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LOT 3259
Desirable Cased Pair of Robert Wogdon Flintlock Dueling Pistols -A) Wogdon Dueling Pistol - NSN, 56 cal., 8 1/4 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/ blue finish, walnut stock. These pistols were manufactured c. 1780 by famed dueling pistol maker Robert Wogdon (1734-1813), arguably the most renowned of the English dueling pistol makers. A pair of Wogdon & Barton pistols were famously used in the Burr-Hamilton duel. The lightly swamped, octagonal barrels are smoothbore, feature dovetailed silver blade front sights and gold vent liners, and are signed “Wogdon LONDON” on top. The breech ends of the barrels and front of the standing breeches have bands of border engraving. The underside of the barrels have traces of London proofs as well as Wogdon’s “RW” maker’s mark. The barrels are likely slightly bend downwards as has been shown to be common on Wogdon pistols in an attempt to correct duelists firing over their marks. The standing breeches also incorporate the fixed notch rear sights and floral engraving. The locks are signed “Wogdon” and have sliding half-cock safety latches and stepped, pointed tails. The locks are fired using single set triggers without visible adjustment screws. The furniture is iron and includes classic acorn finials on the trigger guards, caps on the pommels, and floral engraving. The full-length stocks have slab sided wrists. The ramrods have horn tips. The case has a cleaning rod with screw-off jag that reveals a ball puller/worm, a two-compartment flask with red Morocco style leather wrap, a “32” marked ball mold, a screwdriver, and a few lead balls. CONDITION: Fine. The barrel has an older refinished brown mixed with brown patina, some minor oxidation and pitting, and a bright gold liner. The lock is mostly silver gray patina with some darker areas. The furniture retains 75% of the period refinished blue. The re-oiled stock is very good and has a chip at the tip on the left, a thin crack at the tail of the lock, minor repairs at the trigger guard tang pin, moderate scratches and dings , and attractive figure on the wrist. The trigger and/or sear need some adjustments. The ball mold has a broken hinge. The other accessories and the case are very good with mild age and storage related wear. B) Wogdon Dueling Pistol - NSN, 56 cal., 8 1/4 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/blue finish, walnut stock. See “A.” CONDITION: Very good. The barrel displays a blend of an old refinished brown and dark brown patina, some light oxidation and pitting, tool marks on top at the breech, and a bright gold vent liner. The lock and standing breech are mostly a silver-gray patina and have some areas of darker patina. The furniture retains 75% plus period refinished blue. The stock is very good and has cracks extending from the nose and tail of the lock, a faint tension crack at the rear lock screw, and mild dings and scratches. The set trigger could use some adjustments; otherwise, mechanically fine. Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr. Estimate: 6,500 - 9,500 LOT 3260 Cased Pair of Engraved John Blissett Percussion Belt Pistols Inscribed for Canadian Politician and Judge William H. Pope -A) John Blissett Belt Pistol - Serial no. 3065, 45 cal., 5 1/2 inch octagon bbl., brown/ casehardened/blue/silver finish, walnut stock. John Blissett (1808-1872) was a renowned Victorian era gunmaker in London. This pair of pistols from around the 1850s has rifled Damascus barrels with dovetailed blade and notch sights, “JOHN BLISSETT. 322 HIGH HOLBORN. LONDON.” marked on top and patent breeches with pierced platinum plugs. The locks have “JOHN BLISSETT. LONDON.” and sliding half-cock safeties. They are equipped with adjustable single set triggers. The serial number “No 3065” is on the trigger guards. There is extensive English scroll, floral, and border engraving. The wedge and wrist escutcheons are silver. The latter have a griffin on a torse over a coat of arms with three griffin heads in the left field and a bird on a branch in the right field and a banner with the motto “IMPAVIDE ET RECTE” (fearlessly and rightly). The trade label has a “From/Hon Judge/Pope/Sunday May 13/1877” marking. The case contains a “65” marked ball mold, “1 1/4” marked wad/patch cutter, small powder flask, powder measure, screwdriver, jag, loading/cleaning rod, oiler, turned containers, and a few balls. William H. Pope (1825-1879) was an influential Canadian lawyer, judge, and politician. He was a the editor of the Prince Edward Island Tory newspaper “The Islander” and held various political positions, including colonial secretary; supported the confederation of the British colonies/provinces that became the Dominion of Canada; and was appointed as a county judge in Prince Edward Island in 1873. The moto is noted as Pope’s. CONDITION: Very good with distinct engraving and Damascus twist patterns, bright platinum plug, attractive aged patina on the silver, strong original blue and casehardened finish in some of the protected areas, mostly dark brown patina overall, some tool marks on the barrel, and general minor age and storage related wear. The stock is also very good and has crisp checkering, minor dings and scratches, and a faint hairline crack at the forend tip on the left. Mechanically fine. The case is fine with moderate age and storage related wear including the majority of the trade label being torn away, a large circular splice in the lid with some faint cracks at the edges, and mild scratches and dings. The accessories are mostly fine with mild age and storage related wear. The flask spring is broken.
B) John Blissett Belt Pistol - Serial no. 3065, 45 cal., 5 1/2 octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/blue/silver finish, walnut stock. See “A.” CONDITION: Very good with distinct engraving, visible Damascus twist patterns along the barrel, bright platinum plug, dark aged patina on the silver, strong blue and casehardened finish in some of the protected areas, mostly dark gray and brown patina, some mild oxidation/pitting on the barrel, and generally mild overall wear. The stock is also very good and has crisp checkering, some light scratches and dings, and minor edge wear. Mechanically fine.
Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher Jr. 173 Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500