A Cased Pair of Flintlock Duelling Pistols by Wogdon. 15 ¼” overall, 10” slightly swamped octagonal twist 40 bore barrels signed 'Wogdon London' in script on the top flats, struck with a view mark beneath the breeches & the barrelsmith's mark 'RW', Border engraved tangs incorporating the back sights & decorated with scrolls & flowers & a band of foliage behind the breeches. Silver adjustable foresights. Stepped bevelled locks signed ‘Wogdon’ beneath the pans, fitted with bevelled swan necked cocks, spoon shaped pans, narrow bolt safety catches, straight peg trigger. Highly figured walnut full stocks, flat sided butts, iron mounts comprising butt cap, two side nail washers, border engraved trigger guards decorated with foliage, acorn finials. A pair of ramrod pipes, each with its original ramrod; one with Wogdon type iron powder measure, the other with horn tip. In their original fitted, green baize lined, mahogany caddy top Chippendale case, the lid with inset carrying handle, complete with original accessories including black leather bottle shaped powder flask, bullet mould, & loading rod.
Circa 1780
A near perfect set of early Wogdons, retaining all their original finish, one pistol has very minor dents to back edge of the stock.
Robert Wogdon was apprenticed to Edward Newton of Grantham, Lincolnshire in 1748. He is recorded as 'Gunmaker, at Mr. Maw's Haberdasher, Cockspur St., Charing Cross' in 1764. He carried on his business in Haymarket from 1774 until his retirement in 1802. From 1795 he was in partnership with John Barton who carried on the business following Wogdon's retirement.
Very similar pistols are illustrated in John O'Sullivan & De Witt Bailey: ‘Robert Wogdon & Barton, John Barton, London Gunmakers 1764-1819’, 2019, page 150.