Upon the signal, they could advance towards one another and choose when to fire. Famous for duelling pistols. Had Lennox refused to challenge the Duke, his reputation as an officer and a gentleman would have been irrevocably compromised. The poem alludes to fate but suggests a duelists destiny lay in Wogdons hand. Colonel Lennox fired and the ball grazed one of his Royal Highness curls. The barrels were given a blued or browned finish to reduce glare. He died early the next morning. Both pistols have their original iron-tipped ramrods with an attached worm at the end. The sliding-safety locks are marked in script ""Wogdon"" over ""&"" over ""Barton"". (14.2 g); case (g): H. 2 5/8 in. Philip was mortally wounded, and died in agony the following day. 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. The ultimate pocket pistol, derringer handguns are lightweight, compact, and can easily be tucked away in a pocket or purse. Copyright 2023 All rights reserved. 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. Where neither principal owned a pistol, then a pair might be produced to be shared. 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. (1726.5 g). Original Tools. More Info. The Colt Single Action Army revolver and the Winchester Model. 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. [16][17] The famous fictional duel between Pierre and Dolokhov in the novel War and Peace was of this kind. [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. This is an edited extract from Robert Wogdon, Wogdon & Barton, John Barton, London Gunmakers 1764-1819, price 75, published by Bonhams. This article about a company of the UK is a stub. Although sometimes the duellists would use their own pistols so the weapons would be different. The pistols used in this duel are believed to have been the Wogdon & Barton pistols owned by John Barker Church, Alexander Hamiltons brother-in-law. 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. Stoney Bowes was to spend the remaining 22 years of his life as a prisoner, his mounting debts still unpaid, and still pursuing yet more legal avenues to regain control of Marys fortune. The barrels are marked Wogdon & Barton London in script on the top flat. See "A." Famous for duelling pistols. They are immediately recognizable by their elegant proportions, restrained ornament, and technical refinement. 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). Although their purpose was combat or self-defense, holster pistols were used on occasion to fight duels. [3] Other features were saw handles, platinum-lined touch-holes and hair triggers. 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. 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. Wogdons guns were designed to be aimed quickly, reliably fire, and shoot true. 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. Lot 3248 in the upcoming August 26-28 Premier Auction: A classic pair of Wogdon dueling pistols from circa 1780. [3], Duelling pistols had long barrels - typically around 10in (250mm) and fired large, heavy bullets. The Duke had earlier indicated to Colonel Lennox that he wished to desire no protection from his rank. SCHEELS Nonetheless, Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel to repair his reputation. 1.3 oz. The 10"" swamped at the muzzle octagon 67 caliber smooth bore barrels have good bores with light roughness. At the time, the Duke of York, second son of the reigning King George III, was Colonel of the Coldstream Guards, and one Charles Lennox, nephew and heir to the Duke of Richmond, was Lieutenant-Colonel of the same regiment. But if the first to fire missed, he was required to stand still and wait for his opponent's shot. 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. In London, the first recorded pistol duel was in 1711[Note 1] but the use of pistols was unusual until the 1760s. 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. 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. (3.8 cm); Wt. [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 Mantons, Griffin & Tow, H.W. This is a very nice pair of dueling pistols by a well-known maker of quality flintlock pistols. [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. Many later pistols have heavier barrels and half-stocks while the early pistols are lighter and full-stocked. Died aged 79. Wogdon & Barton (British, London 17951803), Gunsmith: 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. 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. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/29592. 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. Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded. (17.1 cm); Wt. 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. 344. Two discarded Wogdon pistols were discovered. 14.75"". When Charles Lee and John Laurens dueled during the American Revolution, they each brought a pair. Both pistols have their original iron-tipped ramrods with an attached worm at the end. 1 lb. 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. Lot 3247: A very desirable cased pair of Wogdon & Barton flintlock dueling pistols from circa 1795-1803. Wogdon had apprenticed to the Irish gunmaker Edward Norton in Lincolnshire. After he forcibly abducted Mary to the north of England, a warrant was issued for Stoney Bowes arrest. Literature: For similar examples see Robert Wogdon, Wogdon & Barton, John Barton by John OSullivan & De Witt Bailey pp 180 185. (42.5 g); screwdriver (e): L. 3 15/16 in. Dueling as a way to protect one's reputation has long faded from acceptable behavior, but these paired and cased dueling pistols for sale in Rock Island Auction Company's Aug. 26-28 Premier Auction are a fascinating way to recall a different time and a different way of personal conduct. 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. They, and the cocks, have raised decorative edges. He was only 19 years old. 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. Not all fine, antique pairs of pistols are duelling pistols, though they may be called so. [2] John Barton (British, recorded 17951819), Culture: [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. Two shots are believed to have rung out almost simultaneously. 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. He completed his term as Vice-President but his political career was effectively over. Whether Lennox had used his Wogdons in his duel with Swift is not known. The Field is the oldest and ultimate sporting journal, covering everything rural types care about since 1853. This was a legal proceeding in which a persons guilt or innocence was determined by the outcome of a fight. The best hunting horse. 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 overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. Compounds and Solutions for Wood. 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. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. They go back centuries to trial by combat, also known as the judicial duel. 2023 Rock Island Auction Company. Robert Wogdon & John Barton Gunmakers, 14 Haymarket, 1795-1803. This time by his father and Vice President Aaron Burr. A cased pair of half-stocked duelling pistols dated 1793. The Duke did not return fire. By 1780, Wogdon had settled on the final form for his duelling pistols and saw no reason for any . 19th September 2018. 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. 12.9 oz. As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes. 0.00. The locks are signed "Wogdon/&/Barton" and have frizzen rollers, sliding half-cock safeties, and stepped tails. 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. Gunsmith Wogdon & Barton British 0.00. 3 lb. The Burr and Hamilton Duel at Weehawken, New Jersey, July 11, 1804 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. London proof marks and RW barrel makers mark. 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 duel took place at exactly the same place where Philips father was to meet Aaron Burr three years later. Chase Manhattan Bank acquired the pistols in 1930, and they now reside at the National Postal Museum. More Info. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. As the distance closed they could fire at will. Forging damascus steel barrels the rarest of skills, The Fields bucket list for a sporting year, Seasons greetings a love letter to postage stamps. The refinished stock is good and has some dings and worn spots in the otherwise distinct checkering, crack between the ramrod entry pipe and trigger guard finial, repair above the nose of the lock, and some scattered minor dings and scratches. Pistols with rifled barrels spin-stabilize the shot when it is fired, resulting in much improved accuracy. (136.1 g); cleaning rod (c): L. 15 1/2 in. Stoney Bowes, not one to give up easily, appealed against Marys divorce suit but Mary eventually gained her freedom. 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. 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. [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. British, London, Medium: For this reason, very few duels can now be confidently identified as those in which Wogdon pistols were used. They, and the cocks, have raised decorative edges. Travelling pistols, also known as overcoat pistols, were intended for use by travellers to protect themselves from highwaymen and footpads; unlike duelling pistols, they were commonly rifled. [7], The most famous and innovative manufacturers were London-based companies such as Wogdon & Barton, Durs Egg, Manton, Mortimer, Nock, and Purdey. Dueling pistol makers continued to innovate through the end of the flintlock era and into the percussion era. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. This could certainly be a risky proposition if you didnt get to shoot first. It has an iron blade front sight and standing notch rear sight (these were often used as target pistols) at the breech tang and a gold lined vert. Colonel Burrs shot struck home and General Hamilton fell almost instantly. 2023 Rock Island Auction Company. [12], It is often stated that duelling pistols came in identical pairs to put each duellist on an equal footing. Great Britain and Ireland, 1600-1800 A.D. Compounds and Solutions for Metals. More Info. He returned shortly before the War of 1812. Not all fine, antique pairs of pistols are duelling pistols, though they may be called so. The Wogdon pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel belonged to Hamiltons brother-in-law, Colonel John Barker Church. Eacker had called the two young men damned rascals.. Lot 1278: Cased pair of Walter Adams percussion dueling pistols. 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. [19] Participants wore heavy, protective clothing and a metal helmet, similar to a fencing mask but with an eye-screen of thick glass. His total production of duelling pistols over the 39 years that he was a gunmaker is unknown. 1.5 oz. The 10" swamped at the muzzle octagon 67 caliber smooth bore barrels have good bores with light roughness. We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. "British Flintlock Dueling Pistol by Wogdon (AH6306) . In Britain, the favoured type was for the duellists to stand still at an agreed distance and shoot when given the signal. Hosted and Maintained by TwoPointZero IT. This rare public showing marked the first time these pistols have been displayed in Washington, D.C. The plot was foiled, but he was acquitted. 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. With John Barton, traded Wogdon & Barton from 1795, succeeded by Barton, 1803. Price and Eacker exchanged shots multiple times the following day without injury and considered their affair settled. Duelling pistols are often single-shot flintlock or percussion black-powder pistols which fire a lead ball. This supremely elegant target pistol is among their most accomplished work.
