Hamilton languished until 2 p.m. on July 12, 1804. Had Lennox refused to challenge the Duke, his reputation as an officer and a gentleman would have been irrevocably compromised. Thereafter they quickly took over and after 1785 it was rare for a sword duel to be fought in London. Instead, the duelists should fire quickly. Philip was mortally wounded, and died in agony the following day. Click here for more information. [7], The most famous and innovative manufacturers were London-based companies such as Wogdon & Barton, Durs Egg, Manton, Mortimer, Nock, and Purdey. 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. Somewhat reluctantly, Mary agreed and four days later Stoney was carried on a stretcher down the aisle of St Jamess Church, Piccadilly, to marry Mary Elizabeth Bowes, Dowager Countess of Strathmore. 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. (10 cm); Wt. [18] For an eye-witness account of such a duel, see Reynolds (1839).[14]. 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. Mary Eleanor Bowes was the richest heiress in England at that time. They are immediately recognizable by their elegant proportions, restrained ornament, and technical refinement. 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. 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]. One could be excused for not recognising the pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel as having been made by the famous Wogdon. (44.5 cm); D. 6 3/4 in. 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 duel took place at exactly the same place where Philips father was to meet Aaron Burr three years later. New York. To refuse to take part in the duel would have had the same result. Initially standard holster or travelling pistols were mainly used, but by the end of the century special-purpose duelling pistols were being made by craftsmen in England, France, Germany, Austria, and the United States. (136.1 g); cleaning rod (c): L. 15 1/2 in. One Theophilus Swift was to write a pamphlet on the affair, taking the Dukes side. 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. 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. A cased pair of half-stocked duelling pistols dated 1793. These pistols from the National Maritime Museum are engraved Horatio Nelson 1780. "British Flintlock Dueling Pistol by Wogdon (AH6306) . E ach pistol with 10 inch rebrowned sighted octagonal barrel inscribed 'Wogdon & Barton London' on the top flat, gold lined touch hole, foliate engraved tang incorporating the rear sight, flat bevel edged signed lock with stepped tail and sliding safety, set trigger, figured walnut full stock, swelling flat sided butt, engraved iron furniture Churchs Wogdon & Barton pistols were used on July 11, 1804, close to where the young Hamilton had been mortally wounded. It is now half-stocked with a silver fore-end and a rounded, chequered butt with spurred trigger-guard. A duelling pistol is a type of pistol that was manufactured in matching pairs to be used in a duel, when duels were customary. 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.. One of a pair of silver-mounted duelling pistols, hallmarked 1776, with the first recorded use of the helmet and falchion side-plate. Impact Guns is the gun shop for all your shooting needs. 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. If either party was injured at all, the seconds were generally expected to work to declare the duel was over. Two pairs of pistols allowed for a second exchange of shots if both missed and the challenger of the duel was intent on continuing. 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. The relined case has moderate age and storage related wear. Again, the affair began with politics. This is famously represented in the book and film The Last Duel. Wogdon & Barton was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. More Info. Duelling pistols are often single-shot flintlock or percussion black-powder pistols which fire a lead ball. The pistols used in the Hamilton=Burr duel, which belonged to Hamiltons brother-in-law. From 9mm to 45 ACP, find the best pistol for you. It was requested that the Duke say he considered Colonel Lennox a man of honour and courage. Gunsmith John Barton British. Collectors Firearms, LLC. Like most of the earlier English dueling pistols, this pair has a lighter build. Famous for duelling pistols. 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. 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. The poem alludes to fate but suggests a duelists destiny lay in Wogdons hand. 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. Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. 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! 344. Copyright 2023 All rights reserved. He carried on his business in Haymarket from 1774 until his retirement in 1802. Firearms-Pistols-Flintlock, Credit Line: Until the mid-18th century, duels were typically fought with swords. When his second wife divorced him in 1834, Alexander Hamilton Jr. served as her lawyer. 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. His pistols had now reached a level of perfect proportions and balance, and had a simple elegance that could hardly be improved. If Hamilton were to admit to Burrs charge, which was substantially true, he would lose his honour. On 13 January 1777 at the Adelphi Tavern and Coffeehouse, Bate was accosted by Stoney and the duel proceeded without any witnesses. Finally, a published letter made reference to a particularly despicable opinion Hamilton had expressed about Burr. Desirable Cased Pair of Engraved Wogdon & Barton Flintlock Dueling Pistols Auction Date: August 28, 2022 Estimated Price: $ 6,500 - $ 9,500 Price Realized: Details A) Wogdon & Barton Dueling Pistol Manufacturer: English Model: Flintlock Pistol Type: Pistol Gauge: 54 Barrel: 10 inch octagon Finish: brown/casehardened/blue Grip: Stock: walnut The butt cap and trigger guard are polished bright. [12], Pairs of duelling pistols can be easily confused with holster pistols and travelling pistols. (36.9 g); bullet mould (d): L. 4 13/16 (12.2 cm); Cal. This article about a company of the UK is a stub. Cased Pair of John Blissett & Son Percussion Dueling Pistols: Lot 332 Four British Prime Ministers have engaged in duels throughout history. 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. But you had never gained so great a name, In England had your pistols killed as few." Burr appears to have had no such qualms and had been practicing his marksmanship. Initially, both men refused to fire. It has an inoperative hammer safety. His total production of duelling pistols over the 39 years that he was a gunmaker is unknown. London proof marks and RW barrel makers mark. The sliding-safety locks are marked in script ""Wogdon"" over ""&"" over ""Barton"". 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. 1 lb. Cobra Derringers are beautifully handcrafted with a wide range of calibers and barrel lengths that provides versatile and reliable service for a lifetime. (41 cm); L. of barrel 11 15/16 in. Many of Wogdons pistols have bent barrels. Pistol Kits; Chemicals and Compounds. Wogdon made the pistols used in the infamous BurrHamilton duel, which were later claimed to have concealed "hair triggers" (also known as set triggers). Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. But if the first to fire missed, he was required to stand still and wait for his opponent's shot. (39.4 cm); Wt. (3.8 cm); Wt. "Loan Exhibition of European Arms and Armor," August 3September 27, 1931, no. However, there is rarely any information as to the type, ownership or maker of the pistols used. (10.5 cm); Wt. British, London, Medium: As part of, Samuel Brunn (English, London, recorded 17951820), Louis Perrin (French, Paris, active 182365), James Purdey the Elder (British, London 17841863 Margate), J. C. A. Brun (French, Paris, active 184972), Louis Nicolas Auguste Flobert (French, Paris, 18191894). Lot 231: Cased pair of H. Bales flintlock dueling pistols. 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. Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel. Patron of that Leaden death!" 15"". 1 lb. Generally, if both duelists fired without effect, the challenger could declare himself satisfied or demand another exchange. (42.5 g); screwdriver (e): L. 3 15/16 in. The refinished stock is good and has some dings and worn spots in the otherwise distinct checkering, crack between the ramrod entry pipe and trigger guard finial, repair above the nose of the lock, and some scattered minor dings and scratches. 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. 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. They loaded the pistols and the parties took their stations. The hooks or spurs on the trigger guard can be used with your middle finger to help steady the pistol. 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. Colonel Lennox fired and the ball grazed one of his Royal Highness curls. [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. The name of one gunmaker recurs repeatedly in tales of the most infamous duels Robert Wogdon, says John O'Sullivan and De Witt Bailey, in this edited extract from Robert Wogdon, Wogdon & Barton, John Barton, London Gunmkaers 1764-1819. 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. The Burr and Hamilton Duel at Weehawken, New Jersey, July 11, 1804 Remarkable design and engineering continues to mark out the British gun trade. He died on September 14, 1836, a poor and broken man, on the same day that the divorce was finalized. 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. All the metal has a smooth gray-brown patina. 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. (36.9 g); bullet mould (d): L. 4 13/16 (12.2 cm); Cal. SUBSCRIBE today for our lowest ever deal, SIX ISSUES for JUST 6 by clicking on THIS link. 0.00. 7 oz. Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded. Mechanically fine. Very good with more than half of the period refurbished brown, distinct Damascus patterns, and bright gold vent on the barrel; mottled silver-gray patina on the lock, gray and brown patina on the iron furniture, dark aged patina on the silver, replaced ramrod shaft, minor oxidation/pitting, and general mild wear. Literature: For similar examples see Robert Wogdon, Wogdon & Barton, John Barton by John OSullivan & De Witt Bailey pp 180 185. Duelling pistols have long and heavy barrels - the added weight helped steady aim and reduce recoil. 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. 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. Graceful, understated, and built with fine attention to detail, it belonged to a cousin of George IV, Prince William Frederick, second Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh, whose arms are engraved on the grips gold escutcheon. WOGDON & BARTON. [11] The short range most duels took place at, combined with the accuracy of rifled pistols meant their use substantially increased the chances of a fatality during a duel. This resulted in a further duel between Colonel Lennox and Swift, which resulted in the unfortunate Swift being shot in the abdomen. Stoney was to make Marys life a nightmare, subjecting her and her children to eight years of continuing physical and mental abuse, including threats of rape and murder. The events that culminated in the duel were the result of several years of simmering political differences and antagonism. Standard flintlock pistols can have a noticeable delay between pulling the trigger and actually firing the bullet unless precisely tuned. 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. Churchs dueling pistols were originally similar to the Wogdon & Barton pair in our next auction but at some point had brass forends fitted to them. 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. As the distance closed they could fire at will. The seconds turned their backs, so they could deny being credible witnesses to what transpired should they be drawn into court. Hamilton did not elaborate but indicated his remarks were political, not personal, which would imply that Burrs honor had not been drawn into question. Both parties presented and fired in succession. The Critical Review; or, Annals of Literature, hot air balloons with blunderbusses over Paris, Duke of York was challenged by his nephew Charles Lennox. Special care was taken when moulding the lead bullets to ensure that there were no voids which would affect accuracy. Lennox replied that he could not consider His Royal Highness as any other than the son of his King. 3 lb. The overall length of the pistols is 16in and the smooth-bore octagonal barrels are 29-bore. 15". Taking deliberate aim, was considered vicious and discouraged. [15], A further type of duel, known as a barrier duel or a duel volont (at pleasure) had the duellists walk towards each other. [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. He completed his term as Vice-President but his political career was effectively over. A PAIR OF FLINTLOCK DUELLING PISTOLS BY WOGDON & BARTON, LONDON, CIRCA 1800 With octagonal signed barrels each retaining much original browned finish to the underside, gold-lined touch-holes, deeply scroll engraved tangs, signed flat bevelled bolted locks each with roller, gold-lined priming-pan and some original faded case-hardened finish, set triggers, figured walnut full stocks, engraved .