Had Lennox refused to challenge the Duke, his reputation as an officer and a gentleman would have been irrevocably compromised. Wogdon & Barton (British, London 17951803), Gunsmith:
(136.1 g); cleaning rod (c): L. 15 1/2 in. Not all fine, antique pairs of pistols are duelling pistols, though they may be called so. [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. But you had never gained so great a name, In England had your pistols killed as few." 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. Compounds and Solutions for Metals. (44.5 cm); D. 6 3/4 in. Haymarket, 1774-1802. His father told him to fire to miss, known as deloping, rather than take a mans life. Lot 1278: Cased pair of Walter Adams percussion dueling pistols. 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. 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. 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! Duelling pistols have long and heavy barrels - the added weight helped steady aim and reduce recoil. 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. Famous for duelling pistols. The Mantons, Griffin & Tow, H.W. From about 1770 onwards, gunsmiths were producing pistols expressly made for duelling.[2]. The barrels have a decorative band around the breech end. But you had never gained so great a name, In England had your pistols killed as few." 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. 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. 1 lb. Finally, a published letter made reference to a particularly despicable opinion Hamilton had expressed about Burr. The guns had several special features, including heavy brass forends for steadier aim and both front and rear sights for a more accurate shot. This is famously represented in the book and film The Last Duel. 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. When facing down a, The birth of the legendary Barrett M82 sniper rifle, is a fascinating American tale of inspiration, dedication, and innovation. The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. These pistols from the National Maritime Museum are engraved Horatio Nelson 1780. The butt cap and trigger guard are polished bright. The only recorded Wogdon pistol with a brass barrel, hallmarked 1791. 12.9 oz. The various component parts of these firearms were individually produced under the direction of a master gunmaker by highly specialized craftsmen, including a lock smith, barrel forger, stocker, and engraver. Although their purpose was combat or self-defense, holster pistols were used on occasion to fight duels. (9.6 mm); Wt. 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). Burrs shot had struck him in the ribs and caused serious damage to his organs and left him paralyzed. Chase Manhattan Bank acquired the pistols in 1930, and they now reside at the National Postal Museum. 15". 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 . Pistol Kits; Chemicals and Compounds. One of the most common varieties was having a set number of paces walked off and the positions marked in advance. (36.9 g); bullet mould (d): L. 4 13/16 (12.2 cm); Cal. Lot 3247: A very desirable cased pair of Wogdon & Barton flintlock dueling pistols from circa 1795-1803. A North African Flintlock Pistol . Of course if you could hit your opponent first, you might not have to be fired upon at all. All the metal has a smooth gray-brown patina. If either party was injured at all, the seconds were generally expected to work to declare the duel was over. Wogdon retired in 1803 and died in 1813. (17.1 cm); Wt. Dueling as a way to protect one's reputation has long faded from acceptable behavior, but these paired and cased dueling pistols for sale in Rock Island Auction Company's Aug. 26-28 Premier Auction are a fascinating way to recall a different time and a different way of personal conduct. Starting in 1795 to 1803, he operated with a partner, John Barton, as Wogdon & Barton so this pistol is 1795 or earlier. Other Materials. 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. The plain stepped locks are simply engraved Wogdon, with a plain narrow safety catch. Browse SCHEELS selection of handguns and pistols featuring top brands like Glock, SIG, Smith & Wesson, & more. (136.1 g); cleaning rod (c): L. 15 1/2 in. Graceful yet practical and perfectly balanced in the hand, they privilege overall formal quality and flawless mechanical work over applied adornments. [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. Initially, both men refused to fire. 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. Burrs intention seems quite clear. 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 . The barrels are marked Wogdon & Barton London in script on the top flat. The barrels were given a blued or browned finish to reduce glare. 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. Famous for duelling pistols. For example, when the Duke of York was challenged by his nephew Charles Lennox when they were serving in the Coldstream Guards, Lennoxs Wogdon pistols from 12 paces at Wimbledon Common was chosen, and they were to fire upon the signal. Each 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 including trigger guard with pineapple finial, horn tipped ramrod; contained in their original baize lined mahogany case with accessories including a leather bodied flask, flint wallet and cleaning rod, the exterior with recessed brass carrying handle. Guns International #: 102053710
Seller's Inventory #: AH6322. SOLD. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. (9.6 mm); Wt. 4.8 oz. Taking deliberate aim, was considered vicious and discouraged. When his second wife divorced him in 1834, Alexander Hamilton Jr. served as her lawyer. Colonel Lennox fired and the ball grazed one of his Royal Highness curls. They, and the cocks, have raised decorative edges. The Field is the oldest and ultimate sporting journal, covering everything rural types care about since 1853. SOLD. Alternatively, the duelists might exchange shots in turn instead of firing at the same time as was the case in the Laurens-Grimk duel in 1775. 15". This rare public showing marked the first time these pistols have been displayed in Washington, D.C. Are they bred or made? He left no records and never used serial numbers on his guns. Very good with more than half of the period refurbished brown, distinct Damascus patterns, and bright gold vent on the barrel; mix of brown and mottled silver-gray patina on the lock, gray and brown patina on the iron furniture, dark aged patina on the silver, mild oxidation/pitting, and generally mild wear overall. The wedge and wrist escutcheons are silver, and the latter have a monogram that appears to be the initials "LD." 4.8 oz. Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded. The Burr-Hamilton duel pistols were originally in a very similar configuration to this pair. A cased pair of half-stocked duelling pistols dated 1793. Stoney was to make Marys life a nightmare, subjecting her and her children to eight years of continuing physical and mental abuse, including threats of rape and murder. .36 in (9.3 mm); Wt. 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. Philip was mortally wounded, and died in agony the following day. 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. 0.5 oz. [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. Literature: For similar examples see Robert Wogdon, Wogdon & Barton, John Barton by John OSullivan & De Witt Bailey pp 180 185. 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. In some instances multiple rounds were fired without injury. London proof marks and RW barrel makers mark. 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. The victor is presumed to be the just party in the case because the divine would have chosen the winner. The crest and monogram strongly suggest they may have belonged to Wogdons son-in-law, William Butt Jnr. At a meeting three days later of officers of the Coldstream Guards to deliberate on whether Colonel Lennox had behaved as became an officer and gentleman, the officers resolved: It is the opinion of the Coldstream Regiment that Colonel Lennox had behaved with courage but from the peculiar difficulty of his case, not with judgement. Soon afterwards Colonel Lennox resigned his commission in the Duke of Yorks regiment. More Info. 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. 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. (22.7 g); glass bottle (f): H. 1 1/2 in. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/29592. (39.4 cm); Wt. [2] The name Wogdon became synonymous with dueling, to the extent that duels in England were sometimes referred to as "a Wogdon affair". 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. 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. 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. The Wogdon pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel belonged to Hamiltons brother-in-law, Colonel John Barker Church. 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. See "A." Such alterations would have taken place at some time after it left Wogdons shop. Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr. 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. British, London, Medium:
The actions on both pistols function correctly. The overall length is approx. Robert Wogdon manufactured the pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel, the most famous duel in American history. This resulted in a further duel between Colonel Lennox and Swift, which resulted in the unfortunate Swift being shot in the abdomen. The whereabouts of the second Wogdon pistol are unknown. Since the 1800s, explorers and dangerous game hunters navigating the African bush have trusted their lives to the double rifle. 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. A pair of duels in the early 19th century in America have done much to fix Wogdons name in American memory. [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". (14.2 g); case (g): H. 2 5/8 in. The Most Famous Set of Dueling Pistols - Wogdon & Barton Until the building's demolition in 2019, you could view the most famous set of dueling pistols in history on display at the former JPMorgan Chase Tower, at 270 Park Avenue, NY, New York. 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. He is recorded as 'Gunmaker, at Mr. Maw's Haberdasher, Cockspur St., Charing Cross' in 1764. Patron of that Leaden death. SCHEELS One Theophilus Swift was to write a pamphlet on the affair, taking the Dukes side. 0.00. 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 is an edited extract from Robert Wogdon, Wogdon & Barton, John Barton, London Gunmakers 1764-1819, price 75, published by Bonhams. 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"". There's a lot going on in this escutcheon! 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. Lot 1275: Cased Pair of Griffin & Tow flintlock dueling pistols circa 1780. In some duels, the pistols were carefully and identically loaded, and each duellist was offered his choice of the indistinguishable loaded pistols. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. (6.7 cm); W. 17 1/2 in. But if the first to fire missed, he was required to stand still and wait for his opponent's shot. Cobra Derringers are beautifully handcrafted with a wide range of calibers and barrel lengths that provides versatile and reliable service for a lifetime. 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. Instead, the duelists should fire quickly. The brown damascus style finish is visible in several areas along with scattered dents and manufacturing defects. One could be excused for not recognising the pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel as having been made by the famous Wogdon. Collecting, preserving, researching, publishing, and exhibiting distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. 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. 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. He went perilously close to putting a ball through the dukes head, grazing one of the royal curls an action which would not have improved his military career prospects. Remarkable design and engineering continues to mark out the British gun trade. 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. 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. Despite duelling being always regarded as illegal, in practice it was widely tolerated by both the juries and the sentencing judges. Standard flintlock pistols can have a noticeable delay between pulling the trigger and actually firing the bullet unless precisely tuned. 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 lock, which is bright along with the cock, is marked in script ""Wogdon"". They loaded the pistols and the parties took their stations. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 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 10"" swamped at the muzzle octagon 67 caliber smooth bore barrels have good bores with light roughness. He died the following day. Impact Guns is the gun shop for all your shooting needs. Stoneys dying wish was that Mary would marry him.