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LOT 1399
Desirable Cased Pair of Engraved Wogdon & Barton Flintlock Dueling Pistols -A) Wogdon & Barton Dueling Pistol - NSN, 24 bore cal., 9 7/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/blue finish, walnut stock. Robert Wogdon (1734-1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. His pistols were so well nown that “Stanzas on Duelling Inscribed to Wogdon, the Celebrated Pistol-Maker” from 1782 starts with the lines “Hail Wogdon! Patron of that Leaden death!” and also includes, “No one can tell how short he shall remain, If honour calls and Wogdon bids him die.” Wogdon pistols were used in the famous duel between sitting Vice President Aaron Burr and former Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton. Wogdon partnered with John Barton in 1794 and retired in 1803. The pistols have smoothbore Damascus barrels with platinum vent iners, dovetailed silver blade front sights, “Wogdon & Barton London” signed on top, engraved bead borders at the breech, casehardened standing breeches with fixed notch rear sights and engraving, “Wogdon/&/Barton” signed locks with stepped tails and sliding half-cock safeties, a stylized pineapple trigger guard finial, floral and burst engraving, plain triggers, and nearly full-length stocks with checkering along the back of the slab sided wrists. The later custom fitted case contains a Sykes powder flask, oiler, balls, brush, and cleaning rod. CONDITION: Very good with much of the period refinished brown remaining on the barrel along with distinct twist patterns, 20% original blue on the furniture, gray and brown patina on the balance of the lock and furniture, and minor overall wear. The re-oiled stock is fine has crisp checkering, mild scratches, and some cracks and repairs in the forend. Mechanically fine. The relined case and accessories are good with mild wear. B) Wogdon & Barton Dueling Pistol - NSN, 24 bore cal., 9 7/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/blue finish, walnut stock. See “A.” CONDITION: Very good with much of the period refinished brown remaining on the barrel along with distinct twist patterns, traces of original blue on the furniture, gray and brown patina on the balance of the lock and furniture, nd minor overall wear. The re-oiled stock is fine has crisp checkering, mild scratches, and spliced repairs at the wedges. Mechanically fine. Estimate: 5,000 - 7,500
LOT 1400
Engraved Pair of Symonds Flintlock Officer’s Pistols -A) Symonds Flintlock Pistol - NSN, 65 cal., 9 5/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/blue/ silver finish, walnut stock. Gunmaker Symonds of Blandford designed a safety mechanism that prevented a gun from firing until it was shouldered (see Felix Farley’s Bristol Journal on August 26, 1815). These pistols are “carbine bore” (.65 caliber) and would have been excellent choices for a British officer and could have also been used in duels although the caliber is larger than average for that purpose. The Damascus barrels have fixed silver blade front sights, vent liners, and “BLANDFORD” marked on the top flats. The flat locks are signed “SYMONDS” and have guttered pans, frizzen spring rollers, sliding safeties, and floral, border, and burst engraving. The pistols have adjustable single set triggers. The spurred trigger guards have floral and martial engraving. The wedge and wrist escutcheons are silver. The forend caps are horn, and the walnut half-stocks have checkered butts. CONDITION: Very good with most of the refinished brown along the barrel along with distinct twist patterns, crisp markings, aged patina on the silver, traces of original blue, dark aged patina on the balance, some mild pitting, and general moderate wear. The stock is good an has crisp checkering, some mild scrapes and dings, and a few dents. The set trigger needs some adjustments, but the lock is mechanically fine. B) Symonds Flintlock Pistol - NSN, 65 cal., 9 5/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/blue/silver finish, walnut stock. See “A.” CONDITION: Very good with most of the refinished brown and distinct twist patterns along the barrel, crisp markings, aged patina on the silver, some dark case colors on the lock, more than half of the refinished blue on the furniture, mostly dark patina on the balance, and minor wear. The stock is good and has crisp checkering, mild scratches, a repair above the lock, thin tension crack on the left, and some dents and a repair on the pommel. The set trigger needs some adjustments. The lock is mechanically fine.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,000 291