Priceless originals

[Birdwatcher]

Forest Gump was right, 'twas my good fortune to attend a gathering today of history-minded folks, pleasant enough as it was, but a gentleman showed up with some truly extraordinary originals.

Just as remarkable, he even let me handle 'em, and yet more, offered to take my picture :bow:

Here I am in more or less 1830's gear, that carbine I am holding is an ORIGINAL Paterson Colt.

Seen here again....

The stock is a replacement, probably from some time in the 20th Century, firearm may have been refinished at some point I didn't ask. Still tight, still in good working order, an extraordinary piece. And surprisingly functional and well-balanced in the hand.

'Twould have been truly gauche for me to just cut loose with the camera but you can see on the above pic the stock of an ORIGINAL Harper's Ferry 1805 pistol. Incredible.

More. Here's a closeup from that first pic....

You can see again the grip of that same Harpers Ferry, in the middle a silver and gold inlaid pistol, a duelling weapon, marked "Wogdon". OMG. Latter 18th Century some time before 1794. Smooth bore, notch rear sight, sliding safety at the base of the cock flawless set in the lock plate. Incredible workmanship. Handled and pointed like a dream.

Just to add context, Wogdon was THE upper-class Brit duelling pistol in its day. On this side of the pond, when Burr whacked Hamilton, they were using Wogdons.

People sell their souls for stuff like this :grin:

I will say that even the issue Harpers Ferry had a grace of lines and heft I have yet to see on any of the common repro pistols.

Elsewhere on that table of extraordinary artifacts was a 1795 Springfield Musket marked "1811" on the lock. This original likewise hefted with a surprising grace and balance. Definitely my choice over a Bess, as either will do for 1830's Texas.

Birdwatcher

 

[pargent]

:thumbsup:

 

[Rifleman1776]

when Burr whacked Hamilton, they were using Wogdons.

Do they all have the "hidden" single sett trigger?

 

[necchi]

Yeah that's neat stuff when you can handle originals really a neat feeling for a history buff.
There was a guy showed up at the Isle vous` with an original Norwest Trade gun.

You had to wear gloves to handle it, but you could handle it indeed.
It was hard to keep the drool off the gun :grin:

 

[Birdwatcher]

[/quote]
Do they all have the "hidden" single sett trigger?[/quote]

Apparently so, this one (Wogdon) did, I didn't presume to work the action but the gentleman demonstrated by pushing forward on the trigger when the piece was at full cock (IIRC). After more than 200 years it set with an audible "tic".

Can't say enough about it, that Wogdon was probably THE finest firearm I'll ever handle. A jewel-like quality, intricately and minutely decorated, yet not ornate, as finelty made as an expensive watch, perfectly balanced in a one-handed offhand hold.

Arguably at or near the absolute pinnacle of the gunmaking art. Some irony too; sights, but a smoothbore.

I will observe again, most repro pistols I have seen seem to me as unwieldy as clubs; nothing I'd really want stuck in a sash. All three of the pistols in that pic (the 1805, Wogdon and that flint "gentleman's pistol) were a different story...

Also note that little boxlock flinter pocket pistol with screw-off barrel.

Birdwatcher

 

[Eterry]

A very nice collection. We went to the Dallas Safari Show the 6th and Rock Island Arsenal auctions was set up with several tables of upcoming items for sale. I should have taken pics...there were colt revolving shotguns, revolving rifles, cival war numbered colts, griswold and gunnison revolvers, an iron frame Henry. I stood in awe for several minutes. I was too tired to even think of pics...my loss.
Again, nice pics

Eterry

 

[dave_person]

Hi,
Very nice. It was considered unethical for English dueling pistols to be rifled, however, some of the most famous makers included very shallow or "scratch" rifling that was not easily detected at the muzzle. The single set or "hair" trigger was very common and often did not have an adjustment screw that gave it away. Thus, some were "hidden". Wogdon often made hair triggers without adjustment screw that he permanently adjusted in his shop. He also built pistols during a time before heavy barrels became popular so his guns are extremely well balanced, much better than later Mantons. Below is a photo of original Wogdons and some photos of a cased pair I made a few years ago. Enjoy,

dave

Original Wogdons

Pistols I made in Wogdon's style:

 

[Birdwatcher]

Very nice!

On this particular Wogdon IIRC the name "Wogdon" was inscribed on a small gold oval inset on the lock plate just ahead of the base of the hammer.

And again IIRC the stock was inlaid with a fine filigree of swirling silver designs.

I do recall the rear sight was set further back than the ones you made; all the way at the back end of the barrel right at the tang.

Made to order for a longer sighting plane is my guess.

Birdwatcher

 

[dave_person]

Hi Birdwatcher,
Most Wogdons were very plain like the photos of the original pair I showed. A Wogdon with silver wire inlay and extensive decoration is rare. With repsect to the sights, most of them on Wogdon pistols had a wide "U" notch that was not meant for accurate target shooting. It was meant for snap shooting because deliberate aiming was taboo under English dueling traditions. I made my sights more like those on Twigg pistols because my brother to whom I gave them, is a target shooter and prefers a rear sight further from his eyes. Plus, the sight can be adjusted for windage whereas typical Wogdon rear sights were fixed in the tang.

dave