His total production of duelling pistols over the 39 years that he was a gunmaker is unknown. Cased Pair of John Blissett & Son Percussion Dueling Pistols: Lot 332 Four British Prime Ministers have engaged in duels throughout history. Graceful yet practical and perfectly balanced in the hand, they privilege overall formal quality and flawless mechanical work over applied adornments. Click Photo to Enlarge Guns International #: 101363115 Seller's Inventory #: 190413 Category Antique Pistols - Flintlock Handguns - European Pistols Seller's Information The only recorded Wogdon pistol with a brass barrel, hallmarked 1791. Robert Wogden was one of the preeminent gunsmiths of his era. The breech plug tangs, butt caps, and trigger guards have decorative engraving. 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 . Interestingly these pistols look identical to the pistols used in the Burr-Hamilton duel of 1804, including the 'concealed hair triggers' Description The barrels which are gently swamped to the muzzle, are 10.25 octagonal, sighted, browned twist with a smooth bore size of .550. 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. 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. 3 lb. The plot was foiled, but he was acquitted. Thus, firing too early might make you more likely to miss and have to risk being shot at from a shorter range. [16][17] The famous fictional duel between Pierre and Dolokhov in the novel War and Peace was of this kind. [2] The name Wogdon became synonymous with dueling, to the extent that duels in England were sometimes referred to as "a Wogdon affair". 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. 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. Wogdon & Barton was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. The sliding-safety locks are marked in script "Wogdon" over "&" over "Barton". 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. 14.75"". Free ground shipping on all US Online Orders over $100! Starting in 1795 to 1803, he operated with a partner, John Barton, as Wogdon & Barton so this pistol is 1795 or earlier. 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. Duelling pistol - Wikipedia Starting in 1795 to 1803, he operated with a partner, John Barton, as Wogdon & Barton so this pistol is 1795 or earlier. (10 cm); Wt. 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. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Wogdon made the pistols used in the infamous BurrHamilton duel, which were later claimed to have concealed "hair triggers" (also known as set triggers). The Duke did not return fire. The 10"" swamped at the muzzle octagon 67 caliber smooth bore barrels have good bores with light roughness. This article about a company of the UK is a stub. The relined case has moderate age and storage related wear. (1219 g); powder flask (b): H. 4 1/8 in. Pistols with calibers of 0.45in (11mm), 0.52in (13mm), 0.58in (15mm) or even 0.65in (17mm) were common. 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. Lot 1275: Cased Pair of Griffin & Tow flintlock dueling pistols circa 1780. Lot 3248 in the upcoming August 26-28 Premier Auction: A classic pair of Wogdon dueling pistols from circa 1780. This emphasis on the purity of form references the Neoclassical style then in vogue. More Info. Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel. The usual duelling distance of 12 paces was measured out and it was agreed that both parties would fire at the given signal. We offer a wide selection of firearms, including: handguns, shotguns, rifles, ammunition, rifle scopes and optics, as well as collectible machine guns and other NFA/Class 3 guns. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Bentham concluded that Burr was little better than a murderer. Colonel Lennox and the Duke, accompanied by their seconds, met on Wimbledon Common on the morning of 26 May. Despite duelling being always regarded as illegal, in practice it was widely tolerated by both the juries and the sentencing judges. A Flintlock Duelling Pistol by Wogdon and Barton - Garth Vincent The Field is the oldest and ultimate sporting journal, covering everything rural types care about since 1853. 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. These pistols from the National Maritime Museum are engraved Horatio Nelson 1780. When it came down to staring down an opponent, many men put their trust in gunmakers like Robert Wogdon rather than divine intervention. Rogers Fund, 1937, Accession Number:
[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. 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. 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. A pair of duels in the early 19th century in America have done much to fix Wogdons name in American memory. 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 . (44.5 cm); D. 6 3/4 in. He was only 19 years old. Robert Wogdon: duelling pistols - The Field 0.00. Pistols - garthvincent.com A PAIR OF ENGLISH FLINTLOCK DUELING PISTOLS by Wogdon & Barton, London The Pistols of the Hamilton-Burr Duel - The Truth About Guns Certainly during his working life he was referred to as the celebrated Wogdon and also, he [Wogdon] is a famous man for making pistols. [3] Other features were saw handles, platinum-lined touch-holes and hair triggers. Their "saw handle" stocks are one of just many designs English gunmakers experimented with in their efforts to create deadly accurate dueling pistols. 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. 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. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. He died early the next morning. Estimated at $7,500-$12,000, these dueling pistols are beautiful, rare, and historically significant. 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. A duelling pistol is a type of pistol that was manufactured in matching pairs to be used in a duel, when duels were customary. Burr appears to have had no such qualms and had been practicing his marksmanship. Gunmaker at Mr. Maws haberdashers, Cockspur St., Charing Cross, 1764. 0.8 oz. Gunmakers to Bow St. Police, 1801-3. [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. Lennox replied that he could not consider His Royal Highness as any other than the son of his King. 12.9 oz. All the metal has a smooth gray-brown patina. Robert Wogdon and John Barton operated at 14 Haymarket, London, from 1795 to 1803. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. With dueling pistols, Hollywood loves to show to adversaries starting back to back and walking off a set number of paces before turning to fire. (6.7 cm); W. 17 1/2 in. (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. From 9mm to 45 ACP, find the best pistol for you. 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. 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. 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. Pair of Wogdon & Barton Flintlock Dueling Pistols (AH6322), 7626 Westheimer @ Voss, Houston, Texas 77063. The Critical Review; or, Annals of Literature, hot air balloons with blunderbusses over Paris, Duke of York was challenged by his nephew Charles Lennox. At first glance, the surviving pistol is not immediately recognisable as the work of Robert Wogdon. 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. Eacker had called the two young men damned rascals.. 2023 Rock Island Auction Company. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. [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. If either party was injured at all, the seconds were generally expected to work to declare the duel was over. 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 victor is presumed to be the just party in the case because the divine would have chosen the winner. Generally, if both duelists fired without effect, the challenger could declare himself satisfied or demand another exchange. In some situations, the duelist who had already fired was also supposed to keep advancing until the opponent had fired. The barrels are marked Wogdon & Barton London in script on the top flat. Wogdon & Barton | Flintlock Target Pistol of Prince William Frederick 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 7626 Westheimer @ Voss, Houston, Texas 77063. Guns International #: 102053710
Seller's Inventory #: AH6322. 37.154.3ag. This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. (42.5 g); screwdriver (e): L. 3 15/16 in.
Committed to designing and building . Two loud bangs followed by the unmistakable sound of clashing swords were heard and, with the help of waiters, the door was forced open. 14.75"". In addition to the renown quality of his pistols in his own time, Wogdon is arguably the most recognized maker of dueling pistols known today because of the pair used in the famous duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr that ended with Hamilton fatally wounded. The breech plug tangs, butt caps, and trigger guards have decorative engraving. A North African Flintlock Pistol . On 13 January 1777 at the Adelphi Tavern and Coffeehouse, Bate was accosted by Stoney and the duel proceeded without any witnesses. Firearms-Pistols-Flintlock, Credit Line:
Thereafter they quickly took over and after 1785 it was rare for a sword duel to be fought in London. [3], In continental Europe, the use of smooth-bored pistols was considered cowardly, and rifled pistols were the norm. Engraved in gold on the barrel: ARGer DE L'EMPEREUR. Stoney Bowes, not one to give up easily, appealed against Marys divorce suit but Mary eventually gained her freedom. 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. Copyright 2023 All rights reserved. Given the large number of cased pairs of his duelling pistols that have survived to this day, his production was significant. 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. He died the following day. However, there is rarely any information as to the type, ownership or maker of the pistols used. Nonetheless, Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel to repair his reputation. Two shots are believed to have rung out almost simultaneously. Pistols at Dawn | Tennants Auctioneers 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. 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. Mechanically fine. There was not just a single form for a proper duel. The 10" swamped at the muzzle octagon 67 caliber smooth bore barrels have good bores with light roughness. His father told him to fire to miss, known as deloping, rather than take a mans life. When Charles Lee and John Laurens dueled during the American Revolution, they each brought a pair. The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. 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. Colonel Burr arrived first. Pistol: wood (walnut), steel, gold, brass, horn; ramrod: wood (walnut), brass, steel; case: wood (mahogany), velvet, brass; powder flask: brass, steel, leather; bullet mold: steel; screwdriver: wood (walnut), brass, steel; cleaning rod: wood (walnut), brass, steel; bottle: glass, Dimensions:
Holster pistols, or horse pistols were used on horseback and carried in pairs in a leather holster slung across a horse's saddle. 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. In London, the first recorded pistol duel was in 1711[Note 1] but the use of pistols was unusual until the 1760s. 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. But you had never gained so great a name, In England had your pistols killed as few." Pistols with rifled barrels spin-stabilize the shot when it is fired, resulting in much improved accuracy. It has an inoperative hammer safety.