wogdon and barton dueling pistols

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. At first glance, the surviving pistol is not immediately recognisable as the work of Robert Wogdon. Click here for more information. Such alterations would have taken place at some time after it left Wogdons shop. The plot was foiled, but he was acquitted. The name Wogdon or, as it was sometimes recorded, Wogden or Wegden, suggests its origin might have been in some long-forgotten ancient craft or trade, or the name of one of the more than 3,000 lost medieval villages, the names of which have long since disappeared from the map. Mechanically fine. A Continental Pin Fire Revolver. The Critical Review; or, Annals of Literature, hot air balloons with blunderbusses over Paris, Duke of York was challenged by his nephew Charles Lennox. 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 Flintlock Target Pistol of Prince William Frederick, Second Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (17761834), with Case and Accessories, Gunsmith: 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. 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. [12], Late model English duelling pistols fired by percussion cap, bearing the Royal Warrant on the case, Earlier English flintlock duelling pistols made by Wogdon & Barton, used in the fatal Burr-Hamilton duel of 1804. Duelling pistols are often single-shot flintlock or percussion black-powder pistols which fire a lead ball. The usual duelling distance of 12 paces was measured out and it was agreed that both parties would fire at the given signal. 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: Initially, both men refused to fire. [19] Participants wore heavy, protective clothing and a metal helmet, similar to a fencing mask but with an eye-screen of thick glass. Browse SCHEELS selection of handguns and pistols featuring top brands like Glock, SIG, Smith & Wesson, & more. 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. 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. 0.5 oz. (6.7 cm); W. 17 1/2 in. Robert Wogdon and John Barton operated at 14 Haymarket, London, from 1795 to 1803. 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. Description The barrels are 10 octagonal, sighted, browned twist with bore size of .476 and scratch rifled. Purpose-built duelling pistols have various improvements to make them more reliable and accurate. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. (10 cm); Wt. 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. When it came down to staring down an opponent, many men put their trust in gunmakers like Robert Wogdon rather than divine intervention. (30.3 cm); Cal. Flints. A cased pair of half-stocked duelling pistols dated 1793. Died aged 79. They are immediately recognizable by their elegant proportions, restrained ornament, and technical refinement. A 28-Bore Flintlock Duelling PistolBy Wogdon & Barton, London, Circa 1800. The Colt Single Action Army revolver and the Winchester Model. Literature: For similar examples see Robert Wogdon, Wogdon & Barton, John Barton by John OSullivan & De Witt Bailey pp 180 185. ANTIQUE Engraved WOGDON FLINTLOCK Dueling Pistol Pistol Maker of the Pistols Used in the BURR-HAMILTON Duel! SOLD. Lennox replied that he could not consider His Royal Highness as any other than the son of his King. 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. 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. Its long barrel, measuring nearly twelve inches in length, indicates its intended use for targets. 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. A North African Flintlock Pistol . 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. [3][4] Wogdon formed a partnership in 1794 with John Barton, after which their pistols were signed Wogdon and Barton. 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. When General Hamilton arrived, the seconds measured out the distance, 10 full paces, and cast lots for the choice of position. Duelling pistols have long and heavy barrels - the added weight helped steady aim and reduce recoil. Haymarket, 1774-1802. (41 cm); L. of barrel 11 15/16 in. Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded. Spring Steel. More Info. 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). These consisted of wax bullets in a cartridge without any powder charge; the bullet was propelled only by the explosion of the cartridge's primer. The best hunting horse. The hard part would have been shooting both accurately and quickly with your life on the line. He died in 1813, and by that time hundreds of men are believed to have been injured or killed by his pistols in duels. 12.9 oz. Burr was never tried for Hamiltons death, but rather than revive his political career, the duel was its death knell. 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. [21], Pairs of duelling pistols were often supplied in compartmentalised wooden cases along with a powder flask, rods for cleaning and loading, spare flints, spanners and other tools, and a bullet mould. The Wogdon pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel belonged to Hamiltons brother-in-law, Colonel John Barker Church. Lot 81: This historic pair of silver mounted H.W. The actions on both pistols function correctly. The name Robert Wogdon is one that appears frequently in tales of the most infamous duels. 1.5 oz. 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. 7626 Westheimer @ Voss, Houston, Texas 77063. 3 lb. The barrels are marked Wogdon & Barton London in script on the top flat. 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. Although best suited for military use, they were often owned by civilians. The overall length is approx. Starting in 1795 to 1803, he operated with a partner, John Barton, as Wogdon & Barton so this pistol is 1795 or earlier. The brown damascus style finish is visible in several areas along with scattered dents and manufacturing defects. Thereafter they quickly took over and after 1785 it was rare for a sword duel to be fought in London. Their "saw handle" stocks are one of just many designs English gunmakers experimented with in their efforts to create deadly accurate dueling pistols. [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. 15"". As you can see, hitting a man-sized target with a muzzleloading pistol wouldnt have been particularly difficult. 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. They, and the cocks, have raised decorative edges. Threading and drilling tooling. (30.3 cm); Cal. Wogdons guns were designed to be aimed quickly, reliably fire, and shoot true. The crest and monogram strongly suggest they may have belonged to Wogdons son-in-law, William Butt Jnr. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. He is recorded as 'Gunmaker, at Mr. Maw's Haberdasher, Cockspur St., Charing Cross' in 1764. This dueling flintlock pistol is by Robert Wogdon (1733-1813), a well-known London gunsmith from Lincolnshire who operated at Haymarket, London, from 1774 to 1802. The trigger guard finial is an engraved acorn. Firearms-Pistols-Flintlock, Credit Line: Use your arrow keys to navigate the tabs below, and your tab key to choose an item, Title: Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr. Colonel Lennox and the Duke, accompanied by their seconds, met on Wimbledon Common on the morning of 26 May. Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API. A Rifled Pocket Pistol by Smith. .36 in (9.3 mm); Wt. SUBSCRIBE today for our lowest ever deal, SIX ISSUES for JUST 6 by clicking on THIS link. 14.75"". He then fled to Europe where he continued to conspire to steal land in the West. Tools for wood. .38 in. It was requested that the Duke say he considered Colonel Lennox a man of honour and courage. Of course if you could hit your opponent first, you might not have to be fired upon at all. [18] For an eye-witness account of such a duel, see Reynolds (1839).[14]. These shots were fired at 25 yards with rapid dueling style aim rather than carefully deliberate aim. 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. [3] Other features were saw handles, platinum-lined touch-holes and hair triggers. 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"". Click Photo to Enlarge Guns International #: 101363115 Seller's Inventory #: 190413 Category Antique Pistols - Flintlock Handguns - European Pistols Seller's Information (36.9 g); bullet mould (d): L. 4 13/16 (12.2 cm); Cal. More has been written about this duel than any other in American history. The duel took place at exactly the same place where Philips father was to meet Aaron Burr three years later. No details as to the pistol used by the Duke of York have so far been found. 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 . As John Norris writes in Pistols at Dawn: A History of Duelling, Wogdons name has unarguably become more closely associated with dueling pistols than any other gunsmith of the period, and has come to epitomize these specialized firearms. The seconds turned their backs, so they could deny being credible witnesses to what transpired should they be drawn into court. Until the mid-18th century, duels were typically fought with swords. 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. Starting in 1795 to 1803, he operated with a partner, John Barton, as Wogdon & Barton so this pistol is 1795 or earlier. 0.00. In Britain, the favoured type was for the duellists to stand still at an agreed distance and shoot when given the signal. Had Lennox refused to challenge the Duke, his reputation as an officer and a gentleman would have been irrevocably compromised. 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. Her promiscuous behaviour was well known and a series of anonymous, scurrilous articles with barely veiled references to her appeared in Reverend Bates Morning Post. Compounds and Solutions for Wood. By 1780, Wogdon had settled on the final form for his duelling pistols and saw no reason for any . (14.2 g); case (g): H. 2 5/8 in. Impact also services the needs of law enforcement and military with our wide variety of tactical weapons and . There's a lot going on in this escutcheon! You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Stoney Bowes, not one to give up easily, appealed against Marys divorce suit but Mary eventually gained her freedom. All the metal has a smooth gray-brown patina. [15], A further type of duel, known as a barrier duel or a duel volont (at pleasure) had the duellists walk towards each other. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments. SCHEELS [7], The most famous and innovative manufacturers were London-based companies such as Wogdon & Barton, Durs Egg, Manton, Mortimer, Nock, and Purdey. By candlelight it was obvious that Stoney had been seriously injured with three stab wounds to the chest. It is also only the second pair of Wogdons known with 16-sided barrels. 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. Pistol dueling was an associate (non-medal) event at the 1906 and 1908 Olympic games (see Olympic dueling). [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. (9.6 mm); Wt. Remarkable design and engineering continues to mark out the British gun trade. The custom fitted case has a later three-compartment powder flasks, balls, and an original section from the ramrod of gun "A." Two shots are believed to have rung out almost simultaneously. Great Britain and Ireland, 1600-1800 A.D. This is famously represented in the book and film The Last Duel. More Info. More Info. Surprisingly, Lee was only lightly wounded and the affair ultimately ended without another exchange, in part due to Alexander Hamiltons role as Laurenss second. The stock on gun 1, which is lighter than gun 2, is vey good with no cracks, a chip around the rear barrel key, a small chip at the rear trigger guard attachment pin on the right, and scattered usage dents and dings. Wogdon made the pistols used in the infamous BurrHamilton duel, which were later claimed to have concealed "hair triggers" (also known as set triggers). 0.00. 4.8 oz. With John Barton, traded Wogdon & Barton from 1795, succeeded by Barton, 1803. When his second wife divorced him in 1834, Alexander Hamilton Jr. served as her lawyer. 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. (1726.5 g), Classification: (42.5 g); screwdriver (e): L. 3 15/16 in. 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. Many later pistols have heavier barrels and half-stocks while the early pistols are lighter and full-stocked. The sliding-safety locks are marked in script ""Wogdon"" over ""&"" over ""Barton"". The Field is the oldest and ultimate sporting journal, covering everything rural types care about since 1853. Stoney demanded Bate reveal the author of these articles; Bate refused and Stoney challenged him to a duel as the Countess of Strathmores champion. 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. His father told him to fire to miss, known as deloping, rather than take a mans life. Wogdon & Barton dueling pistols Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. 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. Much to everyones surprise, following the wedding Stoney made a rapid and complete recovery. Robert Wogdon (British, 17341813), Gunsmith: Are they bred or made? 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 barrels have a decorative band around the breech end. In some instances multiple rounds were fired without injury. Gunsmith John Barton British. Wogdon retired in 1803 and died in 1813. (22.7 g); glass bottle (f): H. 1 1/2 in. The doctors concluded that Stoneys injuries might well prove fatal. To this day, debate still rages as to whether Alexander Hamilton deliberately fired high over Burrs head to demonstrate he had no intention of shooting Burr, or whether his pistol prematurely discharged due to the set trigger before he could properly bring his pistol to bear. As the challenged party, Hamilton selected Churchs pistols as the weapons. SOLD. The 9 5/8"" octagon 64 caliber swamped smooth bore barrel has a fair bore with pitting. These pistols from the National Maritime Museum are engraved Horatio Nelson 1780. As a result, duelling pistols with rifled barrels were considered unsporting by many, although there was no unfairness so long as the pistols were identical. This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Wogdon had apprenticed to the Irish gunmaker Edward Norton in Lincolnshire. 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. 1.3 oz. Gunmaker at Mr. Maws haberdashers, Cockspur St., Charing Cross, 1764. Poem, Stanzas on Duelling, by an Irish Volunteer, 1783, began Hail Wogden! The events that culminated in the duel were the result of several years of simmering political differences and antagonism. Derringer Handguns For Sale :: Guns.com 2/18/2023 Both pistols have their original iron-tipped ramrods with an attached worm at the end. "The Best Damn Gunshop in the World" Robert Wogdon manufactured the pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel, the most famous duel in American history. He carried on his business in Haymarket from 1774 until his retirement in 1802. Scroll left to view more. The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. Geoff Walker trading as The Flintlock Collection - All Rights Reserved (17.1 cm); Wt. 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. 1.5 oz. 1834); Theodore Offerman, New York (until d. 1937; his estate sale, American Art Association-Anderson Galleries, Inc., New York, November 1113, 1937, no. Wogdon made the pistols used in the infamous BurrHamilton duel, which were later claimed to have concealed "hair triggers" (also known as set triggers). Its the story of a, In 1873, two of America's greatest gunmakers would unveil the defining arms of the era. In London, the first recorded pistol duel was in 1711[Note 1] but the use of pistols was unusual until the 1760s. [1] The name Wogdon became synonymous with dueling, to the extent that duels in England were sometimes referred to as "a Wogdon affair". (1726.5 g). If either party was injured at all, the seconds were generally expected to work to declare the duel was over. Cobra Derringers are beautifully handcrafted with a wide range of calibers and barrel lengths that provides versatile and reliable service for a lifetime. 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 . During the late 19th and the early 20th centuries, duelling became a sport in which shooters fired at each other using non-lethal rounds. The stock on gun 1, which is lighter than gun 2, is vey good with no cracks, a chip around the rear barrel key, a small chip at the rear trigger guard attachment pin on the right, and scattered usage dents and dings. Many of Wogdons pistols have bent barrels. As the distance closed they could fire at will. 15". Famous for duelling pistols. Compounds and Solutions for Metals. It has an inoperative hammer safety. [16][17] The famous fictional duel between Pierre and Dolokhov in the novel War and Peace was of this kind. 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. The bow and butt cap also show engraving. 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. [12], Pairs of duelling pistols can be easily confused with holster pistols and travelling pistols. 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 . 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. This emphasis on the purity of form references the Neoclassical style then in vogue. The Duke of York had publicly insulted him and had virtually accused him of cowardice. Robert Wogdon, a gunmaker most famous for his dueling pistols, partnered with John Barton late in his career. 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. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. Burr was unharmed but stood in shock before being rushed away from the scene as was customary. The barrels were given a blued or browned finish to reduce glare. Instead, the duelists should fire quickly. One of the most common varieties was having a set number of paces walked off and the positions marked in advance. [20], The use of pistols in duels became popular in the United Kingdom, France, and colonial America during the mid-eighteenth century. Two discarded Wogdon pistols were discovered. Both parties presented and fired in succession. Wogdon & Barton was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. Exactly what happened next has been debated and veiled in mystery ever since. Steel and Brass Section, Rod and Sheet. 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. Colonel Lennox would have faced a real dilemma over this incident. .36 in (9.3 mm); Wt. Special care was taken when moulding the lead bullets to ensure that there were no voids which would affect accuracy. (3.8 cm); Wt. The relined case has moderate age and storage related wear. Where neither principal owned a pistol, then a pair might be produced to be shared. Pair of Wogdon & Barton Flintlock Dueling Pistols (AH6322), 7626 Westheimer @ Voss, Houston, Texas 77063. 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. 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. The wedge and wrist escutcheons are silver, and the latter have a monogram that appears to be the initials "LD." Patron of that Leaden death!" A duelling pistol is a type of pistol that was manufactured in matching pairs to be used in a duel, when duels were customary. When Charles Lee and John Laurens dueled during the American Revolution, they each brought a pair. 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.