All the metal has a smooth gray-brown patina. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments. 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. Robert Wogdon, a gunmaker most famous for his dueling pistols, partnered with John Barton late in his career. [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. The hard part would have been shooting both accurately and quickly with your life on the line. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. 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 . (9.6 mm); Wt. However, in some duels where the parties truly despised one another and the insults had been particularly serious, the adversaries agreed to duel until one of them was too injured to go on or killed. All the metal has a smooth gray-brown patina. Colonel Lennox and the Duke, accompanied by their seconds, met on Wimbledon Common on the morning of 26 May. Hamilton did not elaborate but indicated his remarks were political, not personal, which would imply that Burrs honor had not been drawn into question. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/29592. Guns International #: 102054289 Seller's Inventory #: AH6306. Thereafter they quickly took over and after 1785 it was rare for a sword duel to be fought in London. The original dueling pistols used by Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr in the 1804 duel that killed Hamilton were on exhibit from May 25 - September 16, 2018. It has an inoperative hammer safety. In 1797, Alexander Hamilton's brother-in-law, John Baker Church, had obtained an exquisite pair of custom-made dueling pistols made by Wogdon. [Note 2] Injuries from such bullets, coupled with the primitive state of emergency medicine at the time when duels were commonplace, meant that pistol duels frequently resulted in fatalities, often some hours or days afterwards. Geoff Walker trading as The Flintlock Collection - All Rights Reserved Pistol dueling was an associate (non-medal) event at the 1906 and 1908 Olympic games (see Olympic dueling). As the challenged party, Hamilton selected Churchs pistols as the weapons. Desirable Cased Pair of Engraved Wogdon & Barton Flintlock Dueling Pistols Auction Date: August 28, 2022 Estimated Price: $ 6,500 - $ 9,500 Price Realized: Details A) Wogdon & Barton Dueling Pistol Manufacturer: English Model: Flintlock Pistol Type: Pistol Gauge: 54 Barrel: 10 inch octagon Finish: brown/casehardened/blue Grip: Stock: walnut 0.8 oz. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Gunsmith John Barton British. [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. A serious pistol shot would practise with his own pair and would be reluctant to provide one of his pistols to his adversary. Hamilton languished until 2 p.m. on July 12, 1804. [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. Its the story of a, In 1873, two of America's greatest gunmakers would unveil the defining arms of the era. Price and Eacker exchanged shots multiple times the following day without injury and considered their affair settled. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. Burrs intention seems quite clear. Firearms-Pistols-Flintlock, Credit Line: 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. 12.9 oz. At first glance, the surviving pistol is not immediately recognisable as the work of Robert Wogdon. [3] Other features were saw handles, platinum-lined touch-holes and hair triggers. For example, if God was sure to choose the innocent, then he could guide a ball to the proper target no matter how inaccurate the pistol, but duelists sought out pistols by gunmakers known for reliability and accuracy, and some practiced shooting at targets to ensure their aim was true. 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. Cased Pair of John Blissett & Son Percussion Dueling Pistols: Lot 332 Four British Prime Ministers have engaged in duels throughout history. Wogdon retired in 1803 and died in 1813. 1.5 oz. [1] The name Wogdon became synonymous with dueling, to the extent that duels in England were sometimes referred to as "a Wogdon affair". 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. 14.75"". In some situations, the duelist who had already fired was also supposed to keep advancing until the opponent had fired. 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. To refuse to take part in the duel would have had the same result. He died on September 14, 1836, a poor and broken man, on the same day that the divorce was finalized. Robert Wogdon and John Barton operated at 14 Haymarket, London, from 1795 to 1803. Duelling pistols are often single-shot flintlock or percussion black-powder pistols which fire a lead ball. Church himself had fought a bloodless duel with Burr a few years earlier. These shots were fired at 25 yards with rapid dueling style aim rather than carefully deliberate aim. This is a very nice pair of dueling pistols by a well-known maker of quality flintlock pistols. All rights reserved. One Theophilus Swift was to write a pamphlet on the affair, taking the Dukes side. The engraving on the escutcheon merits further research. Stoney Bowes was to spend the remaining 22 years of his life as a prisoner, his mounting debts still unpaid, and still pursuing yet more legal avenues to regain control of Marys fortune. The 10"" swamped at the muzzle octagon 67 caliber smooth bore barrels have good bores with light roughness. Famous for duelling pistols. More has been written about this duel than any other in American history. The brown damascus style finish is . One of the most common varieties was having a set number of paces walked off and the positions marked in advance. [2] The name Wogdon became synonymous with dueling, to the extent that duels in England were sometimes referred to as "a Wogdon affair". Steel and Brass Section, Rod and Sheet. 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. (41 cm); L. of barrel 11 15/16 in. The Wogdon pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel belonged to Hamiltons brother-in-law, Colonel John Barker Church. [2] The name Wogdon became synonymous with dueling, to the extent that duels in England were sometimes referred to as "a Wogdon affair". Chase Manhattan Bank acquired the pistols in 1930, and they now reside at the National Postal Museum. A discussion of the poem in "The Critical Review; or, Annals of Literature" from 1782 notes, "The artist to whom these stanzas are inscribed is famous for his skill in making pistols, whose aim is remarkably true" and notes the lines "No one can tell how short he shall remain, If honour calls and Wogdon bids him die" as among the best in the poem. Of course if you could hit your opponent first, you might not have to be fired upon at all. Pistol (a): L. 16 1/8 in. Not all fine, antique pairs of pistols are duelling pistols, though they may be called so. Both pistols have their original iron-tipped ramrods with an attached worm at the end. [16][17] The famous fictional duel between Pierre and Dolokhov in the novel War and Peace was of this kind. 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. 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. These pistols from the National Maritime Museum are engraved Horatio Nelson 1780. The events that culminated in the duel were the result of several years of simmering political differences and antagonism. (42.5 g); screwdriver (e): L. 3 15/16 in. Whatever the eventual outcome, it was the expected duty of both the parties seconds to record faithfully all details of the duel, from the original insult, the issuing of the challenge to the eventual outcome. 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. (22.7 g); glass bottle (f): H. 1 1/2 in. Wogdon made the pistols used in the infamous BurrHamilton duel, which were later claimed to have concealed "hair triggers" (also known as set triggers). More Info. Spring Steel. They go back centuries to trial by combat, also known as the judicial duel. Collectors Firearms, LLC. His pistols had now reached a level of perfect proportions and balance, and had a simple elegance that could hardly be improved. 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. Flints. 15". They loaded the pistols and the parties took their stations. (44.5 cm); D. 6 3/4 in. Compounds and Solutions for Metals. The sliding-safety locks are marked in script "Wogdon" over "&" over "Barton". Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. Patron of that Leaden death. Although sometimes the duellists would use their own pistols so the weapons would be different. 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. Special care was taken when moulding the lead bullets to ensure that there were no voids which would affect accuracy. Pistols with rifled barrels spin-stabilize the shot when it is fired, resulting in much improved accuracy. Given both men had time to take deliberate aim, neither may walk away unscathed, and the chance of death was high. A Scarce Double Barrel Pocket Pistol . He is recorded as 'Gunmaker, at Mr. Maw's Haberdasher, Cockspur St., Charing Cross' in 1764. 0.00. Starting in 1795 to 1803, he operated with a partner, John Barton, as Wogdon & Barton so this pistol is 1795 or earlier. Although best suited for military use, they were often owned by civilians. Some say Hamilton threw away his shot on purpose as he had declared he intended to do privately and then Burr fired, while others suggest Hamilton fired reflexively after being shot. 4.8 oz. 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. Standard flintlock pistols can have a noticeable delay between pulling the trigger and actually firing the bullet unless precisely tuned. 1 lb. 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. Wogdon & Barton was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. Colonel Lennox would have faced a real dilemma over this incident. Click here for more information. Description The barrels are 10 octagonal, sighted, browned twist with bore size of .476 and scratch rifled. More Info. Its long barrel, measuring nearly twelve inches in length, indicates its intended use for targets. 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. Lot 1278: Cased pair of Walter Adams percussion dueling pistols. Many later pistols have heavier barrels and half-stocks while the early pistols are lighter and full-stocked. After one man had fired, the other could fire within the remaining allotted time. 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. 0.8 oz. The Field is the oldest and ultimate sporting journal, covering everything rural types care about since 1853. A duelling pistol is a type of pistol that was manufactured in matching pairs to be used in a duel, when duels were customary. He was only 19 years old. By 1780, Wogdon had settled on the final form for his duelling pistols and saw no reason for any major changes over the next 23 years. From about 1770 onwards, gunsmiths were producing pistols expressly made for duelling.[2]. Both sets of pistols have single set triggers. The victor is presumed to be the just party in the case because the divine would have chosen the winner. 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. 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. 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. The ultimate pocket pistol, derringer handguns are lightweight, compact, and can easily be tucked away in a pocket or purse. Pair of Wogdon & Barton Flintlock Dueling Pistols (AH6322) Price: $6,500.00 Item Number: AH6322 Add to Cart Add to wishlist Robert Wogdon and John Barton operated at 14 Haymarket, London, from 1795 to 1803. 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. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. (1219 g); powder flask (b): H. 4 1/8 in. Interestingly these pistols look identical to the pistols used in the Burr-Hamilton duel of 1804, including the 'concealed hair triggers' Description The barrels which are gently swamped to the muzzle, are 10.25 octagonal, sighted, browned twist with a smooth bore size of .550. (30.3 cm); Cal. 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 poem later references him again and notes, "This death we lay not, Wogdon to thy blame; Cullum must have his fame as well as you. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. This rare public showing marked the first time these pistols have been displayed in Washington, D.C. A pair of duels in the early 19th century in America have done much to fix Wogdons name in American memory. (136.1 g); cleaning rod (c): L. 15 1/2 in. Remarkable design and engineering continues to mark out the British gun trade. 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. For this reason, very few duels can now be confidently identified as those in which Wogdon pistols were used. He died in 1813, and by that time hundreds of men are believed to have been injured or killed by his pistols in duels. Such alterations would have taken place at some time after it left Wogdons shop. 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 . But you had never gained so great a name, In England had your pistols killed as few." To order, please call 01666 502200 or email: subscriptions@bonhams.com, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Luxury stationery: a wonderfully sensuous experience. This supremely elegant target pistol is among their most accomplished work. [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. The barrels are marked Wogdon & Barton London in script on the top flat. Wogdons guns were designed to be aimed quickly, reliably fire, and shoot true. While other well-known English gunmakers such as Joseph Manton manufactured fine dueling pistols, Wogdon specialized in them. Wogdon had apprenticed to the Irish gunmaker Edward Norton in Lincolnshire. 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. 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: 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. Wogdon was partnered with John Barton at 14 Haymarket Street in London in 1795-1803. (17.1 cm); Wt. 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. Wogdon retired in 1803 and died in 1813. This article about a company of the UK is a stub. However, there is rarely any information as to the type, ownership or maker of the pistols used. His father told him to fire to miss, known as deloping, rather than take a mans life. 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. Pistols with calibers of 0.45in (11mm), 0.52in (13mm), 0.58in (15mm) or even 0.65in (17mm) were common.