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. Burr was unharmed but stood in shock before being rushed away from the scene as was customary. 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. Lot 81: This historic pair of silver mounted H.W. Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API. Not all fine, antique pairs of pistols are duelling pistols, though they may be called so. The brown damascus style finish is visible in several areas along with scattered dents and manufacturing defects. The barrels have a decorative band around the breech end. One particularly deadly option for a serious dispute was to have both men stand a set number of paces apart, cock and raise their pistols upon command, take aim at another command, and then fire simultaneously upon the final command. (41 cm); L. of barrel 11 15/16 in. SOLD. Thus, firing too early might make you more likely to miss and have to risk being shot at from a shorter range. Great Britain and Ireland, 1600-1800 A.D. 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. Both sets of pistols have single set triggers. Spring Steel. 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. His total production of duelling pistols over the 39 years that he was a gunmaker is unknown. 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. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. He died early the next morning. Duelling pistols are often single-shot flintlock or percussion black-powder pistols which fire a lead ball. 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. 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. Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel. Remarkable design and engineering continues to mark out the British gun trade. 1.5 oz. Threading and drilling tooling. 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. Robert Wogdon made many and varied firearms - pocket and livery pistols, double-barrelled pistols, sporting guns and rifles, carbines and blunderbusses - but he was most renowned for his duelling pistols. .38 in. Wogdon & Barton dueling pistols Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. (136.1 g); cleaning rod (c): L. 15 1/2 in. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments. SOLD. Steel and Brass Section, Rod and Sheet. 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. This supremely elegant target pistol is among their most accomplished work. [11] A pair of rifled pistols often included a small hammer or mallet as an accessory; they used slightly oversized bullets and a hammer was needed to drive the bullet down the barrel when loading. A duelling pistol is a type of pistol that was manufactured in matching pairs to be used in a duel, when duels were customary. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. No details as to the pistol used by the Duke of York have so far been found. But if the first to fire missed, he was required to stand still and wait for his opponent's shot. "Loan Exhibition of European Arms and Armor," August 3September 27, 1931, no. The hooks or spurs on the trigger guard can be used with your middle finger to help steady the pistol. 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. More Info. The sliding-safety locks are marked in script "Wogdon" over "&" over "Barton". Cased Pair of John Blissett & Son Percussion Dueling Pistols: Lot 332 Four British Prime Ministers have engaged in duels throughout history. The seconds turned their backs, so they could deny being credible witnesses to what transpired should they be drawn into court. SOLD. Despite duelling being always regarded as illegal, in practice it was widely tolerated by both the juries and the sentencing judges. .36 in (9.3 mm); Wt. New York. Generally, if both duelists fired without effect, the challenger could declare himself satisfied or demand another exchange. The next day it was Hamiltons turn to face Eacker at ten paces. (17.1 cm); Wt. Some say Hamilton threw away his shot on purpose as he had declared he intended to do privately and then Burr fired, while others suggest Hamilton fired reflexively after being shot. Are they bred or made? The Mantons, Griffin & Tow, H.W. Where neither principal owned a pistol, then a pair might be produced to be shared. More Info. The Colt Single Action Army revolver and the Winchester Model. Wogdon made the pistols used in the infamous BurrHamilton duel, which were later claimed to have concealed "hair triggers" (also known as set triggers). At first glance, the surviving pistol is not immediately recognisable as the work of Robert Wogdon. Surprisingly, Lee was only lightly wounded and the affair ultimately ended without another exchange, in part due to Alexander Hamiltons role as Laurenss second. The overall length is approx. 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. Patron of that Leaden death. Prince William Frederick, Second Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (1803d. 0.8 oz. They are immediately recognizable by their elegant proportions, restrained ornament, and technical refinement. After one man had fired, the other could fire within the remaining allotted time. 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. Poem, Stanzas on Duelling, by an Irish Volunteer, 1783, began Hail Wogden, Patron of that Leaden death. Hosted and Maintained by TwoPointZero IT. Two Engraved English Flintlock Pistols -A) Desirable Wogdon & Barton Dueling PistolWogdon dueling pistols are among the most historical and were used in the most famous of all American duels: the Burr-Hamilton affair. 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). Starting in 1795 to 1803, he operated with a partner, John Barton, as Wogdon & Barton so this pistol is 1795 or earlier. He left no records and never used serial numbers on his guns. 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. [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. (1726.5 g), Classification:
But you had never gained so great a name, In England had your pistols killed as few."
The Duke did not return fire. SCHEELS Geoff Walker trading as The Flintlock Collection - All Rights Reserved Ref: 582. The events that culminated in the duel were the result of several years of simmering political differences and antagonism. 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. 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 overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. This is an edited extract from Robert Wogdon, Wogdon & Barton, John Barton, London Gunmakers 1764-1819, price 75, published by Bonhams. The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. Churchs Wogdon & Barton pistols were used on July 11, 1804, close to where the young Hamilton had been mortally wounded. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. 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. 14.75". Mechanically fine. [3], In continental Europe, the use of smooth-bored pistols was considered cowardly, and rifled pistols were the norm. A Rifled Pocket Pistol by Smith. [6], Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh. 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. 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. Mechanically fine. 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. On 13 January 1777 at the Adelphi Tavern and Coffeehouse, Bate was accosted by Stoney and the duel proceeded without any witnesses. The Wogdon pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel belonged to Hamiltons brother-in-law, Colonel John Barker Church. (1219 g); powder flask (b): H. 4 1/8 in. To order, please call 01666 502200 or email: subscriptions@bonhams.com, This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, Luxury stationery: a wonderfully sensuous experience. 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.