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Robert Wogdon, a gunmaker most famous for his dueling pistols, partnered with John Barton late in his career. Burr was never tried for Hamiltons death, but rather than revive his political career, the duel was its death knell. Cased Pair of Wogdon & Barton Flintlock Dueling Pistols [11] The short range most duels took place at, combined with the accuracy of rifled pistols meant their use substantially increased the chances of a fatality during a duel. 37.154.3ag. [19] Participants wore heavy, protective clothing and a metal helmet, similar to a fencing mask but with an eye-screen of thick glass. 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. 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 overall length is approx. The pistols used in the Hamilton=Burr duel, which belonged to Hamiltons brother-in-law. Mechanically fine. In some situations, the duelist who had already fired was also supposed to keep advancing until the opponent had fired. In 1797, Alexander Hamilton's brother-in-law, John Baker Church, had obtained an exquisite pair of custom-made dueling pistols made by Wogdon. This resulted in a further duel between Colonel Lennox and Swift, which resulted in the unfortunate Swift being shot in the abdomen. The 9 5/8"" octagon 64 caliber swamped smooth bore barrel has a fair bore with pitting. Despite duelling being always regarded as illegal, in practice it was widely tolerated by both the juries and the sentencing judges. However, for at least twenty years before the BurrHamilton duel, English duelling pistols by all the top makers had been customarily fitted with set triggers. 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. 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. [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. Hamilton did not elaborate but indicated his remarks were political, not personal, which would imply that Burrs honor had not been drawn into question. The actions on both pistols function correctly. .38 in. The barrels are marked Wogdon & Barton London in script on the top flat. 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. One of the most common varieties was having a set number of paces walked off and the positions marked in advance. SCHEELS Chase Manhattan Bank acquired the pistols in 1930, and they now reside at the National Postal Museum. 15". There is an oval escutcheon at the wrist that has the initials GL and, in very small letters at the top of the arc, ""FOR RIGHT AND REASON"". Wogdon & Barton was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. Although sometimes the duellists would use their own pistols so the weapons would be different. Starting in 1795 to 1803, he operated with a partner, John Barton, as Wogdon & Barton so this pistol is 1795 or earlier. More has been written about this duel than any other in American history. The wedge and wrist escutcheons are silver, and the latter have a monogram that appears to be the initials "LD." Steel and Brass Section, Rod and Sheet. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. (9.6 mm); Wt. SUBSCRIBE today for our lowest ever deal, SIX ISSUES for JUST 6 by clicking on THIS link. This is famously represented in the book and film The Last Duel. 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. 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. "British Flintlock Dueling Pistol by Wogdon (AH6306)" for sale (9.6 mm); Wt. A PAIR OF FLINTLOCK DUELLING PISTOLS - Christie's But you had never gained so great a name, In England had your pistols killed as few." A Rare Pair Of 40-Bore Flintlock Overcoat Or Travelling PistolsBy Wogdon & Barton Of London, Circa 1800. Wogdons guns were designed to be aimed quickly, reliably fire, and shoot true. Very good with more than half of the period refurbished brown, distinct Damascus patterns, and bright gold vent on the barrel; mottled silver-gray patina on the lock, gray and brown patina on the iron furniture, dark aged patina on the silver, replaced ramrod shaft, minor oxidation/pitting, and general mild wear. [7], The most famous and innovative manufacturers were London-based companies such as Wogdon & Barton, Durs Egg, Manton, Mortimer, Nock, and Purdey. 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. (136.1 g); cleaning rod (c): L. 15 1/2 in. [3][4] Wogdon formed a partnership in 1794 with John Barton, after which their pistols were signed Wogdon and Barton. 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. There was not just a single form for a proper duel. The barrels are marked Wogdon & Barton London in script on the top flat. Bonhams : A 28-Bore Flintlock Duelling Pistol Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API. Wogdon & Barton dueling pistols Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. The 10" swamped at the muzzle octagon 67 caliber smooth bore barrels have good bores with light roughness. 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. Hamilton received a .54-caliber wound to the abdomen from an English-made Wogdon & Barton flintlock smoothbore dueling pistol. [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". Description The barrels are 10 octagonal, sighted, browned twist with bore size of .476 and scratch rifled. While the design looks a bit odd, the author has found most sawhandle pistols point very naturally. 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 . Since the 1800s, explorers and dangerous game hunters navigating the African bush have trusted their lives to the double rifle. (39.4 cm); Wt. The overall length is approx. 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. 14.75"". Who Shot First? A History Of Famous Duels - Wideners Shooting, Hunting Burr was unharmed but stood in shock before being rushed away from the scene as was customary. Guns International #: 102053710 Seller's Inventory #: AH6322. As the challenged party, Hamilton selected Churchs pistols as the weapons. Poem, Stanzas on Duelling, by an Irish Volunteer, 1783, began Hail Wogden! A duelling pistol is a type of pistol that was manufactured in matching pairs to be used in a duel, when duels were customary. There are currently no customer product questions on this lot. 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 Burr and Hamilton Duel at Weehawken, New Jersey, July 11, 1804 (30.3 cm); Cal. 15". [11] A pair of rifled pistols often included a small hammer or mallet as an accessory; they used slightly oversized bullets and a hammer was needed to drive the bullet down the barrel when loading. The Met Collection API is where all makers, creators, researchers, and dreamers can now connect to the most up-to-date data and images for more than 470,000 artworks in The Met collection. The trigger guard finial is an engraved acorn. The Burr-Hamilton duel pistols were originally in a very similar configuration to this pair. David S. Weaver covered this for the American Society of Arms Collectors,but in short, Wodgons barrels were bent downwards slightly. (1726.5 g), Classification: The overall length of the pistols is 16in and the smooth-bore octagonal barrels are 29-bore. Burrs shot had struck him in the ribs and caused serious damage to his organs and left him paralyzed. Not all fine, antique pairs of pistols are duelling pistols, though they may be called so. [2] 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. There's a lot going on in this escutcheon! The duel took place at exactly the same place where Philips father was to meet Aaron Burr three years later. Mortimer & Son dueling pistols was presented by the Prince Regent to Spanish rebel Francisco Sayus in 1811 and was later owned by Confederate Secretary of the Navy Stephen R. Mallory. 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. On 13 January 1777 at the Adelphi Tavern and Coffeehouse, Bate was accosted by Stoney and the duel proceeded without any witnesses. Again, the affair began with politics. These pistols from the National Maritime Museum are engraved Horatio Nelson 1780. He formally called upon the Duke either to give up the name of his false informant or afford him satisfaction. Dueling Pistols | National Postal Museum See "A." 344. .38 in. Guns International #: 102054289 Seller's Inventory #: AH6306. A North African Flintlock Pistol . Free ground shipping on all US Online Orders over $100! In London, the first recorded pistol duel was in 1711[Note 1] but the use of pistols was unusual until the 1760s. Holster pistols, or horse pistols were used on horseback and carried in pairs in a leather holster slung across a horse's saddle. Wogdon & Barton (British, London 17951803), Gunsmith: They are immediately recognizable by their elegant proportions, restrained ornament, and technical refinement. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. With John Barton traded as Wogdon & Barton, from 1795, succeeded by Barton, 1803. 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. 7 oz. One Theophilus Swift was to write a pamphlet on the affair, taking the Dukes side. Given both men had time to take deliberate aim, neither may walk away unscathed, and the chance of death was high. Often the duelists would each select one pistol from a cased pair, but in some duels they would each use one of their own, and if a second round of fire was demanded they could use the other. This was a legal proceeding in which a persons guilt or innocence was determined by the outcome of a fight. If Hamilton were to admit to Burrs charge, which was substantially true, he would lose his honour. Both sets of pistols have single set triggers. 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. [3] Other features were saw handles, platinum-lined touch-holes and hair triggers. 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 . Lot 1278: Cased pair of Walter Adams percussion dueling pistols. Duelling pistol - Wikipedia 0.00. The overall length is approx. [12], Pairs of duelling pistols can be easily confused with holster pistols and travelling pistols. 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. Wogdon & Barton - Wikiwand Churchs Wogdon & Barton pistols were used on July 11, 1804, close to where the young Hamilton had been mortally wounded. 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. [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. Fate or divine intervention was a key aspect of the origins of dueling. 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. Patron of that Leaden death. 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. This time by his father and Vice President Aaron Burr. For this reason, very few duels can now be confidently identified as those in which Wogdon pistols were used. 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. 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. (17.1 cm); Wt. 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. 4.8 oz. 15"". Had Lennox refused to challenge the Duke, his reputation as an officer and a gentleman would have been irrevocably compromised. 2023 Rock Island Auction Company. Robert Wogdon (British, 17341813), Gunsmith: John OSullivan and De Witt Bailey chart the life and work of the gunmaker known for his duelling pistols in their new book, Robert Wogdon, Wogdon & Barton, John Barton, London Gunmakers 1764-1819. 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! 12.9 oz. Then Eacker raised his pistol and shot Hamilton above the hip. Lot 1275: Cased Pair of Griffin & Tow flintlock dueling pistols circa 1780. Deloping was technically against most dueling codes as it implied the matter was not actually serious enough for an exchange of gunfire, but it wasnt uncommon. 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. 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 . 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: Two discarded Wogdon pistols were discovered. The Colt Single Action Army revolver and the Winchester Model. The seconds turned their backs, so they could deny being credible witnesses to what transpired should they be drawn into court. 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. Colonel Lennox and the Duke, accompanied by their seconds, met on Wimbledon Common on the morning of 26 May. [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. Pistol (a): L. 16 1/8 in. An eagle is engraved on the headband. Nonetheless, smoothbore dueling pistols, generally around 28 bore (.54 caliber), were the weapons of choice by the late 18th century. Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded. The lock, which is bright along with the cock, is marked in script ""Wogdon"". Two shots are believed to have rung out almost simultaneously. 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. Gunmaker John Rigby indicated this was done by Wogdon to try to remedy the fact that duelists often fired high and missed their mark, but in reality bending the bore down would not have helped, and shooting high could have been more easily remedied by different height sights. SOLD. This supremely elegant target pistol is among their most accomplished work. Impact Guns is the gun shop for all your shooting needs. By 1780, Wogdon had settled on the final form for his duelling pistols and saw no reason for any . In Britain, the favoured type was for the duellists to stand still at an agreed distance and shoot when given the signal. Contrary to popular belief, duelling pistols were made as a cased pair, not to provide a weapon for each adversary but rather so each adversary could have a second pistol if a second shot was required. Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. They, and the cocks, have raised decorative edges. A 28-Bore Flintlock Duelling PistolBy Wogdon & Barton, London, Circa 1800. Robert Wogdon - Cased pair of Flintlock Duelling pistols Patron of that Leaden death!" Wogdon had apprenticed to the Irish gunmaker Edward Norton in Lincolnshire. Their "saw handle" stocks are one of just many designs English gunmakers experimented with in their efforts to create deadly accurate dueling pistols. Burr appears to have had no such qualms and had been practicing his marksmanship. At first glance, the surviving pistol is not immediately recognisable as the work of Robert Wogdon. His total production of duelling pistols over the 39 years that he was a gunmaker is unknown. The guns had several special features, including heavy brass forends for steadier aim and both front and rear sights for a more accurate shot. Both pistols have their original iron-tipped ramrods with an attached worm at the end. All rights reserved. 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. (10 cm); Wt. No details as to the pistol used by the Duke of York have so far been found. Its the story of a, In 1873, two of America's greatest gunmakers would unveil the defining arms of the era. British Flintlock Dueling Pistol by Wogdon for sale. - Collectors Firearms [15], A further type of duel, known as a barrier duel or a duel volont (at pleasure) had the duellists walk towards each other. 4.8 oz. An Irish duelling pistol, dated 1774, a collectors term for a gun where the barrel is longer than 10in, with a short, straight butt. All the metal has a smooth gray-brown patina. Two loud bangs followed by the unmistakable sound of clashing swords were heard and, with the help of waiters, the door was forced open. 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. More Info. 14.75"". 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). Compounds and Solutions for Metals. 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. 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. Rogers Fund, 1937, Accession Number: Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel. Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr. (10.5 cm); Wt. They have small blade front and fixed notch rear sights. Carried to his Manhattan home, Hamilton lingered in agony, the pistol ball lodged next to his spine. Lot 81: This historic pair of silver mounted H.W. 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. It is now half-stocked with a silver fore-end and a rounded, chequered butt with spurred trigger-guard. "Pair of Wogdon & Barton Flintlock Dueling Pistols (AH6322)" for sale online. Pair of Wogdon & Barton Flintlock Dueling Pistols (AH6322), 7626 Westheimer @ Voss, Houston, Texas 77063. [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. 0.5 oz. [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. Pistols with rifled barrels spin-stabilize the shot when it is fired, resulting in much improved accuracy. From about 1770 onwards, gunsmiths were producing pistols expressly made for duelling.[2]. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Cobra Firearms - Omaha Outdoors [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. (22.7 g); glass bottle (f): H. 1 1/2 in. 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. 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. Died aged 79. "Loan Exhibition of European Arms and Armor," August 3September 27, 1931, no. Robert Wogdon, London | The Flintlock Collection