The seconds turned their backs, so they could deny being credible witnesses to what transpired should they be drawn into court. The usual duelling distance of 12 paces was measured out and it was agreed that both parties would fire at the given signal. SOLD. Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr. The remaining furniture is iron and includes classic English engraving, including fine pineapple finials on the trigger guards. When facing down a, The birth of the legendary Barrett M82 sniper rifle, is a fascinating American tale of inspiration, dedication, and innovation. [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. Are they bred or made? Perhaps the most bizarre duel in which Wogdon pistols were used took place on 13 January 1777 between the Reverend Henry Bate and Andrew Robinson Stoney. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. The guns had several special features, including heavy brass forends for steadier aim and both front and rear sights for a more accurate shot. Churchs pair supposedly had concealed set triggers, but in reality, set triggers were a standard feature of these pistols rather than a secret designed to give one duelist an advantage over the other, and that pair simply did not have a visible adjustment screw. 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. 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. John OSullivan and De Witt Bailey chart the life and work of the gunmaker known for his duelling pistols in their new book, Robert Wogdon, Wogdon & Barton, John Barton, London Gunmakers 1764-1819. Colonel Lennox would have faced a real dilemma over this incident. Given both men had time to take deliberate aim, neither may walk away unscathed, and the chance of death was high. Price: 28,500 Maker: Robert Wogdon Date: circa 1780 Each Pistol with 10 inch browned swamped octagonal barrel signed along the top flat, engraved with a transverse band of beadwork at the rear of the breech and with silver fore sight, case-hardened foliate engraved tang decorated with a band of beadwork in front of the rear sight . The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. 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. "Pair of Wogdon & Barton Flintlock Dueling Pistols (AH6322)" for sale online. Its long barrel, measuring nearly twelve inches in length, indicates its intended use for targets. 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. 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. [3], Duelling pistols had long barrels - typically around 10in (250mm) and fired large, heavy bullets. Flintlock Target Pistol of Prince William Frederick, Second Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (17761834), with Case and Accessories, Gunsmith: There were also varieties of barrier duels in which the duelist started a set number of paces apart with a barrier in the center. The custom fitted case has a later three-compartment powder flasks, balls, and an original section from the ramrod of gun "A." Original Tools. 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. Please use the print button in the share bar at the top of the page. Wogdons guns were designed to be aimed quickly, reliably fire, and shoot true. Tools for metal. The Mantons, Griffin & Tow, H.W. The stock on gun 2 is fine with no cracks or chips and the dents and dings expected of light to moderate use. (30.3 cm); Cal. (136.1 g); cleaning rod (c): L. 15 1/2 in. "Loan Exhibition of European Arms and Armor," August 3September 27, 1931, no. This rare public showing marked the first time these pistols have been displayed in Washington, D.C. Many of Wogdons pistols have bent barrels. 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. 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. 4.8 oz. Stoney demanded Bate reveal the author of these articles; Bate refused and Stoney challenged him to a duel as the Countess of Strathmores champion. Two pairs of pistols allowed for a second exchange of shots if both missed and the challenger of the duel was intent on continuing. Compounds and Solutions for Wood. Materials. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments. Wogdon made the pistols used in the infamous BurrHamilton duel, which were later claimed to have concealed "hair triggers" (also known as set triggers). (22.7 g); glass bottle (f): H. 1 1/2 in. In addition to the renown quality of his pistols in his own time, Wogdon is arguably the most recognized maker of dueling pistols known today because of the pair used in the famous duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr that ended with Hamilton fatally wounded. No details as to the pistol used by the Duke of York have so far been found. The plot was foiled, but he was acquitted. Free ground shipping on all US Online Orders over $100! Of course if you could hit your opponent first, you might not have to be fired upon at all. 0.00. If Hamilton were to admit to Burrs charge, which was substantially true, he would lose his honour. Hamilton was morally and religiously opposed to dueling and is widely believed to have intended to delope (throw away his shot) rather than aim at Burr. [7] The name Wogden in particular became associated with duelling pistols, to the extent that a duel was sometimes referred to by lawyers as a "Wogden Case". The brown damascus style finish is . Duelling pistols are often single-shot flintlock or percussion black-powder pistols which fire a lead ball. 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. Its long barrel, measuring nearly twelve inches in length, indicates its intended use for targets. 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. Burrs shot had struck him in the ribs and caused serious damage to his organs and left him paralyzed. (9.6 mm); Wt. While that is the origin, people clearly had misgivings about whether God would come to their aid in a duel both back in the Middle Ages and in the early modern era. Use your arrow keys to navigate the tabs below, and your tab key to choose an item, Title: When it came down to staring down an opponent, many men put their trust in gunmakers like Robert Wogdon rather than divine intervention. Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API. Church himself had fought a bloodless duel with Burr a few years earlier. He died on September 14, 1836, a poor and broken man, on the same day that the divorce was finalized. Threading and drilling tooling. Engraved in gold on the barrel: ARGer DE L'EMPEREUR. The next day it was Hamiltons turn to face Eacker at ten paces. 12.9 oz. 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.. Mary Eleanor Bowes was the richest heiress in England at that time. A Rifled Pocket Pistol by Smith. They, and the cocks, have raised decorative edges. There was not just a single form for a proper duel. The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. 1834); Theodore Offerman, New York (until d. 1937; his estate sale, American Art Association-Anderson Galleries, Inc., New York, November 1113, 1937, no. Then Eacker raised his pistol and shot Hamilton above the hip. [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. (41 cm); L. of barrel 11 15/16 in. A Scarce Double Barrel Pocket Pistol . 1.3 oz. Mechanically fine. 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. Mechanically fine. Finally, a published letter made reference to a particularly despicable opinion Hamilton had expressed about Burr. This supremely elegant target pistol is among their most accomplished work. Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. One Theophilus Swift was to write a pamphlet on the affair, taking the Dukes side. A duelling pistol is a type of pistol that was manufactured in matching pairs to be used in a duel, when duels were customary. (10 cm); Wt. The relined case has moderate age and storage related wear. During the late 19th and the early 20th centuries, duelling became a sport in which shooters fired at each other using non-lethal rounds. Gunmakers to Bow St. Police, 1801-3. 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. 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 . Collecting, preserving, researching, publishing, and exhibiting distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. 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 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 Duke of York had publicly insulted him and had virtually accused him of cowardice. Not all fine, antique pairs of pistols are duelling pistols, though they may be called so. He died the following day. The victor is presumed to be the just party in the case because the divine would have chosen the winner. The doctors concluded that Stoneys injuries might well prove fatal. The Duke did not return fire. The top center of the oval has what appears to be some kind of bird figure and a sword. As the smoke cleared, Alexander Hamilton lay mortally wounded. 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. The brown damascus style finish is visible in several areas along with scattered dents and manufacturing defects. 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. One could be excused for not recognising the pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel as having been made by the famous Wogdon. The barrels on earlier guns were cylindrical, while later ones tended to be octagonal. Burr, with his political prospects already fading, demanded an explanation of what Hamilton had said about him, and a series of notes were exchanged. Patron of that Leaden death!" Both sets of pistols have single set triggers. 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. Rogers Fund, 1937, Accession Number: The name Robert Wogdon is one that appears frequently in tales of the most infamous duels. [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. 12.9 oz. Colonel Lennox fired and the ball grazed one of his Royal Highness curls. 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. This article about a company of the UK is a stub. (44.5 cm); D. 6 3/4 in. 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. The 10"" swamped at the muzzle octagon 67 caliber smooth bore barrels have good bores with light roughness. Again, the affair began with politics. [3][4] Wogdon formed a partnership in 1794 with John Barton, after which their pistols were signed Wogdon and Barton. [15], A further type of duel, known as a barrier duel or a duel volont (at pleasure) had the duellists walk towards each other. Wogdon's duelling pistols were fitted with set triggers as a standard feature, so they cannot be regarded as "secret" devices that other duellists of the era would be completely unaware of. The pistols used in the Hamilton=Burr duel, which belonged to Hamiltons brother-in-law. [1] The name Wogdon became synonymous with dueling, to the extent that duels in England were sometimes referred to as "a Wogdon affair". The trigger guard finial is an engraved acorn. He left no records and never used serial numbers on his guns. [2] The name Wogdon became synonymous with dueling, to the extent that duels in England were sometimes referred to as "a Wogdon affair". [18] For an eye-witness account of such a duel, see Reynolds (1839).[14]. Colonel Lennox and the Duke, accompanied by their seconds, met on Wimbledon Common on the morning of 26 May. Pistol Kits; Chemicals and Compounds. For this reason, very few duels can now be confidently identified as those in which Wogdon pistols were used. Wogdon had apprenticed to the Irish gunmaker Edward Norton in Lincolnshire. The breech plug tangs, butt caps, and trigger guards have decorative engraving. Copyright 2023 All rights reserved. The Duke had earlier indicated to Colonel Lennox that he wished to desire no protection from his rank. 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. 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. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. [12], Pairs of duelling pistols can be easily confused with holster pistols and travelling pistols. Gunsmith John Barton British. They, and the cocks, have raised decorative edges. 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. 283, sold to MMA). 14.75"". This could certainly be a risky proposition if you didnt get to shoot first. See "A." 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.
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