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. 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. In 1797, Alexander Hamilton's brother-in-law, John Baker Church, had obtained an exquisite pair of custom-made dueling pistols made by Wogdon. Certainly during his working life he was referred to as the celebrated Wogdon and also, he [Wogdon] is a famous man for making pistols. [20], The use of pistols in duels became popular in the United Kingdom, France, and colonial America during the mid-eighteenth century. One of the most common varieties was having a set number of paces walked off and the positions marked in advance. Philip was mortally wounded, and died in agony the following day. Two loud bangs followed by the unmistakable sound of clashing swords were heard and, with the help of waiters, the door was forced open. Mary Eleanor Bowes was the richest heiress in England at that time. 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. (6.7 cm); W. 17 1/2 in. (10 cm); Wt. 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. Very good with more than half of the period refurbished brown, distinct Damascus patterns, and bright gold vent on the barrel; mix of brown and mottled silver-gray patina on the lock, gray and brown patina on the iron furniture, dark aged patina on the silver, mild oxidation/pitting, and generally mild wear overall. (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. A duelling pistol is a type of pistol that was manufactured in matching pairs to be used in a duel, when duels were customary. 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. One of a pair of silver-mounted duelling pistols, the earliest Wogdon set with silver by Michael Barnett, registered on 29 June 1781. With John Barton, traded Wogdon & Barton from 1795, succeeded by Barton, 1803. As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes. 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. (1219 g); powder flask (b): H. 4 1/8 in. All the metal has a smooth gray-brown patina. Lot 3247: A very desirable cased pair of Wogdon & Barton flintlock dueling pistols from circa 1795-1803. Though disputed, this duel most likely took place on 26 May 1789. Wogdon & Barton | The Flintlock Collection 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 plain stepped locks are simply engraved Wogdon, with a plain narrow safety catch. Impact Guns is the gun shop for all your shooting needs. 0.8 oz. (39.4 cm); Wt. He died the following day. This time by his father and Vice President Aaron Burr. 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. The next day it was Hamiltons turn to face Eacker at ten paces. 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 . 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. He carried on his business in Haymarket from 1774 until his retirement in 1802. Fate or divine intervention was a key aspect of the origins of dueling. Two English Flintlock Pistols | Rock Island Auction 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. We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. 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! The 9 5/8"" octagon 64 caliber swamped smooth bore barrel has a fair bore with pitting. Died aged 79. After he forcibly abducted Mary to the north of England, a warrant was issued for Stoney Bowes arrest. This rare public showing marked the first time these pistols have been displayed in Washington, D.C. Burr appears to have had no such qualms and had been practicing his marksmanship. 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. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 1.3 oz. Not all fine, antique pairs of pistols are duelling pistols, though they may be called so. The breech plug tangs, butt caps, and trigger guards have decorative engraving. 20002023 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Original Tools. A Rare Pair Of 40-Bore Flintlock Overcoat Or Travelling PistolsBy Wogdon & Barton Of London, Circa 1800. 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 . Pistols at Dawn | Tennants Auctioneers 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.. The sliding-safety locks are marked in script ""Wogdon"" over ""&"" over ""Barton"". [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. Cobra Firearms - Omaha Outdoors A Rare Pair Of 40-Bore Flintlock Overcoat Or Travelling Pistols (3.8 cm); Wt. 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 overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. John Barton (British, recorded 17951819), Culture: The stock on gun 2 is fine with no cracks or chips and the dents and dings expected of light to moderate use. Geoff Walker trading as The Flintlock Collection - All Rights Reserved All the metal has a smooth gray-brown patina. He died on September 14, 1836, a poor and broken man, on the same day that the divorce was finalized. [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. Wogdon made the pistols used in the infamous BurrHamilton duel, which were later claimed to have concealed "hair triggers" (also known as set triggers). 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! Like most of the earlier English dueling pistols, this pair has a lighter build. More Info. The locks are signed "Wogdon/&/Barton" and have frizzen rollers, sliding half-cock safeties, and stepped tails. Although sometimes the duellists would use their own pistols so the weapons would be different. Gunsmith Wogdon & Barton British The guns had several special features, including heavy brass forends for steadier aim and both front and rear sights for a more accurate shot. The overall length is approx. WOGDON & BARTON. A cased pair of half-stocked duelling pistols dated 1793. 7626 Westheimer @ Voss, Houston, Texas 77063. Nonetheless, Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel to repair his reputation. Pistols - garthvincent.com 0.00. 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. Special care was taken when moulding the lead bullets to ensure that there were no voids which would affect accuracy. Patron of that Leaden death!" The Mantons, Griffin & Tow, H.W. 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. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. 12.9 oz. Upon the signal, they could advance towards one another and choose when to fire. 2023 Rock Island Auction Company. Lot 81: This historic pair of silver mounted H.W. But you had never gained so great a name, In England had your pistols killed as few." Are they bred or made? Not all fine, antique pairs of pistols are duelling pistols, though they may be called so. The 9 5/8"" octagon 64 caliber swamped smooth bore barrel has a fair bore with pitting. 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. An Irish duelling pistol, dated 1774, a collectors term for a gun where the barrel is longer than 10in, with a short, straight butt. As the challenged party, Hamilton selected Churchs pistols as the weapons. 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.