 18th-century England, and this only added to her notoriety. [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. The barrels were given a blued or browned finish to reduce glare. Lot 1275: Cased Pair of Griffin & Tow flintlock dueling pistols circa 1780. Wogdon's Dueling Pistols: Patron of that Leaden Death David S. Weaver covered this for the American Society of Arms Collectors,but in short, Wodgons barrels were bent downwards slightly. (30.3 cm); Cal. Travelling pistols, also known as overcoat pistols, were intended for use by travellers to protect themselves from highwaymen and footpads; unlike duelling pistols, they were commonly rifled. Tools for metal. (44.5 cm); D. 6 3/4 in. A 28-Bore Flintlock Duelling PistolBy Wogdon & Barton, London, Circa 1800. From 9mm to 45 ACP, find the best pistol for you. (36.9 g); bullet mould (d): L. 4 13/16 (12.2 cm); Cal. 0.00. 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. That may have been one option, but it doesnt appear to have been common. At some stage after they left Wogdons shop their original elegant full stocks were replaced with rather ugly heavy bronze fore-ends, perhaps to add muzzle weight to shift the centre of balance and reduce barrel flip. The Duke of York had publicly insulted him and had virtually accused him of cowardice. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. (1219 g); powder flask (b): H. 4 1/8 in. 1834); Theodore Offerman, New York (until d. 1937; his estate sale, American Art Association-Anderson Galleries, Inc., New York, November 1113, 1937, no. 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. He died on September 14, 1836, a poor and broken man, on the same day that the divorce was finalized. Free ground shipping on all US Online Orders over $100! The actions on both pistols function correctly. It is also only the second pair of Wogdons known with 16-sided barrels. Both pistols have their original iron-tipped ramrods with an attached worm at the end. [2] The name Wogdon became synonymous with dueling, to the extent that duels in England were sometimes referred to as "a Wogdon affair".