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The barrels on earlier guns were cylindrical, while later ones tended to be octagonal. Special care was taken when moulding the lead bullets to ensure that there were no voids which would affect accuracy. More Info. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. British, London, Medium: The relined case has moderate age and storage related wear. (44.5 cm); D. 6 3/4 in. Once one man fired, he was generally expected to stand at that spot and await his opponents shot within the remaining time and before crossing the barrier. Wogdon had apprenticed to the Irish gunmaker Edward Norton in Lincolnshire. A serious pistol shot would practise with his own pair and would be reluctant to provide one of his pistols to his adversary. Then Eacker raised his pistol and shot Hamilton above the hip. He was dead within thirty-six hours. 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. 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. 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. 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! Free ground shipping on all US Online Orders over $100! (1219 g); powder flask (b): H. 4 1/8 in. (10 cm); Wt. This supremely elegant target pistol is among their most accomplished work. 4.8 oz. Given both men had time to take deliberate aim, neither may walk away unscathed, and the chance of death was high. 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. One Theophilus Swift was to write a pamphlet on the affair, taking the Dukes side. 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 events that culminated in the duel were the result of several years of simmering political differences and antagonism. Lot 3247: A very desirable cased pair of Wogdon & Barton flintlock dueling pistols from circa 1795-1803. Lock plates engraved Wogdon & Barton, having push-on half-cock safeties, semi-rain proof pans, and roller frizzen springs (one spring repaired). Wogdon & Barton was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. The remaining furniture is iron and includes classic English engraving, including fine pineapple finials on the trigger guards. This time by his father and Vice President Aaron Burr. 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. "The Best Damn Gunshop in the World" The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Gunsmith Robert Wogdon British Two shots are believed to have rung out almost simultaneously. This was a legal proceeding in which a persons guilt or innocence was determined by the outcome of a fight. Famous for duelling pistols. There are currently no customer product questions on this lot. The Burr-Hamilton duel pistols were originally in a very similar configuration to this pair. 2023 Rock Island Auction Company. Both pistols have their original iron-tipped ramrods with an attached worm at the end. 181520", "THE TAMING OF THE DUEL: MASCULINITY, HONOUR AND RITUAL VIOLENCE IN LONDON, 16601800", "www.exetermemories.co.uk/EM/_events/last_duel.php", "Material Culture and Military History: Test-Firing Early Modern Small Arms", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Duelling_pistol&oldid=1132214902, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 7 January 2023, at 20:30. The butt cap and trigger guard are polished bright. Compounds and Solutions for Wood. 283, sold to MMA). The emotional trauma that Alexander Hamilton must have suffered three years later, facing Aaron Burr on the same spot where his son had been killed, and with perhaps the same pistol that he himself was now holding, can hardly be imagined. Burrs intention seems quite clear. 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. Graceful yet practical and perfectly balanced in the hand, they privilege overall formal quality and flawless mechanical work over applied adornments. Mortimer, and many other talented English gunmakers certainly manufactured incredibly fine dueling pistols and helped create new innovations in their designs over time, but Wogdon truly specialized in them. [7] The bullets loaded in them could weigh 214 grains (0.49 ounces; 13.9 grams) in .52 caliber, or more in larger calibers. Flints. A Continental Pin Fire Revolver. [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. He was found guilty of conspiracy to abduct Mary and sentenced to three years in prison, though he managed to spend his prison term in comfort due to his continued access to Marys estate. Exactly what happened next has been debated and veiled in mystery ever since. They go back centuries to trial by combat, also known as the judicial duel. The brown damascus style finish is . SOLD. The answer to the question frequently asked of the owners of Wogdon duelling pistols, Were these pistols ever used in a duel? must unfortunately therefore be, We just dont know.. 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. Please use the print button in the share bar at the top of the page. 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. [3], In continental Europe, the use of smooth-bored pistols was considered cowardly, and rifled pistols were the norm. Click here for more information. Although their purpose was combat or self-defense, holster pistols were used on occasion to fight duels. The events leading up to the duel, the newspaper articles, the near fatal injuries Stoney had suffered, had all been a complete sham engineered by Stoney and Bate to trick Bowes into marriage, giving Stoney control over her huge fortune. Pair of Wogdon & Barton Flintlock Dueling Pistols (AH6322), 7626 Westheimer @ Voss, Houston, Texas 77063. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. 14.75". 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. However, there is rarely any information as to the type, ownership or maker of the pistols used. After one man had fired, the other could fire within the remaining allotted time. Church himself had fought a bloodless duel with Burr a few years earlier. Estimated at $7,500-$12,000, these dueling pistols are beautiful, rare, and historically significant. 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. Robert Wogdon and John Barton operated at 14 Haymarket, London, from 1795 to 1803. 4.8 oz. 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. Carried to his Manhattan home, Hamilton lingered in agony, the pistol ball lodged next to his spine. Hamilton, Burr, their seconds, and a doctor met at Heights of Weehawken in New Jersey, a popular but secluded dueling ground, on that fateful July morning. 15". The Duke had earlier indicated to Colonel Lennox that he wished to desire no protection from his rank. In Britain, the favoured type was for the duellists to stand still at an agreed distance and shoot when given the signal. As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes. Geoff Walker trading as The Flintlock Collection - All Rights Reserved 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. The 10"" swamped at the muzzle octagon 67 caliber smooth bore barrels have good bores with light roughness. The seconds turned their backs, so they could deny being credible witnesses to what transpired should they be drawn into court. He died in 1813, and by that time hundreds of men are believed to have been injured or killed by his pistols in duels. 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. 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. Poem, Stanzas on Duelling, by an Irish Volunteer, 1783, began Hail Wogden! Instead, the duelists should fire quickly. 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. Wogdon was partnered with John Barton at 14 Haymarket Street in London in 1795-1803. This nice single dueling flintlock pistol by a very well known maker is ready for your English flintlock pistol collection. [2] (39.4 cm); Wt. 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. Derringer Handguns For Sale :: Guns.com 2/18/2023 Threading and drilling tooling. We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. Hamilton languished until 2 p.m. on July 12, 1804. Great Britain and Ireland, 1600-1800 A.D. SCHEELS Guns International #: 102054289 Seller's Inventory #: AH6306. Stoney Bowes, not one to give up easily, appealed against Marys divorce suit but Mary eventually gained her freedom. Robert Wogdon manufactured the pistols used in the Hamilton-Burr duel, the most famous duel in American history. Robert Wogdon, a gunmaker most famous for his dueling pistols, partnered with John Barton late in his career. [3], Duelling pistols had long barrels - typically around 10in (250mm) and fired large, heavy bullets. 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. 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. With John Barton traded as Wogdon & Barton, from 1795, succeeded by Barton, 1803. [6], Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh. New York. Many of Wogdons pistols have bent barrels. Its long barrel, measuring nearly twelve inches in length, indicates its intended use for targets. Lot 1275: Cased Pair of Griffin & Tow flintlock dueling pistols circa 1780. Wogdon had apprenticed to the Irish gunmaker Edward Norton in Lincolnshire. See "A." Browse SCHEELS selection of handguns and pistols featuring top brands like Glock, SIG, Smith & Wesson, & more. A Duelling Pistol by Edwards of Dublin. 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. 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. The Mantons, Griffin & Tow, H.W. Colonel Burr arrived first. The stock is very good with the typical flat sided Wogdon style grips, two fastening wedges, no cracks or chips (except a small chip at the forward lock screw), and the wear expected of a 225 plus year old flintlock pistol. (1219 g); powder flask (b): H. 4 1/8 in. 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. But you had never gained so great a name, In England had your pistols killed as few." 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 overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. A 28-Bore Flintlock Duelling PistolBy Wogdon & Barton, London, Circa 1800. Robert Wogdon (British, 17341813), Gunsmith: [20], The use of pistols in duels became popular in the United Kingdom, France, and colonial America during the mid-eighteenth century. The overall length is approx. Lot 81: This historic pair of silver mounted H.W. SUBSCRIBE today for our lowest ever deal, SIX ISSUES for JUST 6 by clicking on THIS link. As a result, duelling pistols with rifled barrels were considered unsporting by many, although there was no unfairness so long as the pistols were identical. The 9 5/8"" octagon 64 caliber swamped smooth bore barrel has a fair bore with pitting. He returned shortly before the War of 1812. [12], It is often stated that duelling pistols came in identical pairs to put each duellist on an equal footing. Eacker had called the two young men damned rascals.. (6.7 cm); W. 17 1/2 in. 344. Scroll left to view more. 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 . 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. Hosted and Maintained by TwoPointZero IT. Given the large number of cased pairs of his duelling pistols that have survived to this day, his production was significant. Its the story of a, In 1873, two of America's greatest gunmakers would unveil the defining arms of the era. Like that pair, these pistols have "concealed" single set triggers, a standard feature of their pistols rather than a secret designed to give one duelist an advantage over the other. For example, if God was sure to choose the innocent, then he could guide a ball to the proper target no matter how inaccurate the pistol, but duelists sought out pistols by gunmakers known for reliability and accuracy, and some practiced shooting at targets to ensure their aim was true. They have small blade front and fixed notch rear sights. [12], Late model English duelling pistols fired by percussion cap, bearing the Royal Warrant on the case, Earlier English flintlock duelling pistols made by Wogdon & Barton, used in the fatal Burr-Hamilton duel of 1804. Collecting, preserving, researching, publishing, and exhibiting distinguished examples representing the art of the armorer, swordsmith, and gunmaker. Philip was mortally wounded, and died in agony the following day. [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. A Scarce Double Barrel Pocket Pistol . Mortimer, and many other talented English gunmakers certainly manufactured incredibly fine dueling pistols and helped create new innovations in their designs over time, but Wogdon truly specialized in them. David S. Weaver covered this for the American Society of Arms Collectors,but in short, Wodgons barrels were bent downwards slightly. 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. Patron of that Leaden death. (9.6 mm); Wt. Rogers Fund, 1937, Accession Number: 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. 15"". [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. .38 in. This resulted in a further duel between Colonel Lennox and Swift, which resulted in the unfortunate Swift being shot in the abdomen. Like most of the earlier English dueling pistols, this pair has a lighter build. 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. The Field is the oldest and ultimate sporting journal, covering everything rural types care about since 1853. Generally, if both duelists fired without effect, the challenger could declare himself satisfied or demand another exchange. There's a lot going on in this escutcheon! Flintlock Target Pistol of Prince William Frederick, Second Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (17761834), with Case and Accessories, Wogdon & Barton (British, London 17951803), John Barton (British, recorded 17951819), 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, Pistol (a): L. 16 1/8 in. The Mantons, Griffin & Tow, H.W. Robert Wogdon and John Barton operated at 14 Haymarket, London, from 1795 to 1803. (17.1 cm); Wt. This is a very nice pair of dueling pistols by a well-known maker of quality flintlock pistols. The crest and monogram strongly suggest they may have belonged to Wogdons son-in-law, William Butt Jnr. (42.5 g); screwdriver (e): L. 3 15/16 in. Original Tools. Firearms-Pistols-Flintlock, Credit Line: His pistols had now reached a level of perfect proportions and balance, and had a simple elegance that could hardly be improved. 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. A North African Flintlock Pistol . In some situations, the duelist who had already fired was also supposed to keep advancing until the opponent had fired. Had Lennox refused to challenge the Duke, his reputation as an officer and a gentleman would have been irrevocably compromised. The pistols used in the Hamilton=Burr duel, which belonged to Hamiltons brother-in-law. 1 lb. They, and the cocks, have raised decorative edges. The hooks or spurs on the trigger guard can be used with your middle finger to help steady the pistol. They have small blade front and fixed notch rear sights. With re-browned swamped octagonal sighted barrel (bore pitted) with crudely refreshed signature along the top flat and line of beadwork at the rear, silver fore-sight, border engraved tang with back-sight and decorated with a shell and foliage, signed detented flat . Haymarket, 1774-1802. These pistols from the National Maritime Museum are engraved Horatio Nelson 1780. Pistol dueling was an associate (non-medal) event at the 1906 and 1908 Olympic games (see Olympic dueling). Gunsmith John Barton British. All the metal has a smooth gray-brown patina. Fate or divine intervention was a key aspect of the origins of dueling. 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. 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. One of a pair of silver-mounted duelling pistols, hallmarked 1776, with the first recorded use of the helmet and falchion side-plate. 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 . 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. More Info. 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. The Burr and Hamilton Duel at Weehawken, New Jersey, July 11, 1804 There is an oval escutcheon at the wrist that has the initials GL and, in very small letters at the top of the arc, ""FOR RIGHT AND REASON"". The barrels have a decorative band around the breech end. 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. 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 "Loan Exhibition of European Arms and Armor," August 3September 27, 1931, no. 1.3 oz. Lennox grazed the Dukes curls, and the Duke held his fire. 7 oz. 20002023 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The locks are signed "Wogdon/&/Barton" and have frizzen rollers, sliding half-cock safeties, and stepped tails. .36 in (9.3 mm); Wt. Whether Lennox had used his Wogdons in his duel with Swift is not known. Robert Wogdon, a gunmaker most famous for his dueling pistols, partnered with John Barton late in his career. Wogdon & Barton (founded by Robert Wogdon) was an 18th-century firm of gunsmiths based in London, England. The custom fitted case has a later three-compartment powder flasks, balls, and an original section from the ramrod of gun "A." 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 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. Prince William Frederick, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh, "Flintlock Target Pistol of Prince William Frederick, Second Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (17761834), with Case and Accessories", "Robert Wogdon, Gunmaker, London (1737-1813)", "The Pistols of Robert Wogdon | Andrea Penrose Author", "The Little-Known Story of the Gun That Killed Alexander Hamilton", Information on Wogdon and his grave in Layston Church, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wogdon_%26_Barton&oldid=1131084818, This page was last edited on 2 January 2023, at 13:34. The stock on gun 2 is fine with no cracks or chips and the dents and dings expected of light to moderate use. (42.5 g); screwdriver (e): L. 3 15/16 in. (14.2 g); case (g): H. 2 5/8 in. 0.00. Stoney demanded Bate reveal the author of these articles; Bate refused and Stoney challenged him to a duel as the Countess of Strathmores champion. [7], The most famous and innovative manufacturers were London-based companies such as Wogdon & Barton, Durs Egg, Manton, Mortimer, Nock, and Purdey. Lot 3248 in the upcoming August 26-28 Premier Auction: A classic pair of Wogdon dueling pistols from circa 1780. With John Barton, traded Wogdon & Barton from 1795, succeeded by Barton, 1803. 0.00. 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. Lot 231: Cased pair of H. Bales flintlock dueling pistols. 7 oz. When facing down a, The birth of the legendary Barrett M82 sniper rifle, is a fascinating American tale of inspiration, dedication, and innovation. Click here for more information. 2023 Rock Island Auction Company. [18] For an eye-witness account of such a duel, see Reynolds (1839).[14]. One of the most common varieties was having a set number of paces walked off and the positions marked in advance. As the distance closed they could fire at will. The hard part would have been shooting both accurately and quickly with your life on the line. The barrels were given a blued or browned finish to reduce glare. The brown damascus style finish is visible in several areas along with scattered dents and manufacturing defects. 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. 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. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. But if the first to fire missed, he was required to stand still and wait for his opponent's shot. Despite duelling being always regarded as illegal, in practice it was widely tolerated by both the juries and the sentencing judges. (6.7 cm); W. 17 1/2 in. 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. He died on September 14, 1836, a poor and broken man, on the same day that the divorce was finalized. He is recorded as 'Gunmaker, at Mr. Maw's Haberdasher, Cockspur St., Charing Cross' in 1764. 0.00. This is a very nice pair of dueling pistols by a well-known maker of quality flintlock pistols. The whereabouts of the second Wogdon pistol are unknown. Gunmaker at Mr. Maws haberdashers, Cockspur St., Charing Cross, 1764. The sliding-safety locks are marked in script ""Wogdon"" over ""&"" over ""Barton"". 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 you can see, hitting a man-sized target with a muzzleloading pistol wouldnt have been particularly difficult. Since the 1800s, explorers and dangerous game hunters navigating the African bush have trusted their lives to the double rifle. 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. The overall length of this pair of flintlock dueling pistols is approx. Both sets of pistols have single set triggers. Hamiltons pistol went off and struck the ground. 0.8 oz. A duelling pistol is a type of pistol that was manufactured in matching pairs to be used in a duel, when duels were customary. ANTIQUE Engraved WOGDON FLINTLOCK Dueling Pistol Pistol Maker of the Pistols Used in the BURR-HAMILTON Duel! Other Materials. Forging damascus steel barrels the rarest of skills, The Fields bucket list for a sporting year, Seasons greetings a love letter to postage stamps. The doctors concluded that Stoneys injuries might well prove fatal. This is famously represented in the book and film The Last Duel. No details as to the pistol used by the Duke of York have so far been found. 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. The 10" swamped at the muzzle octagon 67 caliber smooth bore barrels have good bores with light roughness. The name Robert Wogdon is one that appears frequently in tales of the most infamous duels. Duelling pistols have long and heavy barrels - the added weight helped steady aim and reduce recoil. The engraving on the escutcheon merits further research. Engraved in gold on the barrel: ARGer DE L'EMPEREUR. Wogdon made the pistols used in the infamous BurrHamilton duel, which were later claimed to have concealed "hair triggers" (also known as set triggers). When it came down to staring down an opponent, many men put their trust in gunmakers like Robert Wogdon rather than divine intervention.