A serious pistol shot would practise with his own pair and would be reluctant to provide one of his pistols to his adversary. 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. [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. [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. Many later pistols have heavier barrels and half-stocks while the early pistols are lighter and full-stocked. Research suggests the attribution is spurious, though the quality is superb. 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. Had Lennox refused to challenge the Duke, his reputation as an officer and a gentleman would have been irrevocably compromised. 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. As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes. More Info. Stoney Bowes, not one to give up easily, appealed against Marys divorce suit but Mary eventually gained her freedom. The barrels are marked Wogdon & Barton London in script on the top flat. 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. This emphasis on the purity of form references the Neoclassical style then in vogue. .38 in. 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. These shots were fired at 25 yards with rapid dueling style aim rather than carefully deliberate aim. Starting in 1795 to 1803, he operated with a partner, John Barton, as Wogdon & Barton so this pistol is 1795 or earlier. The Mantons, Griffin & Tow, H.W. The breech plug tangs, butt caps, and trigger guards have decorative engraving. Wogdon had apprenticed to the Irish gunmaker Edward Norton in Lincolnshire. Hamiltons pistol went off and struck the ground. Hosted and Maintained by TwoPointZero IT. 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. They, and the cocks, have raised decorative edges. (41 cm); L. of barrel 11 15/16 in. Its long barrel, measuring nearly twelve inches in length, indicates its intended use for targets. The 9 5/8"" octagon 64 caliber swamped smooth bore barrel has a fair bore with pitting. A North African Flintlock Pistol . Use your arrow keys to navigate the tabs below, and your tab key to choose an item, Title: A Rare Pair Of 40-Bore Flintlock Overcoat Or Travelling PistolsBy Wogdon & Barton Of London, Circa 1800. A Scarce Double Barrel Pocket Pistol . During the late 19th and the early 20th centuries, duelling became a sport in which shooters fired at each other using non-lethal rounds. 1834); Theodore Offerman, New York (until d. 1937; his estate sale, American Art Association-Anderson Galleries, Inc., New York, November 1113, 1937, no. 3 lb. 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. 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. Please use the print button in the share bar at the top of the page. The Faur Le Page company of France made special pistols for sport duelling. The 9 5/8"" octagon 64 caliber swamped smooth bore barrel has a fair bore with pitting. The brown damascus style finish is . 0.5 oz. The doctors concluded that Stoneys injuries might well prove fatal. The barrels have a decorative band around the breech end. This is famously represented in the book and film The Last Duel. 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. 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 best hunting horse. Two loud bangs followed by the unmistakable sound of clashing swords were heard and, with the help of waiters, the door was forced open. As the smoke cleared, Alexander Hamilton lay mortally wounded. 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. All rights reserved. This supremely elegant target pistol is among their most accomplished work. 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. Price and Eacker exchanged shots multiple times the following day without injury and considered their affair settled. SCHEELS Compounds and Solutions for Metals. The barrels on earlier guns were cylindrical, while later ones tended to be octagonal. But if the first to fire missed, he was required to stand still and wait for his opponent's shot. The seconds turned their backs, so they could deny being credible witnesses to what transpired should they be drawn into court. Since the 1800s, explorers and dangerous game hunters navigating the African bush have trusted their lives to the double rifle. [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. 7 oz. 15"". [2] The name Wogdon became synonymous with dueling, to the extent that duels in England were sometimes referred to as "a Wogdon affair". With John Barton traded as Wogdon & Barton, from 1795, succeeded by Barton, 1803. He then fled to Europe where he continued to conspire to steal land in the West. Other Materials. With John Barton, traded Wogdon & Barton from 1795, succeeded by Barton, 1803. This is a very nice pair of dueling pistols by a well-known maker of quality flintlock pistols. 1.3 oz. (1726.5 g). Both pistols have their original iron-tipped ramrods with an attached worm at the end. They are immediately recognizable by their elegant proportions, restrained ornament, and technical refinement. Hamilton received a .54-caliber wound to the abdomen from an English-made Wogdon & Barton flintlock smoothbore dueling pistol. (136.1 g); cleaning rod (c): L. 15 1/2 in. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. From 9mm to 45 ACP, find the best pistol for you. Colonel Lennox would have faced a real dilemma over this incident. Purpose-built duelling pistols have various improvements to make them more reliable and accurate. (42.5 g); screwdriver (e): L. 3 15/16 in. Materials. Cased Pair of John Blissett & Son Percussion Dueling Pistols: Lot 332 Four British Prime Ministers have engaged in duels throughout history. For this reason, very few duels can now be confidently identified as those in which Wogdon pistols were used. He carried on his business in Haymarket from 1774 until his retirement in 1802. WOGDON & BARTON. 15"". As you can see, hitting a man-sized target with a muzzleloading pistol wouldnt have been particularly difficult. Thus, firing too early might make you more likely to miss and have to risk being shot at from a shorter range. Whether Lennox had used his Wogdons in his duel with Swift is not known. Wogdon had apprenticed to the Irish gunmaker Edward Norton in Lincolnshire. The trigger guard finial is an engraved acorn. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. Mechanically fine. (36.9 g); bullet mould (d): L. 4 13/16 (12.2 cm); Cal. .38 in. 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. More Info. Despite duelling being always regarded as illegal, in practice it was widely tolerated by both the juries and the sentencing judges. There's a lot going on in this escutcheon! (17.1 cm); Wt. This resulted in a further duel between Colonel Lennox and Swift, which resulted in the unfortunate Swift being shot in the abdomen. Description The barrels are 10 octagonal, sighted, browned twist with bore size of .476 and scratch rifled. The barrels were given a blued or browned finish to reduce glare. Lennox replied that he could not consider His Royal Highness as any other than the son of his King. He completed his term as Vice-President but his political career was effectively over. They loaded the pistols and the parties took their stations. Lennox grazed the Dukes curls, and the Duke held his fire. 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. (36.9 g); bullet mould (d): L. 4 13/16 (12.2 cm); Cal. [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. This is an edited extract from Robert Wogdon, Wogdon & Barton, John Barton, London Gunmakers 1764-1819, price 75, published by Bonhams. Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. Stoneys dying wish was that Mary would marry him. Churchs Wogdon & Barton pistols were used on July 11, 1804, close to where the young Hamilton had been mortally wounded. There were also varieties of barrier duels in which the duelist started a set number of paces apart with a barrier in the center. Carried to his Manhattan home, Hamilton lingered in agony, the pistol ball lodged next to his spine. Burr was unharmed but stood in shock before being rushed away from the scene as was customary. (6.7 cm); W. 17 1/2 in. 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. 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. SOLD. They, and the cocks, have raised decorative edges. 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. 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. (42.5 g); screwdriver (e): L. 3 15/16 in. In London, the first recorded pistol duel was in 1711[Note 1] but the use of pistols was unusual until the 1760s. [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". Prince William Frederick, Second Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (1803d. The wedge and wrist escutcheons are silver, and the latter have a monogram that appears to be the initials "LD." The sliding-safety locks are marked in script ""Wogdon"" over ""&"" over ""Barton"". Collecting, preserving, researching, publishing, and exhibiting distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. 4.8 oz. 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. 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 . [3], In continental Europe, the use of smooth-bored pistols was considered cowardly, and rifled pistols were the norm. 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. Wogdon was partnered with John Barton at 14 Haymarket Street in London in 1795-1803. 1.5 oz. Starting in 1795 to 1803, he operated with a partner, John Barton, as Wogdon & Barton so this pistol is 1795 or earlier. One of a pair of silver-mounted duelling pistols, hallmarked 1776, with the first recorded use of the helmet and falchion side-plate. 1.3 oz. A Very Fine Cased Pair of 28-Bore Duelling Pistols. 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. This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. 0.00. But you had never gained so great a name, In England had your pistols killed as few." 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. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The remaining furniture is iron and includes classic English engraving, including fine pineapple finials on the trigger guards. One could be excused for not recognising the pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel as having been made by the famous Wogdon. He died on September 14, 1836, a poor and broken man, on the same day that the divorce was finalized. All the metal has a smooth gray-brown patina. 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. Colonel Lennox fired and the ball grazed one of his Royal Highness curls. Derringer Handguns For Sale :: Guns.com 2/18/2023 Initially, both men refused to fire. It has an inoperative hammer safety. Nonetheless, Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel to repair his reputation. One particularly deadly option for a serious dispute was to have both men stand a set number of paces apart, cock and raise their pistols upon command, take aim at another command, and then fire simultaneously upon the final command. We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. Great Britain and Ireland, 1600-1800 A.D. Poem, Stanzas on Duelling, by an Irish Volunteer, 1783, began Hail Wogden! 20002023 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. More Info. This was a legal proceeding in which a persons guilt or innocence was determined by the outcome of a fight. The relined case has moderate age and storage related wear. 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. [3][4] Wogdon formed a partnership in 1794 with John Barton, after which their pistols were signed Wogdon and Barton. Upon the signal, they could advance towards one another and choose when to fire. The barrels have a decorative band around the breech end. Lot 231: Cased pair of H. Bales flintlock dueling pistols. When General Hamilton arrived, the seconds measured out the distance, 10 full paces, and cast lots for the choice of position. Gunsmith John Barton British. Gunmaker at Mr. Maws haberdashers, Cockspur St., Charing Cross, 1764. Pistol (a): L. 16 1/8 in. Impact also services the needs of law enforcement and military with our wide variety of tactical weapons and . 12.9 oz. 7 oz. 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. 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). Again, the affair began with politics. Flints. 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). Mary Eleanor Bowes was the richest heiress in England at that time. The emotional trauma that Alexander Hamilton must have suffered three years later, facing Aaron Burr on the same spot where his son had been killed, and with perhaps the same pistol that he himself was now holding, can hardly be imagined. (10.5 cm); Wt. The name Robert Wogdon is one that appears frequently in tales of the most infamous duels. 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. 15". 1 lb. [2] 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. They have small blade front and fixed notch rear sights. The poem alludes to fate but suggests a duelists destiny lay in Wogdons hand. [2] The name Wogdon became synonymous with dueling, to the extent that duels in England were sometimes referred to as "a Wogdon affair". Click here for more information. Such alterations would have taken place at some time after it left Wogdons shop. Original Tools. He is recorded as 'Gunmaker, at Mr. Maw's Haberdasher, Cockspur St., Charing Cross' in 1764. (30.3 cm); Cal. 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 Duke did not return fire. Burr was charged with murder but the case never reached trial. The victor is presumed to be the just party in the case because the divine would have chosen the winner. Wogdon made the pistols used in the infamous BurrHamilton duel, which were later claimed to have concealed "hair triggers" (also known as set triggers). Hamilton languished until 2 p.m. on July 12, 1804. 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. They have small blade front and fixed notch rear sights. Philip was mortally wounded, and died in agony the following day. 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. He went on to become one of the most infamous traitors in American history for conspiring to steal by force territory acquired for the United States by Thomas Jefferson as well as land in Mexico to create his own western empire. The whereabouts of the second Wogdon pistol are unknown. "Loan Exhibition of European Arms and Armor," August 3September 27, 1931, no. He died in 1813, and by that time hundreds of men are believed to have been injured or killed by his pistols in duels. 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. He died early the next morning. Generally, if both duelists fired without effect, the challenger could declare himself satisfied or demand another exchange. [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. Forging damascus steel barrels the rarest of skills, The Fields bucket list for a sporting year, Seasons greetings a love letter to postage stamps. Its the story of a, In 1873, two of America's greatest gunmakers would unveil the defining arms of the era. When it came down to staring down an opponent, many men put their trust in gunmakers like Robert Wogdon rather than divine intervention. 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. He died the following day. 19th September 2018. However, there is rarely any information as to the type, ownership or maker of the pistols used. (9.6 mm); Wt. That may have been one option, but it doesnt appear to have been common. Read British gunmakers of the 21st century for more about the companies continuing a long tradition. The lock, which is bright along with the cock, is marked in script ""Wogdon"". Estimated at $7,500-$12,000, these dueling pistols are beautiful, rare, and historically significant. The top center of the oval has what appears to be some kind of bird figure and a sword. The stock on gun 2 is fine with no cracks or chips and the dents and dings expected of light to moderate use. Robert Wogdon and John Barton operated at 14 Haymarket, London, from 1795 to 1803. 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. A duelling pistol is a type of pistol that was manufactured in matching pairs to be used in a duel, when duels were customary. Certainly during his working life he was referred to as the celebrated Wogdon and also, he [Wogdon] is a famous man for making pistols. 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. This is a very nice pair of dueling pistols by a well-known maker of quality flintlock pistols. Guns International #: 102053710 Seller's Inventory #: AH6322. Cobra Derringers are beautifully handcrafted with a wide range of calibers and barrel lengths that provides versatile and reliable service for a lifetime. 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 See "A." Flintlock Target Pistol of Prince William Frederick, Second Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (17761834), with Case and Accessories, Gunsmith: 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.