wogdon and barton dueling pistols

0.00. When his second wife divorced him in 1834, Alexander Hamilton Jr. served as her lawyer. [18] For an eye-witness account of such a duel, see Reynolds (1839).[14]. There was not just a single form for a proper duel. Wogdon & Barton was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. [3][4] Wogdon formed a partnership in 1794 with John Barton, after which their pistols were signed Wogdon and Barton. The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. 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. 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. The 9 5/8"" octagon 64 caliber swamped smooth bore barrel has a fair bore with pitting. The locks are signed "Wogdon/&/Barton" and have frizzen rollers, sliding half-cock safeties, and stepped tails. Gunmaker at Mr. Maws haberdashers, Cockspur St., Charing Cross, 1764. Please use the print button in the share bar at the top of the page. These consisted of wax bullets in a cartridge without any powder charge; the bullet was propelled only by the explosion of the cartridge's primer. Lot 1275: Cased Pair of Griffin & Tow flintlock dueling pistols circa 1780. (1219 g); powder flask (b): H. 4 1/8 in. The usual duelling distance of 12 paces was measured out and it was agreed that both parties would fire at the given signal. (30.3 cm); Cal. This is a very nice pair of dueling pistols by a well-known maker of quality flintlock pistols. Colonel Lennox would have faced a real dilemma over this incident. [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. He is recorded as 'Gunmaker, at Mr. Maw's Haberdasher, Cockspur St., Charing Cross' in 1764. 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. A Duelling Pistol by Edwards of Dublin. Church himself had fought a bloodless duel with Burr a few years earlier. As the smoke cleared, Alexander Hamilton lay mortally wounded. Haymarket, 1774-1802. 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 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. Pistol dueling was an associate (non-medal) event at the 1906 and 1908 Olympic games (see Olympic dueling). Gunsmith Wogdon & Barton British (14.2 g); case (g): H. 2 5/8 in. Philip was mortally wounded, and died in agony the following day. Price and Eacker exchanged shots multiple times the following day without injury and considered their affair settled. These pistols from the National Maritime Museum are engraved Horatio Nelson 1780. 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. After one man had fired, the other could fire within the remaining allotted time. Gunsmith Robert Wogdon British Wogdon had apprenticed to the Irish gunmaker Edward Norton in Lincolnshire. His Royal Highness replied he should say nothing, after which all parties left the ground. 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. (36.9 g); bullet mould (d): L. 4 13/16 (12.2 cm); Cal. Firearms-Pistols-Flintlock, Credit Line: 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. The trigger guard finial is an engraved acorn. It was requested that the Duke say he considered Colonel Lennox a man of honour and courage. 15"". The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Lennox grazed the Dukes curls, and the Duke held his fire. 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 duelists would take their allotted place and then fire upon a signal from one of the seconds such as the dropping of a handkerchief with a set amount of time to fire after the signal had been given. He returned shortly before the War of 1812. More Info. This rare public showing marked the first time these pistols have been displayed in Washington, D.C. Died aged 79. The stock on gun 2 is fine with no cracks or chips and the dents and dings expected of light to moderate use. This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. 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. Not all fine, antique pairs of pistols are duelling pistols, though they may be called so. (1726.5 g). 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. More Info. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. More Info. 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. The victor is presumed to be the just party in the case because the divine would have chosen the winner. [2] The name Wogdon became synonymous with dueling, to the extent that duels in England were sometimes referred to as "a Wogdon affair". Burrs shot had struck him in the ribs and caused serious damage to his organs and left him paralyzed. 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. Remarkable design and engineering continues to mark out the British gun trade. 344. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. [3], In continental Europe, the use of smooth-bored pistols was considered cowardly, and rifled pistols were the norm. A Continental Pin Fire Revolver. The Faur Le Page company of France made special pistols for sport duelling. 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. But if the first to fire missed, he was required to stand still and wait for his opponent's shot. No details as to the pistol used by the Duke of York have so far been found. (6.7 cm); W. 17 1/2 in. Four years later, in 1808, Burr met Jeremy Bentham, the noted English philosopher, and Bentham claimed to have been certain of his (Burrs) ability to kill Hamilton. The lock, which is bright along with the cock, is marked in script ""Wogdon"". 1.5 oz. 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 you had never gained so great a name, In England had your pistols killed as few." The overall length is approx. All the metal has a smooth gray-brown patina. (10 cm); Wt. A pair of duels in the early 19th century in America have done much to fix Wogdons name in American memory. While other well-known English gunmakers such as Joseph Manton manufactured fine dueling pistols, Wogdon specialized in them. Bentham concluded that Burr was little better than a murderer. (22.7 g); glass bottle (f): H. 1 1/2 in. All the metal has a smooth gray-brown patina. The 10" swamped at the muzzle octagon 67 caliber smooth bore barrels have good bores with light roughness. They are immediately recognizable by their elegant proportions, restrained ornament, and technical refinement. Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr. The plot was foiled, but he was acquitted. The barrels have a decorative band around the breech end. .38 in. This was a legal proceeding in which a persons guilt or innocence was determined by the outcome of a fight. 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. Lennox replied that he could not consider His Royal Highness as any other than the son of his King. Robert Wogdon manufactured the pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel, the most famous duel in American history. The duel took place at exactly the same place where Philips father was to meet Aaron Burr three years later. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. [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. 1.3 oz. 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. Wogdon made the pistols used in the infamous BurrHamilton duel, which were later claimed to have concealed "hair triggers" (also known as set triggers). Exactly what happened next has been debated and veiled in mystery ever since. Although sometimes the duellists would use their own pistols so the weapons would be different. 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. 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. A 28-Bore Flintlock Duelling PistolBy Wogdon & Barton, London, Circa 1800. Collectors Firearms, LLC. 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. It is now half-stocked with a silver fore-end and a rounded, chequered butt with spurred trigger-guard. Robert Wogdon (British, 17341813), Gunsmith: The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. The pistols used in the Hamilton=Burr duel, which belonged to Hamiltons brother-in-law. Gunsmith John Barton British. Browse SCHEELS selection of handguns and pistols featuring top brands like Glock, SIG, Smith & Wesson, & more. 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. We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. Where neither principal owned a pistol, then a pair might be produced to be shared. They have small blade front and fixed notch rear sights. Lot 231: Cased pair of H. Bales flintlock dueling pistols. Starting in 1795 to 1803, he operated with a partner, John Barton, as Wogdon & Barton so this pistol is 1795 or earlier. 15"". Only one of the pair of pistols made by Robert Wogdon that were used in this duel has survived, and is on permanent exhibition at the Museum of London; it presumably belonged to Colonel Lennox. Starting in 1795 to 1803, he operated with a partner, John Barton, as Wogdon & Barton so this pistol is 1795 or earlier. More has been written about this duel than any other in American history. He died the following day. [7] For some in the eighteenth century, duelling with less-accurate, smooth-bore weapons was preferred as they viewed it as allowing the judgement of God to take a role in deciding the outcome of the encounter. 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. Hamilton did not elaborate but indicated his remarks were political, not personal, which would imply that Burrs honor had not been drawn into question. Poem, Stanzas on Duelling, by an Irish Volunteer, 1783, began Hail Wogden! Eacker had called the two young men damned rascals.. It is also only the second pair of Wogdons known with 16-sided barrels. The barrels were given a blued or browned finish to reduce glare. Wogdon retired in 1803 and died in 1813. 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. The Duke of York had publicly insulted him and had virtually accused him of cowardice. 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 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. 4.8 oz. [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. Interestingly these pistols look identical to the pistols used in the Burr-Hamilton duel of 1804, including the 'concealed hair triggers' Description The barrels which are gently swamped to the muzzle, are 10.25 octagonal, sighted, browned twist with a smooth bore size of .550. [3][4] Wogdon formed a partnership in 1794 with John Barton, after which their pistols were signed Wogdon and Barton. The 9 5/8"" octagon 64 caliber swamped smooth bore barrel has a fair bore with pitting. 283, sold to MMA). 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. Flints. Robert Wogdon produced flintlock firearms from the 1760s, and was particularly well known for his high quality duelling pistols. The Duke did not return fire. 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. [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. This is a very nice pair of dueling pistols by a well-known maker of quality flintlock pistols. Rogers Fund, 1937, Accession Number: 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. Nonetheless, smoothbore dueling pistols, generally around 28 bore (.54 caliber), were the weapons of choice by the late 18th century. 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. [6], Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh. (39.4 cm); Wt. 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.