He completed his term as Vice-President but his political career was effectively over. The remaining furniture is iron and includes classic English engraving, including fine pineapple finials on the trigger guards. Purpose-built duelling pistols have various improvements to make them more reliable and accurate. [20], The use of pistols in duels became popular in the United Kingdom, France, and colonial America during the mid-eighteenth century. Duelling pistols are often single-shot flintlock or percussion black-powder pistols which fire a lead ball. (10 cm); Wt. [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. 283, sold to MMA). Hamilton received a .54-caliber wound to the abdomen from an English-made Wogdon & Barton flintlock smoothbore dueling pistol. Since the 1800s, explorers and dangerous game hunters navigating the African bush have trusted their lives to the double rifle. The pistols used in the Hamilton=Burr duel, which belonged to Hamiltons brother-in-law. 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. SCHEELS 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. (36.9 g); bullet mould (d): L. 4 13/16 (12.2 cm); Cal. 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. 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. Initially, both men refused to fire. 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.. 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. Firearms-Pistols-Flintlock, Credit Line:
They loaded the pistols and the parties took their stations. Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API. 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. The Mantons, Griffin & Tow, H.W. 1 lb. Taking deliberate aim, was considered vicious and discouraged. 20002023 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is also only the second pair of Wogdons known with 16-sided barrels. This is an edited extract from Robert Wogdon, Wogdon & Barton, John Barton, London Gunmakers 1764-1819, price 75, published by Bonhams. More Info. (14.2 g); case (g): H. 2 5/8 in. The Field is the oldest and ultimate sporting journal, covering everything rural types care about since 1853. [2] The name Wogdon became synonymous with dueling, to the extent that duels in England were sometimes referred to as "a Wogdon affair". 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. Both sets of pistols have single set triggers. 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. Robert Wogdon & John Barton Gunmakers, 14 Haymarket, 1795-1803. 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 barrels have a decorative band around the breech end. Use your arrow keys to navigate the tabs below, and your tab key to choose an item, Title:
15". All the shooter has to do to set the trigger is press it forward, something readily found in examination by anyone knowledgeable with dueling pistols, and a feature I would expect the seconds to explain if one or both duelists was inexperienced. The actions on both pistols function correctly.
British Flintlock Dueling Pistol by Wogdon for sale. - Collectors Firearms Robert Wogdon, a gunmaker most famous for his dueling pistols, partnered with John Barton late in his career. However, there is rarely any information as to the type, ownership or maker of the pistols used.
The Pistols of the Hamilton-Burr Duel - The Truth About Guns Prince William Frederick, Second Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (1803d. He died the following day. Colonel Burrs shot struck home and General Hamilton fell almost instantly. The brown damascus style finish is . Poem, Stanzas on Duelling, by an Irish Volunteer, 1783, began Hail Wogden! If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form.
Cased Pair of Wogdon & Barton Flintlock Dueling Pistols The barrels are marked Wogdon & Barton London in script on the top flat. Lot 3248 in the upcoming August 26-28 Premier Auction: A classic pair of Wogdon dueling pistols from circa 1780. Thus, firing too early might make you more likely to miss and have to risk being shot at from a shorter range. Hosted and Maintained by TwoPointZero IT. With dueling pistols, Hollywood loves to show to adversaries starting back to back and walking off a set number of paces before turning to fire. 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 & Barton | Flintlock Target Pistol of Prince William Frederick 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. The overall length of the pistols is 16in and the smooth-bore octagonal barrels are 29-bore. 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. [3] Spurs on the trigger guards began appearing after around 1805 to provide a rest for the middle finger to improve the shooter's grip. 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 . "British Flintlock Dueling Pistol by Wogdon (AH6306) .
The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. [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. They have small blade front and fixed notch rear sights. The only recorded Wogdon pistol with a brass barrel, hallmarked 1791. Undoubtedly the most famous duel with Wogdon pistols, and certainly the most famous pistol duel in the United States, took place on 11 July 1804 at Weehawken, New Jersey, between the former Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, and the sitting Vice-President of the United States, Aaron Burr. [3], In continental Europe, the use of smooth-bored pistols was considered cowardly, and rifled pistols were the norm. The victor is presumed to be the just party in the case because the divine would have chosen the winner. The 10"" swamped at the muzzle octagon 67 caliber smooth bore barrels have good bores with light roughness. When General Hamilton arrived, the seconds measured out the distance, 10 full paces, and cast lots for the choice of position. This rare public showing marked the first time these pistols have been displayed in Washington, D.C. Click here for more information. The breech plug tangs, butt caps, and trigger guards have decorative engraving.
Pair of Wogdon & Barton Flintlock Dueling Pistols for sale. Wogdon made the pistols used in the infamous BurrHamilton duel, which were later claimed to have concealed "hair triggers" (also known as set triggers). The refinished stock is also very good and has some dings and worn spots in the otherwise distinct checkering, some faint hairline cracks and repairs in the forend, hammering marks on the butt, and general dings and scratches throughout. 0.5 oz. With John Barton traded as Wogdon & Barton, from 1795, succeeded by Barton, 1803. 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. Free ground shipping on all US Online Orders over $100! (39.4 cm); Wt. 15"". 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 Standard flintlock pistols can have a noticeable delay between pulling the trigger and actually firing the bullet unless precisely tuned. When it came down to staring down an opponent, many men put their trust in gunmakers like Robert Wogdon rather than divine intervention. The events that culminated in the duel were the result of several years of simmering political differences and antagonism. WOGDON & BARTON. Starting in 1795 to 1803, he operated with a partner, John Barton, as Wogdon & Barton so this pistol is 1795 or earlier. 0.00. [15], A further type of duel, known as a barrier duel or a duel volont (at pleasure) had the duellists walk towards each other. Lot 81: This historic pair of silver mounted H.W. [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. 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. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments. (1219 g); powder flask (b): H. 4 1/8 in. Exactly what happened next has been debated and veiled in mystery ever since. Church himself had fought a bloodless duel with Burr a few years earlier. David S. Weaver covered this for the American Society of Arms Collectors,but in short, Wodgons barrels were bent downwards slightly. Collecting, preserving, researching, publishing, and exhibiting distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. A Rifled Pocket Pistol by Smith. Both pistols have their original iron-tipped ramrods with an attached worm at the end. The actions on both pistols function correctly. The bow and butt cap also show engraving. 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. Colonel Lennox would have faced a real dilemma over this incident. A Very Fine Cased Pair of 28-Bore Duelling Pistols. 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. Although their purpose was combat or self-defense, holster pistols were used on occasion to fight duels. Wogdon & Barton was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. 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. "Pair of Wogdon & Barton Flintlock Dueling Pistols (AH6322)" for sale online. [16][17] The famous fictional duel between Pierre and Dolokhov in the novel War and Peace was of this kind. Pistols with calibers of 0.45in (11mm), 0.52in (13mm), 0.58in (15mm) or even 0.65in (17mm) were common. Bentham concluded that Burr was little better than a murderer.
Duelling pistol - Wikipedia Estimated at $7,500-$12,000, these dueling pistols are beautiful, rare, and historically significant. 15". Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. When his second wife divorced him in 1834, Alexander Hamilton Jr. served as her lawyer. [7], The most famous and innovative manufacturers were London-based companies such as Wogdon & Barton, Durs Egg, Manton, Mortimer, Nock, and Purdey. Lot 231: Cased pair of H. Bales flintlock dueling pistols. 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. Both pistols have their original iron-tipped ramrods with an attached worm at the end. (42.5 g); screwdriver (e): L. 3 15/16 in.
The relined case has moderate age and storage related wear. 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! Materials. 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. [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. 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. Collectors Firearms, LLC. By the time duelling with pistols had superseded duelling with swords in the early 1770s, the purpose had shifted from wounding or killing your opponent to demonstrating that, as a man of honour, you were prepared to risk your life to defend your reputation, or that of your family or your regiment. 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.
Dueling Pistols | National Postal Museum [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. 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. 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 plot was foiled, but he was acquitted. But you had never gained so great a name, In England had your pistols killed as few." 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! Lot 3247: A very desirable cased pair of Wogdon & Barton flintlock dueling pistols from circa 1795-1803. More Info. When facing down a, The birth of the legendary Barrett M82 sniper rifle, is a fascinating American tale of inspiration, dedication, and innovation. 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. 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. Guns International #: 102054289
Seller's Inventory #: AH6306. (39.4 cm); Wt. Certainly during his working life he was referred to as the celebrated Wogdon and also, he [Wogdon] is a famous man for making pistols. Burr, with his political prospects already fading, demanded an explanation of what Hamilton had said about him, and a series of notes were exchanged. 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. 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. 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 custom fitted case has a later three-compartment powder flasks, balls, and an original section from the ramrod of gun "A." The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. Graceful yet practical and perfectly balanced in the hand, they privilege overall formal quality and flawless mechanical work over applied adornments. 14.75"". Mary Eleanor Bowes was the richest heiress in England at that time. The Duke did not return fire. 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. Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel. 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. Chase Manhattan Bank acquired the pistols in 1930, and they now reside at the National Postal Museum.
A PAIR OF ENGLISH FLINTLOCK DUELING PISTOLS by Wogdon & Barton, London 0.5 oz. Generally, if both duelists fired without effect, the challenger could declare himself satisfied or demand another exchange. [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.
[21], Pairs of duelling pistols were often supplied in compartmentalised wooden cases along with a powder flask, rods for cleaning and loading, spare flints, spanners and other tools, and a bullet mould.
Mechanically fine. Haymarket, 1774-1802. A Duelling Pistol by Edwards of Dublin. The Mantons, Griffin & Tow, H.W. 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). An eagle is engraved on the headband. But if the first to fire missed, he was required to stand still and wait for his opponent's shot. Mechanically fine. The usual duelling distance of 12 paces was measured out and it was agreed that both parties would fire at the given signal. Once one man fired, he was generally expected to stand at that spot and await his opponents shot within the remaining time and before crossing the barrier. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. 19th September 2018. He died early the next morning. If either party was injured at all, the seconds were generally expected to work to declare the duel was over. In some duels, the pistols were carefully and identically loaded, and each duellist was offered his choice of the indistinguishable loaded pistols. Original Tools. From about 1770 onwards, gunsmiths were producing pistols expressly made for duelling.[2]. This emphasis on the purity of form references the Neoclassical style then in vogue. Remarkable design and engineering continues to mark out the British gun trade. You can safely challenge a friend to a duel with muzzleloading pistols today by using modern dueling targets that leave only bragging rights on the line. He was dead within thirty-six hours. [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.
Robert Wogdon: duelling pistols - The Field The top center of the oval has what appears to be some kind of bird figure and a sword. Gunmaker at Mr. Maws haberdashers, Cockspur St., Charing Cross, 1764. Great Britain and Ireland, 1600-1800 A.D. 7 oz. 12.9 oz. The 9 5/8"" octagon 64 caliber swamped smooth bore barrel has a fair bore with pitting. The Met Collection API is where all makers, creators, researchers, and dreamers can now connect to the most up-to-date data and images for more than 470,000 artworks in The Met collection.
Gunmakers to Bow St. Police, 1801-3. Swords or dueling pistols were standard, but rifles and other firearms were also used in rarer instances, and, in theory, duels could be fought with any agreed upon weapons under just about any terms, even in hot air balloons with blunderbusses over Paris. Robert Wogdon, a gunmaker most famous for his dueling pistols, partnered with John Barton late in his career. 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. The seconds turned their backs, so they could deny being credible witnesses to what transpired should they be drawn into court. 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. Flintlock Target Pistol of Prince William Frederick, Second Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (17761834), with Case and Accessories, Wogdon & Barton (British, London 17951803), John Barton (British, recorded 17951819), 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, Pistol (a): L. 16 1/8 in. [3][4] Wogdon formed a partnership in 1794 with John Barton, after which their pistols were signed Wogdon and Barton. Mary had already filed for divorce, unheard of in 18th-century England, and this only added to her notoriety. Philip was mortally wounded, and died in agony the following day. 0.00. 4.8 oz. He left no records and never used serial numbers on his guns. The barrels are marked Wogdon & Barton London in script on the top flat. It is now half-stocked with a silver fore-end and a rounded, chequered butt with spurred trigger-guard. The barrels on earlier guns were cylindrical, while later ones tended to be octagonal. 12.9 oz. Click here for more information.
Robert Wogdon - Cased pair of Flintlock Duelling pistols Steel and Brass Section, Rod and Sheet. 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. 7626 Westheimer @ Voss, Houston, Texas 77063.
Dueling Pistols for Collectors: Ultimate Collectors Guide - 2020 Eacker had called the two young men damned rascals.. There were also varieties of barrier duels in which the duelist started a set number of paces apart with a barrier in the center. Gunsmith Robert Wogdon British
Given the large number of cased pairs of his duelling pistols that have survived to this day, his production was significant. 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. Flintlock Target Pistol of Prince William Frederick, Second Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (17761834), with Case and Accessories, Gunsmith:
New York. The overall length is approx. The overall length is approx. 0.00. 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. (3.8 cm); Wt. They, and the cocks, have raised decorative edges. 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). The 10" swamped at the muzzle octagon 67 caliber smooth bore barrels have good bores with light roughness. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols.