A Wogdon rifle or a rifle with a Wogdon lock?

[Mattox Forge]

My thought on this piece is that this rifle is not so much a Wogdon made rifle, but that it is a German rifle with a Wogdon lock and possibly a Wogdon single set trigger; certainly a Wogdon made trigger.





https://www.gunbroker.com/Item/967890489
Seller's description
"ROBERT WOGDON PERCUSSION CONVERSION RIFLE .50 CALIBER
On consignment we have a Robert Wogdon .50 Caliber rifle, converted from flintlock to percussion. This rifle features an intricately worked stock with brass fittings, a patch box with sliding cover on right side of buttstock, a Wogdon lock with excellent function, and a 21" octagon barrel with brass front sight and iron rear sight. There is a name etched in silver on the barrel, but the first letter was cut off when the rifle was converted. Caliber is .50 with 7 lands and grooves, bore is very good for the vintage. Wogdon was known for his flintlock dueling pistols, including the ones used in the Hamilton-Burr duel.

Additional information provided from the consignor:  The gun was the property of one Victor Mayer Amede Mannheim, born in 1831 and inventor of the modern slide rule.  Married to Eugénie Adèle Mathilde Oulif or "Mattie", her name appears on the barrel of the rifle as Mattie A Mannheim.   The first 'M' of the name was eliminated when the gun was converted to percussion."

The architecture is German, I don't see any English influence that I would expect if it were a gun that Wogdon built using a German barrel.

What is your opinion?

Mike

[Seth Isaacson]

German made using some Wogdon parts. Note the barrel markings. They are clearly misunderstood. The "a Mannheim" means "of Mannheim." Its common to have the city listed like that after the gunmaker's name. The partial name beforehand is "ATTHE" not "ATTIE"

[Pukka Bundook]

Mike,
I don't know how many people there are on earth right now, but my opinion is only valid for one of them.

I'd say Wogdon had nothing to do with this rifle, but his lock and possibly trigger? were used in this build.  Possibly a damaged beyond repair gun had the usable parts salvaged.
I find the architecture rather startling and not in a good way.
As I said, my opinion is worth one out of so many billion..

All the best,
Richard,

[Robert Wolfe]

Someone worked hard on that provenance and Seth goes and blows it up in one fell swoop!

[Bob Roller]

At Friendship years ago and in a discussion with John Bivins concerning English and German arms architechture he commented  that the German ideas nearly always reflected what he called "The cloven hoof"and the English styles were much more refined.My personal preference is for the English.My ancestry supposedly was traced to Austria but that means little now and even less as time staggers by.
Bob Roller

[Mattox Forge]

More Photos

[Mattox Forge]

What is the purpose of the band around the butt with the screws and holes in it?


It is a very nicely made piece. The workmanship appears to be top notch. It seems Matthew of Mannheim was a good maker.

Is this a child's carbine. The barrel seems very short, and the caliber somewhat small for a German rifle.

Mike

[smart dog]

Hi,
Wogdon had nothing to do with that rifle.  The lock is from a Wogdon pistol probably from the 1770s or early 1780s and the builder must have thought it suitable for that small rifle.  Wogdon made a few rifles including rifled carbines with "stick" stocks.

dave

[Mattox Forge]

I have some photos of a fowler he built using a Spanish barrel. I'd love to see one of his rifles.

Mike