The stock on gun 2 is fine with no cracks or chips and the dents and dings expected of light to moderate use. Use your arrow keys to navigate the tabs below, and your tab key to choose an item, Title: Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel. 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 sliding-safety locks are marked in script "Wogdon" over "&" over "Barton". The actions on both pistols function correctly. By candlelight it was obvious that Stoney had been seriously injured with three stab wounds to the chest. 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. "The Best Damn Gunshop in the World" [3][4] Wogdon formed a partnership in 1794 with John Barton, after which their pistols were signed Wogdon and Barton. A Very Fine Cased Pair of 28-Bore Duelling Pistols. Since the 1800s, explorers and dangerous game hunters navigating the African bush have trusted their lives to the double rifle. 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. Stoney Bowes, not one to give up easily, appealed against Marys divorce suit but Mary eventually gained her freedom. Mary Eleanor Bowes was the richest heiress in England at that time. The name of one gunmaker recurs repeatedly in tales of the most infamous duels Robert Wogdon, says John O'Sullivan and De Witt Bailey, in this edited extract from Robert Wogdon, Wogdon & Barton, John Barton, London Gunmkaers 1764-1819. (17.1 cm); Wt. The custom fitted case has a later three-compartment powder flasks, balls, and an original section from the ramrod of gun "A." 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. Taking deliberate aim, was considered vicious and discouraged. Robert Wogdon manufactured the pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel, the most famous duel in American history. 0.5 oz. Lot 81: This historic pair of silver mounted H.W. [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. 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. Chase Manhattan Bank acquired the pistols in 1930, and they now reside at the National Postal Museum. Great Britain and Ireland, 1600-1800 A.D. The bow and butt cap also show engraving. It was requested that the Duke say he considered Colonel Lennox a man of honour and courage. This was a legal proceeding in which a persons guilt or innocence was determined by the outcome of a fight. Hamilton languished until 2 p.m. on July 12, 1804. 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. The barrels have a decorative band around the breech end. Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. The Colt Single Action Army revolver and the Winchester Model. This is famously represented in the book and film The Last Duel. Special care was taken when moulding the lead bullets to ensure that there were no voids which would affect accuracy. The Duke of York had publicly insulted him and had virtually accused him of cowardice. Guns International #: 102054289 Seller's Inventory #: AH6306. The locks are signed "Wogdon/&/Barton" and have frizzen rollers, sliding half-cock safeties, and stepped tails. They have small blade front and fixed notch rear sights. 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. 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. 283, sold to MMA). One could be excused for not recognising the pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel as having been made by the famous Wogdon. 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. (136.1 g); cleaning rod (c): L. 15 1/2 in. ANTIQUE Engraved WOGDON FLINTLOCK Dueling Pistol Pistol Maker of the Pistols Used in the BURR-HAMILTON Duel! The seconds turned their backs, so they could deny being credible witnesses to what transpired should they be drawn into court. 37.154.3ag. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. Two pairs of pistols allowed for a second exchange of shots if both missed and the challenger of the duel was intent on continuing. More Info. Starting in 1795 to 1803, he operated with a partner, John Barton, as Wogdon & Barton so this pistol is 1795 or earlier. The sliding-safety locks are marked in script ""Wogdon"" over ""&"" over ""Barton"". After he forcibly abducted Mary to the north of England, a warrant was issued for Stoney Bowes arrest. 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. Wogdon retired in 1803 and died in 1813. 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. Although best suited for military use, they were often owned by civilians. Eacker had called the two young men damned rascals.. The Duke had earlier indicated to Colonel Lennox that he wished to desire no protection from his rank. The engraving on the escutcheon merits further research. Robert Wogdon and John Barton operated at 14 Haymarket, London, from 1795 to 1803. Threading and drilling tooling. Until the mid-18th century, duels were typically fought with swords. 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. 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. Tools for metal. 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. Often if one duelist had not fired around the same time, they would not even return fire unless they were seriously at odds with their opponent. 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. (14.2 g); case (g): H. 2 5/8 in. He then fled to Europe where he continued to conspire to steal land in the West. Spring Steel. Thus, firing too early might make you more likely to miss and have to risk being shot at from a shorter range. Copyright 2023 All rights reserved. Although their purpose was combat or self-defense, holster pistols were used on occasion to fight duels. Its the story of a, In 1873, two of America's greatest gunmakers would unveil the defining arms of the era. The 10" swamped at the muzzle octagon 67 caliber smooth bore barrels have good bores with light roughness. Tools for wood. He died in 1813, and by that time hundreds of men are believed to have been injured or killed by his pistols in duels. .36 in (9.3 mm); Wt. Hamiltons pistol went off and struck the ground. (22.7 g); glass bottle (f): H. 1 1/2 in. 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. At first glance, the surviving pistol is not immediately recognisable as the work of Robert Wogdon. SOLD. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. [7] For some in the eighteenth century, duelling with less-accurate, smooth-bore weapons was preferred as they viewed it as allowing the judgement of God to take a role in deciding the outcome of the encounter. This time by his father and Vice President Aaron Burr. Where neither principal owned a pistol, then a pair might be produced to be shared. A Scarce Double Barrel Pocket Pistol . Lot 231: Cased pair of H. Bales flintlock dueling pistols. He died on September 14, 1836, a poor and broken man, on the same day that the divorce was finalized. Derringer Handguns For Sale :: Guns.com 2/18/2023 SOLD. 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. The barrels were given a blued or browned finish to reduce glare. Wogdon was partnered with John Barton at 14 Haymarket Street in London in 1795-1803. SCHEELS From about 1770 onwards, gunsmiths were producing pistols expressly made for duelling.[2]. [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. 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. "British Flintlock Dueling Pistol by Wogdon (AH6306) . More Info. Research suggests the attribution is spurious, though the quality is superb. Cobra Firearms is a firearm and accessory manufacturer located in Salt Lake City, UT specializing in American made derringers and handguns that are unique. [3][4] Wogdon formed a partnership in 1794 with John Barton, after which their pistols were signed Wogdon and Barton. The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. However, it was acceptable for duels to be fought with different pistols and for each duellist to use their own pair, so they could use weapons they were familiar with. 1.5 oz. His pistols had now reached a level of perfect proportions and balance, and had a simple elegance that could hardly be improved. 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. This pair is rifled, something forbidden by the 18th century dueling codes but that became more accepted in the 19th century, especially in continental Europe where it became standard. There was not just a single form for a proper duel. No details as to the pistol used by the Duke of York have so far been found. Stoneys dying wish was that Mary would marry him. This is a very nice pair of dueling pistols by a well-known maker of quality flintlock pistols. The barrels on earlier guns were cylindrical, while later ones tended to be octagonal. Both parties presented and fired in succession. Not all fine, antique pairs of pistols are duelling pistols, though they may be called so. 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. Wogdons guns were designed to be aimed quickly, reliably fire, and shoot true. The name Robert Wogdon is one that appears frequently in tales of the most infamous duels. 19th September 2018. Fate or divine intervention was a key aspect of the origins of dueling. Famous for duelling pistols. (6.7 cm); W. 17 1/2 in. A fine duelling pistol by one of the best makers, in good condition, Robert Wogdon was apprenticed to Edward Newton of Grantham, Lincolnshire in 1748. A cased pair of half-stocked duelling pistols dated 1793. 3 lb. Materials. Estimated at $7,500-$12,000, these dueling pistols are beautiful, rare, and historically significant. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. 0.00. 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. But if the first to fire missed, he was required to stand still and wait for his opponent's shot. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Please use the print button in the share bar at the top of the page. 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. An Irish duelling pistol, dated 1774, a collectors term for a gun where the barrel is longer than 10in, with a short, straight butt. (10 cm); Wt. Starting in 1795 to 1803, he operated with a partner, John Barton, as Wogdon & Barton so this pistol is 1795 or earlier. (42.5 g); screwdriver (e): L. 3 15/16 in. Burr, with his political prospects already fading, demanded an explanation of what Hamilton had said about him, and a series of notes were exchanged. 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. [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". Two loud bangs followed by the unmistakable sound of clashing swords were heard and, with the help of waiters, the door was forced open. 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. Holster pistols, or horse pistols were used on horseback and carried in pairs in a leather holster slung across a horse's saddle. [2] The name Wogdon became synonymous with dueling, to the extent that duels in England were sometimes referred to as "a Wogdon affair". There are currently no customer product questions on this lot. Mechanically fine. The best hunting horse. 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. 0.8 oz. It is also only the second pair of Wogdons known with 16-sided barrels. Colonel Lennox and the Duke, accompanied by their seconds, met on Wimbledon Common on the morning of 26 May. Look at any Wogdon duelling pistol, be it one from his early production years in the mid-1770s or one made towards the end of his career when in partnership with John Barton in the early 1800s, and they all have that unmistakable Wogdon style. Two discarded Wogdon pistols were discovered. 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. The hard part would have been shooting both accurately and quickly with your life on the line. 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. More Info. They, and the cocks, have raised decorative edges. Price and Eacker exchanged shots multiple times the following day without injury and considered their affair settled. 1.3 oz. Then Eacker raised his pistol and shot Hamilton above the hip. The events that culminated in the duel were the result of several years of simmering political differences and antagonism. The barrels have a decorative band around the breech end. 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. [3], Duelling pistols had long barrels - typically around 10in (250mm) and fired large, heavy bullets. 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. Flints. Dueling pistol makers continued to innovate through the end of the flintlock era and into the percussion era. When General Hamilton arrived, the seconds measured out the distance, 10 full paces, and cast lots for the choice of position. Remarkable design and engineering continues to mark out the British gun trade. Compounds and Solutions for Wood. Steel and Brass Section, Rod and Sheet. This could certainly be a risky proposition if you didnt get to shoot first. They are immediately recognizable by their elegant proportions, restrained ornament, and technical refinement. This resulted in the death of a Member of Parliament, An account of an 1825 duel in Paris between two Irishmen states that one brought his pair of English, "Pair of Flintlock Duelling Pistols ca. A pair of duels in the early 19th century in America have done much to fix Wogdons name in American memory. In some situations, the duelist who had already fired was also supposed to keep advancing until the opponent had fired. 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. A Rifled Pocket Pistol by Smith. [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. Robert Wogdon, a gunmaker most famous for his dueling pistols, partnered with John Barton late in his career. By 1780, Wogdon had settled on the final form for his duelling pistols and saw no reason for any . Nonetheless, Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel to repair his reputation. The plain stepped locks are simply engraved Wogdon, with a plain narrow safety catch. When facing down a, The birth of the legendary Barrett M82 sniper rifle, is a fascinating American tale of inspiration, dedication, and innovation. 20002023 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 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. Hamilton received a .54-caliber wound to the abdomen from an English-made Wogdon & Barton flintlock smoothbore dueling pistol. The surviving Lennox pistol used in a duel with the Duke of York. The poem alludes to fate but suggests a duelists destiny lay in Wogdons hand. Pistol (a): L. 16 1/8 in. Certainly during his working life he was referred to as the celebrated Wogdon and also, he [Wogdon] is a famous man for making 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 answer to the question frequently asked of the owners of Wogdon duelling pistols, Were these pistols ever used in a duel? must unfortunately therefore be, We just dont know.. 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 events leading up to the duel, the newspaper articles, the near fatal injuries Stoney had suffered, had all been a complete sham engineered by Stoney and Bate to trick Bowes into marriage, giving Stoney control over her huge fortune. This supremely elegant target pistol is among their most accomplished work. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments. This rare public showing marked the first time these pistols have been displayed in Washington, D.C. [16][17] The famous fictional duel between Pierre and Dolokhov in the novel War and Peace was of this kind. Its long barrel, measuring nearly twelve inches in length, indicates its intended use for targets. SOLD. A PAIR OF FLINTLOCK DUELLING PISTOLS BY WOGDON & BARTON, LONDON, CIRCA 1800 With octagonal signed barrels each retaining much original browned finish to the underside, gold-lined touch-holes, deeply scroll engraved tangs, signed flat bevelled bolted locks each with roller, gold-lined priming-pan and some original faded case-hardened finish, set triggers, figured walnut full stocks, engraved . As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.