The barrels on earlier guns were cylindrical, while later ones tended to be octagonal. In 1797, Alexander Hamilton's brother-in-law, John Baker Church, had obtained an exquisite pair of custom-made dueling pistols made by Wogdon. Though disputed, this duel most likely took place on 26 May 1789. Flintlock Target Pistol of Prince William Frederick, Second Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (17761834), with Case and Accessories, Gunsmith: Tools for wood. 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 . Committed to designing and building . Materials. The remaining furniture is iron and includes classic English engraving, including fine pineapple finials on the trigger guards. This is an edited extract from Robert Wogdon, Wogdon & Barton, John Barton, London Gunmakers 1764-1819, price 75, published by Bonhams. This supremely elegant target pistol is among their most accomplished work. Prince William Frederick, Second Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (1803d. Dueling as a way to protect one's reputation has long faded from acceptable behavior, but these paired and cased dueling pistols for sale in Rock Island Auction Company's Aug. 26-28 Premier Auction are a fascinating way to recall a different time and a different way of personal conduct. 1.3 oz. A Continental Pin Fire Revolver. 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. Hamiltons pistol went off and struck the ground. (17.1 cm); Wt. 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. While other well-known English gunmakers such as Joseph Manton manufactured fine dueling pistols, Wogdon specialized in them. Burr was charged with murder but the case never reached trial. The seconds turned their backs, so they could deny being credible witnesses to what transpired should they be drawn into court. It is also only the second pair of Wogdons known with 16-sided barrels. Its long barrel, measuring nearly twelve inches in length, indicates its intended use for targets. However, there is rarely any information as to the type, ownership or maker of the pistols used. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. Wogdon had apprenticed to the Irish gunmaker Edward Norton in Lincolnshire. 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. 20002023 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 4.8 oz. The actions on both pistols function correctly. When facing down a, The birth of the legendary Barrett M82 sniper rifle, is a fascinating American tale of inspiration, dedication, and innovation. .38 in. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. 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. 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. Hamilton received a .54-caliber wound to the abdomen from an English-made Wogdon & Barton flintlock smoothbore dueling pistol. The duelists would take their allotted place and then fire upon a signal from one of the seconds such as the dropping of a handkerchief with a set amount of time to fire after the signal had been given. Wogdon retired in 1803 and died in 1813. Lot 3247: A very desirable cased pair of Wogdon & Barton flintlock dueling pistols from circa 1795-1803. Robert Wogdon (British, 17341813), Gunsmith: Colonel Burrs shot struck home and General Hamilton fell almost instantly. 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. 283, sold to MMA). 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 brown damascus style finish is visible in several areas along with scattered dents and manufacturing defects. Engraved in gold on the barrel: ARGer DE L'EMPEREUR. Today, those walnut, brass, and gold pistols are located in the headquarters of J.P. Morgan Chase, on 277 Park Avenue in New York City. Despite duelling being always regarded as illegal, in practice it was widely tolerated by both the juries and the sentencing judges. More Info. The Duke did not return fire. Burr appears to have had no such qualms and had been practicing his marksmanship. For example, if God was sure to choose the innocent, then he could guide a ball to the proper target no matter how inaccurate the pistol, but duelists sought out pistols by gunmakers known for reliability and accuracy, and some practiced shooting at targets to ensure their aim was true. He returned shortly before the War of 1812. The crest and monogram strongly suggest they may have belonged to Wogdons son-in-law, William Butt Jnr. This is a very nice pair of dueling pistols by a well-known maker of quality flintlock pistols. The whereabouts of the second Wogdon pistol are unknown. 37.154.3ag. From 9mm to 45 ACP, find the best pistol for you. 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. Given the large number of cased pairs of his duelling pistols that have survived to this day, his production was significant. The custom fitted case has a later three-compartment powder flasks, balls, and an original section from the ramrod of gun "A." Chase Manhattan Bank acquired the pistols in 1930, and they now reside at the National Postal Museum. Dueling pistol makers continued to innovate through the end of the flintlock era and into the percussion era. Copyright 2023 All rights reserved. They, and the cocks, have raised decorative edges. As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes. Ref: 582. The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. Lot 81: This historic pair of silver mounted H.W. The brown damascus style finish is . Special care was taken when moulding the lead bullets to ensure that there were no voids which would affect accuracy. Standard flintlock pistols can have a noticeable delay between pulling the trigger and actually firing the bullet unless precisely tuned. Forging damascus steel barrels the rarest of skills, The Fields bucket list for a sporting year, Seasons greetings a love letter to postage stamps. New York. Hamilton, Burr, their seconds, and a doctor met at Heights of Weehawken in New Jersey, a popular but secluded dueling ground, on that fateful July morning. A 28-Bore Flintlock Duelling PistolBy Wogdon & Barton, London, Circa 1800. He was only 19 years old. 15". 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. The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. 7 oz. With John Barton, traded Wogdon & Barton from 1795, succeeded by Barton, 1803. A Rare Pair Of 40-Bore Flintlock Overcoat Or Travelling PistolsBy Wogdon & Barton Of London, Circa 1800. Finally, a published letter made reference to a particularly despicable opinion Hamilton had expressed about Burr. 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. Although best suited for military use, they were often owned by civilians. 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. After one man had fired, the other could fire within the remaining allotted time. (1726.5 g). 15"". (17.1 cm); Wt. ANTIQUE Engraved WOGDON FLINTLOCK Dueling Pistol Pistol Maker of the Pistols Used in the BURR-HAMILTON Duel! One of a pair of silver-mounted duelling pistols, the earliest Wogdon set with silver by Michael Barnett, registered on 29 June 1781. Haymarket, 1774-1802. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. He carried on his business in Haymarket from 1774 until his retirement in 1802. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. There are currently no customer product questions on this lot. Burrs shot had struck him in the ribs and caused serious damage to his organs and left him paralyzed. Remarkable design and engineering continues to mark out the British gun trade. 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. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. Famous for duelling pistols. Tools and Accesories. [3][4] Wogdon formed a partnership in 1794 with John Barton, after which their pistols were signed Wogdon and Barton. 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. 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. [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. 14.75"". Gunsmith Wogdon & Barton British Colonel Lennox wrote a circular to every member of Daubignys asking whether such words had been used about him and requesting an answer within the next seven days, adding that no reply would be considered equivalent to a declaration that nothing had been said. Burr, with his political prospects already fading, demanded an explanation of what Hamilton had said about him, and a series of notes were exchanged. (14.2 g); case (g): H. 2 5/8 in. Wogdon made the pistols used in the infamous BurrHamilton duel, which were later claimed to have concealed "hair triggers" (also known as set triggers). 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. The sliding-safety locks are marked in script "Wogdon" over "&" over "Barton". When his second wife divorced him in 1834, Alexander Hamilton Jr. served as her lawyer. Instead, the duelists should fire quickly. 15". Many of Wogdons pistols have bent barrels. 3 lb. The pistols used in the Hamilton=Burr duel, which belonged to Hamiltons brother-in-law. [12], It is often stated that duelling pistols came in identical pairs to put each duellist on an equal footing. Stoneys dying wish was that Mary would marry him. 14.75". Burrs intention seems quite clear. Starting in 1795 to 1803, he operated with a partner, John Barton, as Wogdon & Barton so this pistol is 1795 or earlier. Pistol Kits; Chemicals and Compounds. SOLD. A pair of duels in the early 19th century in America have done much to fix Wogdons name in American memory. Impact Guns is the gun shop for all your shooting needs. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. A serious pistol shot would practise with his own pair and would be reluctant to provide one of his pistols to his adversary. All rights reserved. More Info. 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. [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. Pistols with rifled barrels spin-stabilize the shot when it is fired, resulting in much improved accuracy. 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 . 0.00. The Burr and Hamilton Duel at Weehawken, New Jersey, July 11, 1804 [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. [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. (10 cm); Wt. Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded. Click Photo to Enlarge Guns International #: 101363115 Seller's Inventory #: 190413 Category Antique Pistols - Flintlock Handguns - European Pistols Seller's Information Cased Pair of John Blissett & Son Percussion Dueling Pistols: Lot 332 Four British Prime Ministers have engaged in duels throughout history. A Rifled Pocket Pistol by Smith. The Mantons, Griffin & Tow, H.W. 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. There was not just a single form for a proper duel. 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. Mechanically fine. (30.3 cm); Cal. Flints. 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. The breech plug tangs, butt caps, and trigger guards have decorative engraving. [6], Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh. 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. He formally called upon the Duke either to give up the name of his false informant or afford him satisfaction. [18] For an eye-witness account of such a duel, see Reynolds (1839).[14]. 1 lb. 0.00. 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. Wogdon retired in 1803 and died in 1813. Their "saw handle" stocks are one of just many designs English gunmakers experimented with in their efforts to create deadly accurate dueling pistols. Bentham concluded that Burr was little better than a murderer. If either party was injured at all, the seconds were generally expected to work to declare the duel was over. 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. (6.7 cm); W. 17 1/2 in. The breech plug tangs, butt caps, and trigger guards have decorative engraving. Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel. When Charles Lee and John Laurens dueled during the American Revolution, they each brought a pair. Colonel Burr arrived first. 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. Surprisingly, Lee was only lightly wounded and the affair ultimately ended without another exchange, in part due to Alexander Hamiltons role as Laurenss second. [7], The most famous and innovative manufacturers were London-based companies such as Wogdon & Barton, Durs Egg, Manton, Mortimer, Nock, and Purdey. The doctors concluded that Stoneys injuries might well prove fatal. One of the most common varieties was having a set number of paces walked off and the positions marked in advance. The Burr-Hamilton duel pistols were originally in a very similar configuration to this pair. 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. 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. 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. 14.75"". London proof marks and RW barrel makers mark. Again, the affair began with politics. 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. They are immediately recognizable by their elegant proportions, restrained ornament, and technical refinement. But you had never gained so great a name, In England had your pistols killed as few." In some situations, the duelist who had already fired was also supposed to keep advancing until the opponent had fired. Purpose-built duelling pistols have various improvements to make them more reliable and accurate. [2] The name Wogdon became synonymous with dueling, to the extent that duels in England were sometimes referred to as "a Wogdon affair". Whether Lennox had used his Wogdons in his duel with Swift is not known. Exactly what happened next has been debated and veiled in mystery ever since. The next day it was Hamiltons turn to face Eacker at ten paces. The Duke had earlier indicated to Colonel Lennox that he wished to desire no protection from his rank. 0.00. A cased pair of half-stocked duelling pistols dated 1793. On 13 January 1777 at the Adelphi Tavern and Coffeehouse, Bate was accosted by Stoney and the duel proceeded without any witnesses. Collectors Firearms, LLC. RM W570AE - Case with Dueling Pistols A Cased Pair of Pistols, Reputedly Owned by Napoleon Pair of pistols Cassette with couple of pistols and accessories belonging to Napoleon I, Casket in which a couple of pistols together with all supplies. Robert Wogdon and John Barton operated at 14 Haymarket, London, from 1795 to 1803. This resulted in a further duel between Colonel Lennox and Swift, which resulted in the unfortunate Swift being shot in the abdomen. 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. Pair of Wogdon & Barton Flintlock Dueling Pistols (AH6322), 7626 Westheimer @ Voss, Houston, Texas 77063. Poem, Stanzas on Duelling, by an Irish Volunteer, 1783, began Hail Wogden! The hard part would have been shooting both accurately and quickly with your life on the line. 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. Wogdon was partnered with John Barton at 14 Haymarket Street in London in 1795-1803. (10.5 cm); Wt. With swamped octagonal sighted barrels each signed in script along the top flat and engraved with a band of beadwork at the breech, silver fore-sights, tangs each incorporating the back-sight and finely engraved with foliage, signed flat . (136.1 g); cleaning rod (c): L. 15 1/2 in. Robert Wogden was one of the preeminent gunsmiths of his era. Not all fine, antique pairs of pistols are duelling pistols, though they may be called so. (39.4 cm); Wt. Patron of that Leaden death!" (22.7 g); glass bottle (f): H. 1 1/2 in. With John Barton traded as Wogdon & Barton, from 1795, succeeded by Barton, 1803. 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. SCHEELS The Wogdon pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel belonged to Hamiltons brother-in-law, Colonel John Barker Church. 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 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. If Hamilton were to admit to Burrs charge, which was substantially true, he would lose his honour. More Info. The events that culminated in the duel were the result of several years of simmering political differences and antagonism. An eagle is engraved on the headband. 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. 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. To refuse to take part in the duel would have had the same result. Spring Steel. 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. 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. The 10" swamped at the muzzle octagon 67 caliber smooth bore barrels have good bores with light roughness. Graceful yet practical and perfectly balanced in the hand, they privilege overall formal quality and flawless mechanical work over applied adornments. (41 cm); L. of barrel 11 15/16 in. The hooks or spurs on the trigger guard can be used with your middle finger to help steady the pistol. By the time duelling with pistols had superseded duelling with swords in the early 1770s, the purpose had shifted from wounding or killing your opponent to demonstrating that, as a man of honour, you were prepared to risk your life to defend your reputation, or that of your family or your regiment. [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. 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. SOLD. 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. Design [ edit] 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. The surviving Lennox pistol used in a duel with the Duke of York. The butt cap and trigger guard are polished bright. The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. Lock plates engraved Wogdon & Barton, having push-on half-cock safeties, semi-rain proof pans, and roller frizzen springs (one spring repaired). A North African Flintlock Pistol . 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. (1219 g); powder flask (b): H. 4 1/8 in. The locks are signed "Wogdon/&/Barton" and have frizzen rollers, sliding half-cock safeties, and stepped tails. 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. Wood for Gunsmithing and restoration. 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. Mechanically fine. As you can see, hitting a man-sized target with a muzzleloading pistol wouldnt have been particularly difficult. 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. Browse SCHEELS selection of handguns and pistols featuring top brands like Glock, SIG, Smith & Wesson, & more. The plain stepped locks are simply engraved Wogdon, with a plain narrow safety catch. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments. Hamilton did not elaborate but indicated his remarks were political, not personal, which would imply that Burrs honor had not been drawn into question. Taking deliberate aim, was considered vicious and discouraged. (44.5 cm); D. 6 3/4 in. The duel took place at exactly the same place where Philips father was to meet Aaron Burr three years later. [1] The name Wogdon became synonymous with dueling, to the extent that duels in England were sometimes referred to as "a Wogdon affair". Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. Robert Wogdon, a gunmaker most famous for his dueling pistols, partnered with John Barton late in his career. The only recorded Wogdon pistol with a brass barrel, hallmarked 1791. This emphasis on the purity of form references the Neoclassical style then in vogue.
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