By 1780, Wogdon had settled on the final form for his duelling pistols and saw no reason for any . This could certainly be a risky proposition if you didnt get to shoot first. Original Tools. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. From 9mm to 45 ACP, find the best pistol for you. SOLD. Other Materials. Many later pistols have heavier barrels and half-stocks while the early pistols are lighter and full-stocked. An Irish duelling pistol, dated 1774, a collectors term for a gun where the barrel is longer than 10in, with a short, straight butt. His pistols had now reached a level of perfect proportions and balance, and had a simple elegance that could hardly be improved. He died the following day. In some situations, the duelist who had already fired was also supposed to keep advancing until the opponent had fired. (39.4 cm); Wt. [5], As duels were generally fought at short distances which were paced out, typically 35 to 45 feet (11 to 14m),[6] between stationary opponents, extreme accuracy was not required. 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, 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. 20002023 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 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. 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. However, there is rarely any information as to the type, ownership or maker of the pistols used. .36 in (9.3 mm); Wt. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. 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. The hooks or spurs on the trigger guard can be used with your middle finger to help steady the pistol. 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. (6.7 cm); W. 17 1/2 in. He was dead within thirty-six hours. (14.2 g); case (g): H. 2 5/8 in. 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. (9.6 mm); Wt. Despite duelling being always regarded as illegal, in practice it was widely tolerated by both the juries and the sentencing judges. Since the 1800s, explorers and dangerous game hunters navigating the African bush have trusted their lives to the double rifle. 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. As you can see, hitting a man-sized target with a muzzleloading pistol wouldnt have been particularly difficult. Colonel Lennox would have faced a real dilemma over this incident. The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. Robert Wogdon and John Barton operated at 14 Haymarket, London, from 1795 to 1803. 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. This article about a company of the UK is a stub. The remaining furniture is iron and includes classic English engraving, including fine pineapple finials on the trigger guards. Much to everyones surprise, following the wedding Stoney made a rapid and complete recovery. Hamilton received a .54-caliber wound to the abdomen from an English-made Wogdon & Barton flintlock smoothbore dueling pistol. Mechanically fine. When Charles Lee and John Laurens dueled during the American Revolution, they each brought a pair. [3], Duelling pistols had long barrels - typically around 10in (250mm) and fired large, heavy bullets. [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. A Scarce Double Barrel Pocket Pistol . The Duke did not return fire. More Info. 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 . 1.3 oz. [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. 15". 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. Copyright 2023 All rights reserved. 7626 Westheimer @ Voss, Houston, Texas 77063. 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. Geoff Walker trading as The Flintlock Collection - All Rights Reserved Collectors Firearms, LLC. In some instances multiple rounds were fired without injury. 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. Certainly during his working life he was referred to as the celebrated Wogdon and also, he [Wogdon] is a famous man for making pistols. Given the large number of cased pairs of his duelling pistols that have survived to this day, his production was significant. Hamiltons pistol went off and struck the ground. [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. Philip was mortally wounded, and died in agony the following day. Colonel Lennox fired and the ball grazed one of his Royal Highness curls. 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! Guns International #: 102053710 Seller's Inventory #: AH6322. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. Lot 81: This historic pair of silver mounted H.W. Pistol Kits; Chemicals and Compounds. [7] The bullets loaded in them could weigh 214 grains (0.49 ounces; 13.9 grams) in .52 caliber, or more in larger calibers. Cobra Firearms is a firearm and accessory manufacturer located in Salt Lake City, UT specializing in American made derringers and handguns that are unique. As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes. From about 1770 onwards, gunsmiths were producing pistols expressly made for duelling.[2]. SOLD. Threading and drilling tooling. [20], The use of pistols in duels became popular in the United Kingdom, France, and colonial America during the mid-eighteenth century. Description The barrels are 10 octagonal, sighted, browned twist with bore size of .476 and scratch rifled. Pistols with rifled barrels spin-stabilize the shot when it is fired, resulting in much improved accuracy. (22.7 g); glass bottle (f): H. 1 1/2 in. Nonetheless, smoothbore dueling pistols, generally around 28 bore (.54 caliber), were the weapons of choice by the late 18th century. Had Lennox refused to challenge the Duke, his reputation as an officer and a gentleman would have been irrevocably compromised. To refuse to take part in the duel would have had the same result. Surprisingly, Lee was only lightly wounded and the affair ultimately ended without another exchange, in part due to Alexander Hamiltons role as Laurenss second. (136.1 g); cleaning rod (c): L. 15 1/2 in. 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. This emphasis on the purity of form references the Neoclassical style then in vogue. Poem, Stanzas on Duelling, by an Irish Volunteer, 1783, began Hail Wogden, Patron of that Leaden death. 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. Mary had already filed for divorce, unheard of in 18th-century England, and this only added to her notoriety. "British Flintlock Dueling Pistol by Wogdon (AH6306) . 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. [18] For an eye-witness account of such a duel, see Reynolds (1839).[14]. As the challenged party, Hamilton selected Churchs pistols as the weapons. 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. 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. The wedge and wrist escutcheons are silver, and the latter have a monogram that appears to be the initials "LD." Gunsmith Wogdon & Barton British The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. 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). 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. The Mantons, Griffin & Tow, H.W. Eacker had called the two young men damned rascals.. Flintlock Target Pistol of Prince William Frederick, Second Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (17761834), with Case and Accessories, Gunsmith: Forging damascus steel barrels the rarest of skills, The Fields bucket list for a sporting year, Seasons greetings a love letter to postage stamps. WOGDON & BARTON. Steel and Brass Section, Rod and Sheet. He died early the next morning. Wogdon made the pistols used in the infamous BurrHamilton duel, which were later claimed to have concealed "hair triggers" (also known as set triggers). Nonetheless, Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel to repair his reputation. Materials. The Critical Review; or, Annals of Literature, hot air balloons with blunderbusses over Paris, Duke of York was challenged by his nephew Charles Lennox. All the metal has a smooth gray-brown patina. 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. 14.75"". 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.. Duelling pistols are often single-shot flintlock or percussion black-powder pistols which fire a lead ball. 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. 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. 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. 37.154.3ag. Thereafter they quickly took over and after 1785 it was rare for a sword duel to be fought in London. 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. [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. Special care was taken when moulding the lead bullets to ensure that there were no voids which would affect accuracy. 0.8 oz. "The Best Damn Gunshop in the World" Patron of that Leaden death!" Compounds and Solutions for Metals. One Theophilus Swift was to write a pamphlet on the affair, taking the Dukes side. More Info. The barrels have a decorative band around the breech end. Until the mid-18th century, duels were typically fought with swords. These were break action, single-shot weapons that were fitted with a shield in front of the trigger, to protect the hand holding the pistol. His Royal Highness replied he should say nothing, after which all parties left the ground. Browse SCHEELS selection of handguns and pistols featuring top brands like Glock, SIG, Smith & Wesson, & more. But if the first to fire missed, he was required to stand still and wait for his opponent's shot. He carried on his business in Haymarket from 1774 until his retirement in 1802. When his second wife divorced him in 1834, Alexander Hamilton Jr. served as her lawyer. (1219 g); powder flask (b): H. 4 1/8 in. 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. We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. Colonel Burr arrived first. 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. 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. 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. Lennox grazed the Dukes curls, and the Duke held his fire. 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. Robert Wogden was one of the preeminent gunsmiths of his era. (10 cm); Wt. 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 . Purpose-built duelling pistols have various improvements to make them more reliable and accurate. The barrels on earlier guns were cylindrical, while later ones tended to be octagonal. 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. This is a very nice pair of dueling pistols by a well-known maker of quality flintlock pistols. 3 lb. Wogdon retired in 1803 and died in 1813. Of course if you could hit your opponent first, you might not have to be fired upon at all. The barrels are marked Wogdon & Barton London in script on the top flat. 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. Robert Wogdon manufactured the pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel, the most famous duel in American history. A cased pair of half-stocked duelling pistols dated 1793. During the late 19th and the early 20th centuries, duelling became a sport in which shooters fired at each other using non-lethal rounds. 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. It has an inoperative hammer safety. For this reason, very few duels can now be confidently identified as those in which Wogdon pistols were used. Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. 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. The victor is presumed to be the just party in the case because the divine would have chosen the winner. Its long barrel, measuring nearly twelve inches in length, indicates its intended use for targets. 15"". 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: 3 lb. 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. 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. 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. One of a pair of silver-mounted duelling pistols, the earliest Wogdon set with silver by Michael Barnett, registered on 29 June 1781. 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. 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. [15] The rules of the "French method" of duelling required the duellists to begin back-to-back, walk a set number of paces before turning and firing. Churchs Wogdon & Barton pistols were used on July 11, 1804, close to where the young Hamilton had been mortally wounded. The plot was foiled, but he was acquitted. This was a legal proceeding in which a persons guilt or innocence was determined by the outcome of a fight. 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. (22.7 g); glass bottle (f): H. 1 1/2 in. 2023 Rock Island Auction Company. 19th September 2018. Initially, both men refused to fire. 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. The name Robert Wogdon is one that appears frequently in tales of the most infamous duels. Burr appears to have had no such qualms and had been practicing his marksmanship. John Barton (British, recorded 17951819), Culture: 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. (136.1 g); cleaning rod (c): L. 15 1/2 in. Wogdon had apprenticed to the Irish gunmaker Edward Norton in Lincolnshire. [3][4] Wogdon formed a partnership in 1794 with John Barton, after which their pistols were signed Wogdon and Barton. The Wogdon pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel belonged to Hamiltons brother-in-law, Colonel John Barker Church. There's a lot going on in this escutcheon! There were also varieties of barrier duels in which the duelist started a set number of paces apart with a barrier in the center. 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. 1.5 oz. All rights reserved. Pistol (a): L. 16 1/8 in. [19] Participants wore heavy, protective clothing and a metal helmet, similar to a fencing mask but with an eye-screen of thick glass. [12], Pairs of duelling pistols can be easily confused with holster pistols and travelling pistols. While the design looks a bit odd, the author has found most sawhandle pistols point very naturally. (30.3 cm); Cal. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Wogdon was partnered with John Barton at 14 Haymarket Street in London in 1795-1803. The Burr-Hamilton duel pistols were originally in a very similar configuration to this pair. 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. Hamilton did not elaborate but indicated his remarks were political, not personal, which would imply that Burrs honor had not been drawn into question.
wogdon and barton dueling pistols
