He left no records and never used serial numbers on his guns. 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 . More Info. 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. The overall length is approx. Until the mid-18th century, duels were typically fought with swords. He died early the next morning. 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. Firearms-Pistols-Flintlock, Credit Line: The relined case has moderate age and storage related wear. The Faur Le Page company of France made special pistols for sport duelling. 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 . Since the 1800s, explorers and dangerous game hunters navigating the African bush have trusted their lives to the double rifle. [3][4] Wogdon formed a partnership in 1794 with John Barton, after which their pistols were signed Wogdon and Barton. The actions on both pistols function correctly. Thereafter they quickly took over and after 1785 it was rare for a sword duel to be fought in London. 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. By the time duelling with pistols had superseded duelling with swords in the early 1770s, the purpose had shifted from wounding or killing your opponent to demonstrating that, as a man of honour, you were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. Upon the signal, they could advance towards one another and choose when to fire. The plot was foiled, but he was acquitted. Many of Wogdons pistols have bent barrels. Description The barrels are 10 octagonal, sighted, browned twist with bore size of .476 and scratch rifled. Lennox replied that he could not consider His Royal Highness as any other than the son of his King. 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. Although sometimes the duellists would use their own pistols so the weapons would be different. 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. Lot 1275: Cased Pair of Griffin & Tow flintlock dueling pistols circa 1780. Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. 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. [3][4] Wogdon formed a partnership in 1794 with John Barton, after which their pistols were signed Wogdon and Barton. His pistols had now reached a level of perfect proportions and balance, and had a simple elegance that could hardly be improved. Its long barrel, measuring nearly twelve inches in length, indicates its intended use for targets. Burr was never tried for Hamiltons death, but rather than revive his political career, the duel was its death knell. Haymarket, 1774-1802. Standard flintlock pistols can have a noticeable delay between pulling the trigger and actually firing the bullet unless precisely tuned. Lot 1278: Cased pair of Walter Adams percussion dueling pistols. Given both men had time to take deliberate aim, neither may walk away unscathed, and the chance of death was high. Despite duelling being always regarded as illegal, in practice it was widely tolerated by both the juries and the sentencing judges. (30.3 cm); Cal. They, and the cocks, have raised decorative edges. (10.5 cm); Wt. 7 oz. SOLD. The breech plug tangs, butt caps, and trigger guards have decorative engraving. 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. (36.9 g); bullet mould (d): L. 4 13/16 (12.2 cm); Cal. 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. 37.154.3ag. During his lifetime Wogdons pistols were considered to be of unsurpassed quality and reliability, to the point that they were even sold to clients in North America. Wogdon apprenticed to Edward Newton in 1748, according to Howard Blackmore in Gunmakers of London, 1350-1850. After he finished his apprenticeship, he ran his own shop and then partnered with John Barton in 1795 and retired in 1803. As you can see, hitting a man-sized target with a muzzleloading pistol wouldnt have been particularly difficult. This rare public showing marked the first time these pistols have been displayed in Washington, D.C. 344. The remaining furniture is iron and includes classic English engraving, including fine pineapple finials on the trigger guards. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. [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. SOLD. Please use the print button in the share bar at the top of the page. He then fled to Europe where he continued to conspire to steal land in the West. Wogdon & Barton (British, London 17951803), Gunsmith: 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. 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. [12], It is often stated that duelling pistols came in identical pairs to put each duellist on an equal footing. He was dead within thirty-six hours. This dueling flintlock pistol is by Robert Wogdon (1733-1813), a well-known London gunsmith from Lincolnshire who operated at Haymarket, London, from 1774 to 1802. The stock on gun 2 is fine with no cracks or chips and the dents and dings expected of light to moderate use. Robert Wogdon & John Barton Gunmakers, 14 Haymarket, 1795-1803. With John Barton traded as Wogdon & Barton, from 1795, succeeded by Barton, 1803. Colonel Lennox fired and the ball grazed one of his Royal Highness curls. The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. The surviving Lennox pistol used in a duel with the Duke of York. Scroll left to view more. 15"". [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. (17.1 cm); Wt. Wogdon made the pistols used in the infamous BurrHamilton duel, which were later claimed to have concealed "hair triggers" (also known as set triggers). 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. Eacker had called the two young men damned rascals.. 0.8 oz. Burrs intention seems quite clear. He was only 19 years old. Robert Wogdon manufactured the pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel, the most famous duel in American history. 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. 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. Bentham concluded that Burr was little better than a murderer. Famous for duelling pistols. (14.2 g); case (g): H. 2 5/8 in. Click Photo to Enlarge Guns International #: 101363115 Seller's Inventory #: 190413 Category Antique Pistols - Flintlock Handguns - European Pistols Seller's Information Pistol dueling was an associate (non-medal) event at the 1906 and 1908 Olympic games (see Olympic dueling). Lot 3248 in the upcoming August 26-28 Premier Auction: A classic pair of Wogdon dueling pistols from circa 1780. The wedge and wrist escutcheons are silver, and the latter have a monogram that appears to be the initials "LD." Both pistols have their original iron-tipped ramrods with an attached worm at the end. The pistols used in the Hamilton=Burr duel, which belonged to Hamiltons brother-in-law. 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. Wogdon was partnered with John Barton at 14 Haymarket Street in London in 1795-1803. John Barton (British, recorded 17951819), Culture: 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. 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! Stoneys dying wish was that Mary would marry him. 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. Free ground shipping on all US Online Orders over $100! 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. 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. Gunsmith Robert Wogdon British Taking deliberate aim, was considered vicious and discouraged. The brown damascus style finish is visible in several areas along with scattered dents and manufacturing defects. .38 in. Initially, both men refused to fire. Tools for wood. The Duke of York had publicly insulted him and had virtually accused him of cowardice. 7 oz. However, there is rarely any information as to the type, ownership or maker of the pistols used. They go back centuries to trial by combat, also known as the judicial duel. 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 Both sets of pistols have single set triggers. Died aged 79. 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. .36 in (9.3 mm); Wt. 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. 14.75"". The overall length is approx. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. They, and the cocks, have raised decorative edges. A duelling pistol is a type of pistol that was manufactured in matching pairs to be used in a duel, when duels were customary. 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. 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 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. 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. Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded. Patron of that Leaden death. Burr was unharmed but stood in shock before being rushed away from the scene as was customary. To refuse to take part in the duel would have had the same result. In Britain, the favoured type was for the duellists to stand still at an agreed distance and shoot when given the signal. Mary Eleanor Bowes was the richest heiress in England at that time. This is a very nice pair of dueling pistols by a well-known maker of quality flintlock pistols. Robert Wogdon, a gunmaker most famous for his dueling pistols, partnered with John Barton late in his career. 20002023 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Engraved in gold on the barrel: ARGer DE L'EMPEREUR. A 28-Bore Flintlock Duelling PistolBy Wogdon & Barton, London, Circa 1800. An Irish duelling pistol, dated 1774, a collectors term for a gun where the barrel is longer than 10in, with a short, straight butt. There was not just a single form for a proper duel. Design [ edit] In some instances multiple rounds were fired without injury. 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. (136.1 g); cleaning rod (c): L. 15 1/2 in. [7] The bullets loaded in them could weigh 214 grains (0.49 ounces; 13.9 grams) in .52 caliber, or more in larger calibers. Wogdon retired in 1803 and died in 1813. This could certainly be a risky proposition if you didnt get to shoot first. [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 sliding-safety locks are marked in script ""Wogdon"" over ""&"" over ""Barton"". Gunmaker at Mr. Maws haberdashers, Cockspur St., Charing Cross, 1764. WOGDON & BARTON. This article about a company of the UK is a stub. The Field is the oldest and ultimate sporting journal, covering everything rural types care about since 1853. Finally, a published letter made reference to a particularly despicable opinion Hamilton had expressed about Burr. (136.1 g); cleaning rod (c): L. 15 1/2 in. 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. 3 lb. Graceful yet practical and perfectly balanced in the hand, they privilege overall formal quality and flawless mechanical work over applied adornments. The trigger guard finial is an engraved acorn. 2023 Rock Island Auction Company. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 0.5 oz. The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. From 9mm to 45 ACP, find the best pistol for you. Remarkable design and engineering continues to mark out the British gun trade. The Burr and Hamilton Duel at Weehawken, New Jersey, July 11, 1804 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. As the smoke cleared, Alexander Hamilton lay mortally wounded. Browse SCHEELS selection of handguns and pistols featuring top brands like Glock, SIG, Smith & Wesson, & more. Wogdon had apprenticed to the Irish gunmaker Edward Norton in Lincolnshire. Exactly what happened next has been debated and veiled in mystery ever since. When General Hamilton arrived, the seconds measured out the distance, 10 full paces, and cast lots for the choice of position. Nonetheless, smoothbore dueling pistols, generally around 28 bore (.54 caliber), were the weapons of choice by the late 18th century. Rogers Fund, 1937, Accession Number: A Duelling Pistol by Edwards of Dublin. Certainly during his working life he was referred to as the celebrated Wogdon and also, he [Wogdon] is a famous man for making pistols. 12.9 oz. Stoney Bowes, not one to give up easily, appealed against Marys divorce suit but Mary eventually gained her freedom. Poem, Stanzas on Duelling, by an Irish Volunteer, 1783, began Hail Wogden! 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. 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. 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.. That may have been one option, but it doesnt appear to have been common. In 1797, Alexander Hamilton's brother-in-law, John Baker Church, had obtained an exquisite pair of custom-made dueling pistols made by Wogdon. Research suggests the attribution is spurious, though the quality is superb. [7], The most famous and innovative manufacturers were London-based companies such as Wogdon & Barton, Durs Egg, Manton, Mortimer, Nock, and Purdey. 1.3 oz. Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API. It is also only the second pair of Wogdons known with 16-sided barrels. [3], Duelling pistols had long barrels - typically around 10in (250mm) and fired large, heavy bullets. (36.9 g); bullet mould (d): L. 4 13/16 (12.2 cm); Cal. (10.5 cm); Wt. Colonel Lennox and the Duke, accompanied by their seconds, met on Wimbledon Common on the morning of 26 May. More Info. A Scarce Double Barrel Pocket Pistol . Collectors Firearms, LLC. Pistols with calibers of 0.45in (11mm), 0.52in (13mm), 0.58in (15mm) or even 0.65in (17mm) were common. In 1801, young Philip Hamilton, son of founding father Alexander Hamilton, and his friend and theater manager Stephen Price challenged New York City attorney George Eacker to a duel after confronting Eacker about a Independence Day speech he had given critical of Alexander Hamilton. Pistol Kits; Chemicals and Compounds. 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. One could be excused for not recognising the pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel as having been made by the famous Wogdon. 0.00. Price and Eacker exchanged shots multiple times the following day without injury and considered their affair settled. SOLD. Read British gunmakers of the 21st century for more about the companies continuing a long tradition. Gunsmith Wogdon & Barton British The hooks or spurs on the trigger guard can be used with your middle finger to help steady the pistol. (1219 g); powder flask (b): H. 4 1/8 in. 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. Hamiltons pistol went off and struck the ground. He carried on his business in Haymarket from 1774 until his retirement in 1802. Thus, firing too early might make you more likely to miss and have to risk being shot at from a shorter range. 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). 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. Purpose-built duelling pistols have various improvements to make them more reliable and accurate. But you had never gained so great a name, In England had your pistols killed as few." (41 cm); L. of barrel 11 15/16 in. 1834); Theodore Offerman, New York (until d. 1937; his estate sale, American Art Association-Anderson Galleries, Inc., New York, November 1113, 1937, no. (42.5 g); screwdriver (e): L. 3 15/16 in. Gunsmith John Barton British. Hamilton languished until 2 p.m. on July 12, 1804. 14.75"". These shots were fired at 25 yards with rapid dueling style aim rather than carefully deliberate aim. 1.3 oz. Burr, with his political prospects already fading, demanded an explanation of what Hamilton had said about him, and a series of notes were exchanged. Churchs Wogdon & Barton pistols were used on July 11, 1804, close to where the young Hamilton had been mortally wounded. Special care was taken when moulding the lead bullets to ensure that there were no voids which would affect accuracy. This is a very nice pair of dueling pistols by a well-known maker of quality flintlock pistols. His total production of duelling pistols over the 39 years that he was a gunmaker is unknown. The locks are signed "Wogdon/&/Barton" and have frizzen rollers, sliding half-cock safeties, and stepped tails. Duelling pistols are often single-shot flintlock or percussion black-powder pistols which fire a lead ball. (3.8 cm); Wt. 12.9 oz. Wood for Gunsmithing and restoration. Tools and Accesories. 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. 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. The breech plug tangs, butt caps, and trigger guards have decorative engraving. They have small blade front and fixed notch rear sights. For this reason, very few duels can now be confidently identified as those in which Wogdon pistols were used. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. Again, the affair began with politics. [16][17] The famous fictional duel between Pierre and Dolokhov in the novel War and Peace was of this kind. The events leading up to the duel, the newspaper articles, the near fatal injuries Stoney had suffered, had all been a complete sham engineered by Stoney and Bate to trick Bowes into marriage, giving Stoney control over her huge fortune. 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. [20], The use of pistols in duels became popular in the United Kingdom, France, and colonial America during the mid-eighteenth century. Cased Pair of John Blissett & Son Percussion Dueling Pistols: Lot 332 Four British Prime Ministers have engaged in duels throughout history. Other Materials. Colonel Lennox wrote a circular to every member of Daubignys asking whether such words had been used about him and requesting an answer within the next seven days, adding that no reply would be considered equivalent to a declaration that nothing had been said. He returned shortly before the War of 1812. With John Barton, traded Wogdon & Barton from 1795, succeeded by Barton, 1803. The whereabouts of the second Wogdon pistol are unknown. 19th September 2018. As John Norris writes in Pistols at Dawn: A History of Duelling, Wogdons name has unarguably become more closely associated with dueling pistols than any other gunsmith of the period, and has come to epitomize these specialized firearms. 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. 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. 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. The crest and monogram strongly suggest they may have belonged to Wogdons son-in-law, William Butt Jnr. Burr appears to have had no such qualms and had been practicing his marksmanship. The barrels are marked Wogdon & Barton London in script on the top flat. 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.