Lot 25
25
AN UNUSUAL PAIR OF 22-BORE DOUBLE-BARRELLED FLINTLOCK PISTOLS
AN UNUSUAL PAIR OF 22-BORE DOUBLE-BARRELLED FLINTLOCK PISTOLS

BY ROBERT WOGDON, LONDON, CIRCA 1775-80

Details
AN UNUSUAL PAIR OF 22-BORE DOUBLE-BARRELLED FLINTLOCK PISTOLS
BY ROBERT WOGDON, LONDON, CIRCA 1775-80
With rebrowned octagonal twist sighted barrels each signed 'WOGDON LONDON' and engraved with a band of beadwork at the breech, the left barrels respectively numbered '1' and '2', the right barrels each fitted with a short hinged hand-operated bayonet, foliate engraved grooved tangs each fitted with a standing rear-sight, flat bevelled bolted locks each signed 'WOGDON' and with stepped tail (two cocks replaced and expertly repaired), figured walnut half-stocks each with swelling chequered flat-sided butt cut to receive an attachable shoulder-stock, each fore-end with engraved screw retaining the barrels, engraved iron spurred trigger-guards each with acorn finial, faceted ramrod-pipes, one original ramrod with worm and powder-measure (the other replaced), and oval silver escutcheons each engraved 'PITFOUR' (some wear and minor pitting throughout), London proof marks and barrelsmith's mark of Robert Wogdon
8in. (20.3cm.) barrels (2)
Provenance
W. Keith Neal Collection, Christie's, King Street, 25th October 2001, lot 220.

A handwritten note signed by Keith Neal sold with these pistols confirms that they were acquired from Pitfour, the Ferguson family home in Scotland, together with a Ferguson rifle (Christie's, King Street, 9 November 2000, lot 69), books relating to Ferguson and a wax bust of Major Patrick Ferguson.
Literature
1776, exhibition catalogue, p. 159.
Exhibited
1776, National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, 14 April - 2 October 1976, cat. no. 405 (one pistol).

Lot Essay

According to the catalogue of the exhibition, these well used pistols were probably carried by Captain Patrick Ferguson (1744-80), inventor of the Ferguson rifle, on campaign. It is more likely, however, that they belonged to his elder brother James ("Pit") Ferguson (1735-1820), who became laird of Pitfour in 1777, and who was MP for Banffshire, 1789-90, and for Aberdeenshire, 1790-1820.

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