Robert Wogdon, famed for his dueling pistols and immortalized in the 1783 poem Stanzas on Dueling which began “Hail Wogdon! Patron of that Leaden death…”, was apprenticed to Edward Newton of Grantham in Lincolnshire in 1748. Newton is regarded as one of the best provincial English makers of the mid-18th century, an accolade carried forth by his apprentice Wogdon who in turn is ranked amongst the very best British gunmakers. Wogdon was made free of the of the Gunmakers Company in 1756 and established himself at a number of addresses across the West End of London from the mid-1760s before forming a partnership with John Barton in 1794. The firm of Wogdon & Barton continued to trade until 1803 when Wogdon appears to have retired, he died in 1813 and was buried at St. Bartholomew’s church in Buntingford, Hertfordshire. Dating to circa 1780, this blunderbuss has a plain brass barrel flared at the muzzle and signed “LONDON” and struck with London view and proof marks towards the breech. Plain iron barrel tang and flat bevelled lock with stepped tail and signed “WOGDON”. The figured walnut full length stock is fitted with plain brass mounts including solid side plate and a brass capped ramrod with iron worm is housed beneath the forearm. The bore is estimated above and flares to about 1-3/16 inches at the muzzle.

Very good. The barrel signature remains clear if a little softened from general polishing and there is a patch of green verdigris around the touch hole. The iron barrel tang and lock have a dull grey discolored patina, the signature on the lock is clear. The refinished stock has numerous minor storage and handling blemishes throughout and a small chip behind the tail of the lock. The brass mounts also remain in very good condition and have a covering of older lacquer or varnish. Mechanically fine.