A Small Flintlock Overcoat Pistol by Wogdon. 8 ½” overall, 4 ¼” octagonal sighted 38 bore barrel with silver dovetail foresight, engraved ‘Wogdon’ in script on the top flat. The bottom flat of the barrel stamped with the London Gunmakers’ Company’s crowned ‘V’ view mark & "I·B”. Band of engraved beading at the breech & false breech with band of engraving, ‘V’ rear sight, tang with border line & foliate engraving, gold touch hole. Flat, stepped, bolted, border line engraved lock, narrow safety catch, engraved ‘Wogdon’ in script beneath the pan. Double border line engraved swan neck cock with, engraved cock retaining screw. Frizzen spring with teardrop. Figured walnut full stock, rounded butt. Steel mounts comprising trigger guard, trigger plate with shell finial, plain trigger guard tang, collared ramrod pipe, single barrel bolt, two engraved sidenails and sidenail cups. Original horn tipped ramrods.
Circa 1780
A fine small pistol, very uncommon at this size
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.
See John O'Sullivan & De Witt Bailey, ‘Robert Wogdon & Barton, London Gunmakers 1764-1819’, 2019, Page 206 for very similar pistols.