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LOT 3232
Desirable Cased Silver and Gold Accented Pair of Wogdon & Barton Flintlock Dueling Pistols -A) Wogdon & Barton Dueling Pistol - NSN, 28 bore/.55 cal., 10 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/blue/gold/silver finish, walnut stock. Robert Wogdon (1734- 1813) is arguably the best known and most respected maker of flintlock dueling pistols. He partnered with John Barton at 14 Haymarket Street in London in 1795- 1803. Wogdon was a dueling pistol specialist unlike many of the other talented British gunmakers of the period. 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! Patron of that Leaden death!” 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. Wogdon pistols were famously used in the Burr-Hamilton duel. Like that pair, these pistols have “concealed” single set triggers, a standard feature of Wogdon’s pistols rather than a secret designed to give one duelist an advantage over the other. The pistols have smoothbore Damascus barrels with gold vent liners, dovetailed silver blade front sights, “Wogdon & Barton London” signed on top, and engraved borders at the breech, and the casehardened standing breeches have fixed notch rear sights and engraving. The locks are signed “Wogdon/&/Barton” and have frizzen rollers, sliding half-cock safeties, and stepped tails. The wedge escutcheons are silver. The remaining furniture is iron and includes classic English engraving, including fine pineapple finials on the trigger guards. The fitted hardwood case has a three-compartment powder flask, balls, and a “34” marked ball mold, and loading and cleaning rods. CONDITION: Very fine with dark aged patina on the silver, bright gold vent, 70% plus brown finish and some patches of dark oxidation on the barrel, 60% original case colors on the lock, 80% original blue finish on the furniture, and minor age and storage related wear. The stock is also very fine and has crisp edges, a minor crack in the forend tip on the left, and a few light scratches and dings. Mechanically excellent. The case and accessories are fine and have mild age and storage related wear. B) Wogdon & Barton Dueling Pistol - NSN, 28 bore/.55 cal., 10 inch octagon bbl., brown/casehardened/blue/gold/silver finish, walnut stock. See “A.” CONDITION: Very fine with dark aged patina on the silver, bright gold, 70% plus brown finish and some patches of dark oxidation on the barrel, 75% plus original case colors on the lock, and 90% plus original blue on the furniture. The stock is also very fine and has smooth finish, crisp edges, some nice figure, and some light marks and scratches. Mechanically excellent. This is an exceptional cased pair of flintlock dueling pistols from England’s most famous dueling pistol makers. Estimate: 8,500 - 13,000 LOT 3233 Cased Pair of S. Brunn Flintlock Dueling/Gentleman’s Pistols -A) S. Brunn Flintlock Pistol - NSN, 66 cal., 9 1/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/ casehardened/blue finish, walnut stock. The lock marking and address on the barrels indicates this pair was manufactured around 1798-1804 by Samuel Brunn who was also gunmaker to the George IV from 1800 to 1820 as the Prince of Wales and Prince Regent and the Board of Ordnance. This pair with its fixed sights, large caliber, and smooth bores would have been suitable for use in a duel and could have also served a gentleman in other affairs such as self-defense while traveling. The browned smoothbore barrels have silver blade front sights, “No. 55 CHARRING CROSS LONDON” on top, and Tower private proofs on the upper left flats. The casehardened locks have “-S. BRUNN-” at center and sliding safeties and light engraving at the tail. The blued iron furniture has some floral engraving. The full-length walnut stocks have checkered wrists and blank silver escutcheons. The case has a reproduction label on the lid interior, cleaning rod, patches, three-way combination flask, oiler, ball mold, and a few lead balls. CONDITION: Very good, dark aged patina on the silver, mostly smooth gray and brown patina on the balance, some mild oxidation/pitting, generally distinct markings, and minor marks and scratches. The trigger guard is refinished with most remaining. The stock is fine and has some minor hairline cracks, crisp checkering, and light scratches and dings. Mechanically fine. The relined and refinished case and the accessories are very good and have general mild wear, repaired cracks in the lid, and filled key hole escutcheon mortise. B) S. Brunn Flintlock Pistol - NSN, 66 cal., 9 1/8 inch octagon bbl., brown/ casehardened/blue finish, walnut stock. See “A.” CONDITION: Very good, traces of case colors on the lock, dark aged patina on the silver, mostly smooth gray and brown patina on the balance, some light oxidation/pitting, mostly distinct markings, and some general mild wear. The triggerguard is also refinished, similar to the other pistol in set. Ramrod broken. The stock is fine and has some minor cracks, crisp checkering, and the typical dings and scratches. Mechanically fine. Provenance: The Collection of Joe M. Wanenmacher, Jr.
Estimate: 4,250 - 7,000 169