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Moore’s Patent Firearms Co. Front Loading Revolver

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:1,100.00 - 1,500.00 USD
Moore’s Patent Firearms Co. Front Loading Revolver
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Inlcuded in this lot is a spectacular condition factory engraved Moore’s Patent Firearms Co. front loading revolver. The Moore’s Patent Firearms Company was located in Brooklyn, New York. They manufactured this extremely high quality six-shot .32 caliber revolver in limited numbers only from 1864 –1870. This unique firearm used a special “teat-fire” cartridge that was loaded from the front of the cylinder for the following reason: Smith & Wesson owned the Rollin White patent for a “bored through cylinder” capable of taking a typical rimmed cartridge (as still in use today), and the Moore’s teat-fire cartridge was a very successful attempt to circumvent Smith & Wesson’s monopoly on metallic cartridge revolvers! The ?Moore revolver was so successful, Colt bought them out in 1870 to eliminate the competition! This example shows excellent original silver plating on the brass factory engraved frame. Only a very slight amount of brass shows through the silver plating which is unusual as these small revolvers are usually found with no silver remaining. Too, mechanics are often found in poor condition and rarely working properly. This example is still in remarkably excellent mechanical condition. The cylinder and barrel assembly show bright nickel with very clear markings. The barrel is lightly engraved and is marked “MOORE’S PAT. FIREARMS CO. BROOKLYN, N.Y.” while the cylinder is also very distinctly marked, “D. WILLIAMSON’S PATENT JANUARY 5, 1864.” The serial number 10367 is stamped under the 3 ¼” barrel. Loading the Moore revolver simply required pulling down on the swivel loading gate on the right rear of the barrel in front of the cylinder, inserting a special teat-fire cartridge and pushing up the loading gate until it snapped smartly in place. This revolver has lovely rosewood “bird’s-head” grips and measures an overall length of approximately 7 ¼”. An outstanding example of one of the America’s earliest cartridge revolvers and seldom seen in this superb state of preservation. This firearm qualifies as an Antique, and does not require FFL Transfer or NICS Background Check.