It is now half-stocked with a silver fore-end and a rounded, chequered butt with spurred trigger-guard. 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. Hamilton languished until 2 p.m. on July 12, 1804. .38 in. The plain stepped locks are simply engraved Wogdon, with a plain narrow safety catch. There are currently no customer product questions on this lot. We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. Given both men had time to take deliberate aim, neither may walk away unscathed, and the chance of death was high. 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. He left no records and never used serial numbers on his guns. (42.5 g); screwdriver (e): L. 3 15/16 in. The ultimate pocket pistol, derringer handguns are lightweight, compact, and can easily be tucked away in a pocket or purse. The Wogdon pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel belonged to Hamiltons brother-in-law, Colonel John Barker Church. Tools for metal. Starting in 1795 to 1803, he operated with a partner, John Barton, as Wogdon & Barton so this pistol is 1795 or earlier. 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. The sliding-safety locks are marked in script "Wogdon" over "&" over "Barton". Please use the print button in the share bar at the top of the page. Much to everyones surprise, following the wedding Stoney made a rapid and complete recovery. Not surprisingly, the few duels in which Wogdons pistols were known to have been used took place between opponents who were well-known public figures. 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. Guns International #: 102054289 Seller's Inventory #: AH6306. SUBSCRIBE today for our lowest ever deal, SIX ISSUES for JUST 6 by clicking on THIS link. 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. Robert Wogdon & John Barton Gunmakers, 14 Haymarket, 1795-1803. Despite duelling being always regarded as illegal, in practice it was widely tolerated by both the juries and the sentencing judges. 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. 3 lb. Hamilton received a .54-caliber wound to the abdomen from an English-made Wogdon & Barton flintlock smoothbore dueling pistol. 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 . The events that culminated in the duel were the result of several years of simmering political differences and antagonism. Today, those walnut, brass, and gold pistols are located in the headquarters of J.P. Morgan Chase, on 277 Park Avenue in New York City. 0.8 oz. 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. Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr. 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 . (1219 g); powder flask (b): H. 4 1/8 in. The barrels have a decorative band around the breech end. SOLD. In some situations, the duelist who had already fired was also supposed to keep advancing until the opponent had fired. The emotional trauma that Alexander Hamilton must have suffered three years later, facing Aaron Burr on the same spot where his son had been killed, and with perhaps the same pistol that he himself was now holding, can hardly be imagined. A Rifled Pocket Pistol by Smith. The overall length is approx. Purpose-built duelling pistols have various improvements to make them more reliable and accurate. 2023 Rock Island Auction Company. This was a legal proceeding in which a persons guilt or innocence was determined by the outcome of a fight. 15"". 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. Wogdon & Barton dueling pistols Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. [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". Click Photo to Enlarge Guns International #: 101363115 Seller's Inventory #: 190413 Category Antique Pistols - Flintlock Handguns - European Pistols Seller's Information ANTIQUE Engraved WOGDON FLINTLOCK Dueling Pistol Pistol Maker of the Pistols Used in the BURR-HAMILTON Duel! He carried on his business in Haymarket from 1774 until his retirement in 1802. "Pair of Wogdon & Barton Flintlock Dueling Pistols (AH6322)" for sale He was only 19 years old. Until the mid-18th century, duels were typically fought with swords. 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. [15], A further type of duel, known as a barrier duel or a duel volont (at pleasure) had the duellists walk towards each other. [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. But you had never gained so great a name, In England had your pistols killed as few." The best hunting horse. 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. The Duke of York had publicly insulted him and had virtually accused him of cowardice. The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. From about 1790 firearms were generally fitted with mahogany cases, whose interiors were lined with green baize (woolen cloth) and subdivided into discrete compartments for the weapon, tools, and accessories. 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. 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. The breech plug tangs, butt caps, and trigger guards have decorative engraving. [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. 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. 14.75"". Wogdon made the pistols used in the infamous BurrHamilton duel, which were later claimed to have concealed "hair triggers" (also known as set triggers). On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. One of the most common varieties was having a set number of paces walked off and the positions marked in advance. Famous for duelling pistols. Handguns, Pistols, & Revolvers | SCHEELS.com Geoff Walker trading as The Flintlock Collection - All Rights Reserved The hooks or spurs on the trigger guard can be used with your middle finger to help steady the pistol. The barrels are marked Wogdon & Barton London in script on the top flat. Although best suited for military use, they were often owned by civilians. 19th September 2018. [12], Pairs of duelling pistols can be easily confused with holster pistols and travelling pistols. The barrels were given a blued or browned finish to reduce glare. 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. 1.5 oz. Pair of Wogdon & Barton Flintlock Dueling Pistols for sale. 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. Patron of that Leaden death. (136.1 g); cleaning rod (c): L. 15 1/2 in. Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. Stoneys dying wish was that Mary would marry him. The barrels have a decorative band around the breech end. By candlelight it was obvious that Stoney had been seriously injured with three stab wounds to the chest. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. Wogdon had apprenticed to the Irish gunmaker Edward Norton in Lincolnshire. They, and the cocks, have raised decorative edges. 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. They resulted in the deaths of two men from an illustrious American family just a few years apart. British, London, Medium: 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. [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. Tools for wood. 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 remaining furniture is iron and includes classic English engraving, including fine pineapple finials on the trigger guards. Taking deliberate aim, was considered vicious and discouraged. Dueling Pistols for Collectors: Ultimate Collectors Guide - 2020 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. Mary Eleanor Bowes was the richest heiress in England at that time. Firearms-Pistols-Flintlock, Credit Line: 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. 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. If the matter could not be resolved through formal correspondence, the conflict would most commonly be settled with a formal exchange of shots from proper dueling pistols: a Wogdon affair.. 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. There was not just a single form for a proper duel. The seconds turned their backs, so they could deny being credible witnesses to what transpired should they be drawn into court. Other Materials. Description The barrels are 10 octagonal, sighted, browned twist with bore size of .476 and scratch rifled. Two English Flintlock Pistols | Rock Island Auction Duelling pistol - Wikipedia Many later pistols have heavier barrels and half-stocks while the early pistols are lighter and full-stocked. He is recorded as 'Gunmaker, at Mr. Maw's Haberdasher, Cockspur St., Charing Cross' in 1764. He died the following day. Eacker had called the two young men damned rascals.. When his second wife divorced him in 1834, Alexander Hamilton Jr. served as her lawyer. 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. Flints. This supremely elegant target pistol is among their most accomplished work. Pistols with rifled barrels spin-stabilize the shot when it is fired, resulting in much improved accuracy. 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. 7626 Westheimer @ Voss, Houston, Texas 77063. In 1797, Alexander Hamilton's brother-in-law, John Baker Church, had obtained an exquisite pair of custom-made dueling pistols made by Wogdon. In London, the first recorded pistol duel was in 1711[Note 1] but the use of pistols was unusual until the 1760s. Both parties presented and fired in succession. 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. 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. 1.5 oz. A pair of duels in the early 19th century in America have done much to fix Wogdons name in American memory. 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. 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. Wogdon retired in 1803 and died in 1813. At first glance, the surviving pistol is not immediately recognisable as the work of Robert Wogdon. 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. Fate or divine intervention was a key aspect of the origins of dueling. 14.75"". Flintlock Target Pistol of Prince William Frederick, Second Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (17761834), with Case and Accessories, Gunsmith: Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. 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! More Info. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. Steel and Brass Section, Rod and Sheet. Lennox grazed the Dukes curls, and the Duke held his fire. The 10"" swamped at the muzzle octagon 67 caliber smooth bore barrels have good bores with light roughness. This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. This rare public showing marked the first time these pistols have been displayed in Washington, D.C. This could certainly be a risky proposition if you didnt get to shoot first. Upon the signal, they could advance towards one another and choose when to fire. 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. Original Tools. Church himself had fought a bloodless duel with Burr a few years earlier. Forging damascus steel barrels the rarest of skills, The Fields bucket list for a sporting year, Seasons greetings a love letter to postage stamps. 0.00. (14.2 g); case (g): H. 2 5/8 in. "The Best Damn Gunshop in the World" Hamiltons pistol went off and struck the ground. Initially, both men refused to fire. Pistol (a): L. 16 1/8 in. Cobra Derringers are beautifully handcrafted with a wide range of calibers and barrel lengths that provides versatile and reliable service for a lifetime. Died aged 79. 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. Robert Wogdon and John Barton operated at 14 Haymarket, London, from 1795 to 1803. Mechanically fine. The Burr and Hamilton Duel at Weehawken, New Jersey, July 11, 1804 If either party was injured at all, the seconds were generally expected to work to declare the duel was over. 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. 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 The Field is the oldest and ultimate sporting journal, covering everything rural types care about since 1853. (30.3 cm); Cal. Dueling pistols hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy 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. (30.3 cm); Cal. The finest London firearms made in the classic British style of the early nineteenth century rank among the most stately and innovative in the history of gunmaking. A North African Flintlock Pistol . Though disputed, this duel most likely took place on 26 May 1789. 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. .36 in (9.3 mm); Wt. (9.6 mm); Wt. The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. 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. Click here for more information. From about 1770 onwards, gunsmiths were producing pistols expressly made for duelling.[2]. 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. The lock, which is bright along with the cock, is marked in script ""Wogdon"". However, there is rarely any information as to the type, ownership or maker of the pistols used. On 13 January 1777 at the Adelphi Tavern and Coffeehouse, Bate was accosted by Stoney and the duel proceeded without any witnesses. 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. 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 At some stage after they left Wogdons shop their original elegant full stocks were replaced with rather ugly heavy bronze fore-ends, perhaps to add muzzle weight to shift the centre of balance and reduce barrel flip. The crest and monogram strongly suggest they may have belonged to Wogdons son-in-law, William Butt Jnr. This nice single dueling flintlock pistol by a very well known maker is ready for your English flintlock pistol collection. .38 in. Lock plates engraved Wogdon & Barton, having push-on half-cock safeties, semi-rain proof pans, and roller frizzen springs (one spring repaired). Cobra Firearms is a firearm and accessory manufacturer located in Salt Lake City, UT specializing in American made derringers and handguns that are unique. 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. 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. Certainly during his working life he was referred to as the celebrated Wogdon and also, he [Wogdon] is a famous man for making pistols. SCHEELS A duelling pistol is a type of pistol that was manufactured in matching pairs to be used in a duel, when duels were customary. 14.75". 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. Two pairs of pistols allowed for a second exchange of shots if both missed and the challenger of the duel was intent on continuing. Exactly what happened next has been debated and veiled in mystery ever since. 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. Two loud bangs followed by the unmistakable sound of clashing swords were heard and, with the help of waiters, the door was forced open. "British Flintlock Dueling Pistol by Wogdon (AH6306)" for sale