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. [19] Participants wore heavy, protective clothing and a metal helmet, similar to a fencing mask but with an eye-screen of thick glass. 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.[6]. 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. SOLD. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. The victor is presumed to be the just party in the case because the divine would have chosen the winner. To refuse to take part in the duel would have had the same result. Hamilton received a .54-caliber wound to the abdomen from an English-made Wogdon & Barton flintlock smoothbore dueling pistol. 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. 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. 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. 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. The next day it was Hamiltons turn to face Eacker at ten paces. This supremely elegant target pistol is among their most accomplished work. The barrels on earlier guns were cylindrical, while later ones tended to be octagonal. (1726.5 g), Classification: Robert Wogdon and John Barton operated at 14 Haymarket, London, from 1795 to 1803. WOGDON & BARTON. Lot 3248 in the upcoming August 26-28 Premier Auction: A classic pair of Wogdon dueling pistols from circa 1780. Design [ edit] The crest and monogram strongly suggest they may have belonged to Wogdons son-in-law, William Butt Jnr. Exactly what happened next has been debated and veiled in mystery ever since. When facing down a, The birth of the legendary Barrett M82 sniper rifle, is a fascinating American tale of inspiration, dedication, and innovation. Use your arrow keys to navigate the tabs below, and your tab key to choose an item, Title: Generally, if both duelists fired without effect, the challenger could declare himself satisfied or demand another exchange. Burrs shot had struck him in the ribs and caused serious damage to his organs and left him paralyzed. [7] The bullets loaded in them could weigh 214 grains (0.49 ounces; 13.9 grams) in .52 caliber, or more in larger calibers. All rights reserved. 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. 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. [18] For an eye-witness account of such a duel, see Reynolds (1839).[14]. In 1797, Alexander Hamilton's brother-in-law, John Baker Church, had obtained an exquisite pair of custom-made dueling pistols made by Wogdon. The trigger guard finial is an engraved acorn. Stoney demanded Bate reveal the author of these articles; Bate refused and Stoney challenged him to a duel as the Countess of Strathmores champion. This article about a company of the UK is a stub. From about 1770 onwards, gunsmiths were producing pistols expressly made for duelling.[2]. It also breaks from the longstanding tradition of decorative opulence in fine Continental European firearms.London gunmakers favored subtle embellishments that complemented the firearms deliberate and meticulous assemblies. The 9 5/8" octagon 64 caliber swamped smooth bore barrel has a fair bore . Gunsmith Wogdon & Barton British The breech plug tangs, butt caps, and trigger guards have decorative engraving. Engraved in gold on the barrel: ARGer DE L'EMPEREUR. Nonetheless, smoothbore dueling pistols, generally around 28 bore (.54 caliber), were the weapons of choice by the late 18th century. Description The barrels are 10 octagonal, sighted, browned twist with bore size of .476 and scratch rifled. New York. Wogdon was partnered with John Barton at 14 Haymarket Street in London in 1795-1803. He died on September 14, 1836, a poor and broken man, on the same day that the divorce was finalized. The usual duelling distance of 12 paces was measured out and it was agreed that both parties would fire at the given signal. (39.4 cm); Wt. 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. .38 in. To order, please call 01666 502200 or email: [email protected], This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Luxury stationery: a wonderfully sensuous experience. Purpose-built duelling pistols have various improvements to make them more reliable and accurate. Tools and Accesories. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. They, and the cocks, have raised decorative edges. Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. Tools for wood. 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. The Duke did not return fire. [3], In continental Europe, the use of smooth-bored pistols was considered cowardly, and rifled pistols were the norm. [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. But you had never gained so great a name, In England had your pistols killed as few." The 10"" swamped at the muzzle octagon 67 caliber smooth bore barrels have good bores with light roughness. He died in 1813, and by that time hundreds of men are believed to have been injured or killed by his pistols in duels. As the smoke cleared, Alexander Hamilton lay mortally wounded. Until the mid-18th century, duels were typically fought with swords. 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). Not all fine, antique pairs of pistols are duelling pistols, though they may be called so. Lot 1278: Cased pair of Walter Adams percussion dueling pistols. Pistol dueling was an associate (non-medal) event at the 1906 and 1908 Olympic games (see Olympic dueling). [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. Lock plates engraved Wogdon & Barton, having push-on half-cock safeties, semi-rain proof pans, and roller frizzen springs (one spring repaired). Colonel Burr arrived first. 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. Alternatively, the duelists might exchange shots in turn instead of firing at the same time as was the case in the Laurens-Grimk duel in 1775. SOLD. He completed his term as Vice-President but his political career was effectively over. ANTIQUE Engraved WOGDON FLINTLOCK Dueling Pistol Pistol Maker of the Pistols Used in the BURR-HAMILTON Duel! [3] Other features were saw handles, platinum-lined touch-holes and hair triggers. The overall length is approx. The seconds turned their backs, so they could deny being credible witnesses to what transpired should they be drawn into court. 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. Philip was mortally wounded, and died in agony the following day. A duelling pistol is a type of pistol that was manufactured in matching pairs to be used in a duel, when duels were customary. The Field is the oldest and ultimate sporting journal, covering everything rural types care about since 1853. 7626 Westheimer @ Voss, Houston, Texas 77063. 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. Since the 1800s, explorers and dangerous game hunters navigating the African bush have trusted their lives to the double rifle. 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. (22.7 g); glass bottle (f): H. 1 1/2 in. (30.3 cm); Cal. 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. Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API. Of course if you could hit your opponent first, you might not have to be fired upon at all. Two pairs of pistols allowed for a second exchange of shots if both missed and the challenger of the duel was intent on continuing. British, London, Medium: 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. [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. 3 lb. 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. When his second wife divorced him in 1834, Alexander Hamilton Jr. served as her lawyer. A fine pair of flintlock duelling pistols by the master makers Wogdon and Barton of London, are coming up for auction in the Militaria & Ethnographica Sale at Tennants Auctioneers on 5 th October with an estimate of 14,000 - 18,000 plus buyer's premium. 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. The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. One of a pair of silver-mounted duelling pistols, hallmarked 1776, with the first recorded use of the helmet and falchion side-plate. Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. The Mantons, Griffin & Tow, H.W. 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. The Critical Review; or, Annals of Literature, hot air balloons with blunderbusses over Paris, Duke of York was challenged by his nephew Charles Lennox. Robert Wogdon and John Barton operated at 14 Haymarket, London, from 1795 to 1803. [2] The pistols used in the Hamilton=Burr duel, which belonged to Hamiltons brother-in-law. The barrels are marked Wogdon & Barton London in script on the top flat. Wogdon had apprenticed to the Irish gunmaker Edward Norton in Lincolnshire. Impact also services the needs of law enforcement and military with our wide variety of tactical weapons and . This was a legal proceeding in which a persons guilt or innocence was determined by the outcome of a fight. 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. Both pistols have their original iron-tipped ramrods with an attached worm at the end. Wogdon retired in 1803 and died in 1813. The actions on both pistols function correctly. This is a very nice pair of dueling pistols by a well-known maker of quality flintlock pistols. They loaded the pistols and the parties took their stations. Colonel Lennox would have faced a real dilemma over this incident. The locks are signed "Wogdon/&/Barton" and have frizzen rollers, sliding half-cock safeties, and stepped tails. 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. Gunmakers to Bow St. Police, 1801-3. The original dueling pistols used by Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr in the 1804 duel that killed Hamilton were on exhibit from May 25 - September 16, 2018. (1726.5 g). Burrs intention seems quite clear. 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. Robert Wogdon and John Barton operated at 14 Haymarket, London, from 1795 to 1803. (6.7 cm); W. 17 1/2 in. The events that culminated in the duel were the result of several years of simmering political differences and antagonism. They go back centuries to trial by combat, also known as the judicial duel. 7 oz. Read British gunmakers of the 21st century for more about the companies continuing a long tradition. A Scarce Double Barrel Pocket Pistol . 20002023 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 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. Duelling pistols have long and heavy barrels - the added weight helped steady aim and reduce recoil. 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. Whatever its origin, the name Wogdon certainly has a funereal ring to it, and very appropriate for the gunmaker whose duelling pistols were to send many men to their premature deaths. He left no records and never used serial numbers on his guns. The custom fitted case has a later three-compartment powder flasks, balls, and an original section from the ramrod of gun "A." Had Lennox refused to challenge the Duke, his reputation as an officer and a gentleman would have been irrevocably compromised. By candlelight it was obvious that Stoney had been seriously injured with three stab wounds to the chest. However, there is rarely any information as to the type, ownership or maker of the pistols used. The 10" swamped at the muzzle octagon 67 caliber smooth bore barrels have good bores with light roughness. The actions on both pistols function correctly. He returned shortly before the War of 1812. Burr was never tried for Hamiltons death, but rather than revive his political career, the duel was its death knell. This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. An Irish duelling pistol, dated 1774, a collectors term for a gun where the barrel is longer than 10in, with a short, straight butt. 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. 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. 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. John Barton (British, recorded 17951819), Culture: 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! This pair is rifled, something forbidden by the 18th century dueling codes but that became more accepted in the 19th century, especially in continental Europe where it became standard. Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel. (42.5 g); screwdriver (e): L. 3 15/16 in. He then fled to Europe where he continued to conspire to steal land in the West. Robert Wogden was one of the preeminent gunsmiths of his era. 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. More Info. Rogers Fund, 1937, Accession Number: For this reason, very few duels can now be confidently identified as those in which Wogdon pistols were used. (10.5 cm); Wt. The relined case has moderate age and storage related wear. .36 in (9.3 mm); Wt. (44.5 cm); D. 6 3/4 in. The barrels are marked Wogdon & Barton London in script on the top flat. 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, Dimensions: SCHEELS This supremely elegant target pistol is among their most accomplished work. 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. 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. (10 cm); Wt. On 13 January 1777 at the Adelphi Tavern and Coffeehouse, Bate was accosted by Stoney and the duel proceeded without any witnesses. Click here for more information. Finally, a published letter made reference to a particularly despicable opinion Hamilton had expressed about Burr. The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. The doctors concluded that Stoneys injuries might well prove fatal. Despite duelling being always regarded as illegal, in practice it was widely tolerated by both the juries and the sentencing judges. In some situations, the duelist who had already fired was also supposed to keep advancing until the opponent had fired. An aesthetic vocabulary of blued, case-hardened, and browned steel and richly finished walnut, both with tasteful gold and silver accents, defines much of their best work. (136.1 g); cleaning rod (c): L. 15 1/2 in. Hamiltons pistol went off and struck the ground. 2023 Rock Island Auction Company. His total production of duelling pistols over the 39 years that he was a gunmaker is unknown. 4.8 oz. 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. We offer a wide selection of firearms, including: handguns, shotguns, rifles, ammunition, rifle scopes and optics, as well as collectible machine guns and other NFA/Class 3 guns. They, and the cocks, have raised decorative edges. Great Britain and Ireland, 1600-1800 A.D. (9.6 mm); Wt. 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. David S. Weaver covered this for the American Society of Arms Collectors,but in short, Wodgons barrels were bent downwards slightly. Fate or divine intervention was a key aspect of the origins of dueling. Derringer Handguns For Sale :: Guns.com 2/18/2023 19th September 2018. Stoneys dying wish was that Mary would marry him. Its the story of a, In 1873, two of America's greatest gunmakers would unveil the defining arms of the era. This is an edited extract from Robert Wogdon, Wogdon & Barton, John Barton, London Gunmakers 1764-1819, price 75, published by Bonhams. There was not just a single form for a proper duel. 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. The poem alludes to fate but suggests a duelists destiny lay in Wogdons hand. 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 Mantons, Griffin & Tow, H.W. Collecting, preserving, researching, publishing, and exhibiting distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. (17.1 cm); Wt. The engraving on the escutcheon merits further research. He died the following day. One could be excused for not recognising the pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel as having been made by the famous Wogdon. 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. Two shots are believed to have rung out almost simultaneously. The barrels have a decorative band around the breech end. The pistols have smoothbore Damascus barrels with gold vent liners, dovetailed silver blade front sights, "Wogdon & Barton London" signed on top, registration markings for County Down in Ireland, engraved borders at the breech, and casehardened standing breeches with fixed notch rear sights and engraving. [16][17] The famous fictional duel between Pierre and Dolokhov in the novel War and Peace was of this kind. 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 . Though disputed, this duel most likely took place on 26 May 1789. They resulted in the deaths of two men from an illustrious American family just a few years apart. (42.5 g); screwdriver (e): L. 3 15/16 in. 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. The surviving Lennox pistol used in a duel with the Duke of York. SOLD. 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 . Collectors Firearms, LLC. (10.5 cm); Wt. 1.5 oz. The 9 5/8"" octagon 64 caliber swamped smooth bore barrel has a fair bore with pitting. 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. The overall length is approx. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. Thus, firing too early might make you more likely to miss and have to risk being shot at from a shorter range. 0.00. While other well-known English gunmakers such as Joseph Manton manufactured fine dueling pistols, Wogdon specialized in them. The ultimate pocket pistol, derringer handguns are lightweight, compact, and can easily be tucked away in a pocket or purse. 0.00. Remarkable design and engineering continues to mark out the British gun trade. Literature: For similar examples see Robert Wogdon, Wogdon & Barton, John Barton by John OSullivan & De Witt Bailey pp 180 185. [13][Note 4], There were various forms of pistol duel. The best hunting horse. By 1780, Wogdon had settled on the final form for his duelling pistols and saw no reason for any . As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes. The hooks or spurs on the trigger guard can be used with your middle finger to help steady the pistol. 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. 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. 7 oz. 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. 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. 344. 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. The stock on gun 2 is fine with no cracks or chips and the dents and dings expected of light to moderate use. The Duke of York had publicly insulted him and had virtually accused him of cowardice. His father told him to fire to miss, known as deloping, rather than take a mans life. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. .36 in (9.3 mm); Wt. Gunsmith Robert Wogdon British Its long barrel, measuring nearly twelve inches in length, indicates its intended use for targets. Lennox grazed the Dukes curls, and the Duke held his fire. (36.9 g); bullet mould (d): L. 4 13/16 (12.2 cm); Cal. 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.