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LOT 76
Outstanding Extensively Factory Acid Etched, Exhibition Quality
Engraved, Gold Plated, Presentation Cased Moore’s Patent Firearms
Co. Front Loading Teatfire Revolver - Serial no. 7862, 32 teat-fire cal.,
3 1/4 inch round bbl., gold finish, antique ivory grips. These distinctive
pocket revolvers were manufactured by the Moore’s Patent Firearms
Company circa 1864 to 1870. They load from the front of the cylinder
and use teat-fire cartridges with the primer in a projecting “teat” at the
rear end which fits through the small openings at the rear of the cylinder.
This ingenuitive design by Daniel Moore and David Williamson allowed
these revolvers to get around Rollin White’s claim for patent protection
on the bored through cylinder which had given Smith & Wesson a nearly
full control over the cartridge revolver market at the time. These Moore’s
revolvers were one of the most successful competitors to Smith & Wesson’s
cartridge revolvers but were eventually pushed out as a challenger with the
loss of a patent infringement lawsuit. This example features very attractive
scroll engraving with beaded backgrounds. The barrel, including the lug,
and the cylinder are both extensively acid etched with floral motifs, a
factory embellishment that is rarely seen on these revolvers. The rear edge
of the cylinder is marked with the Williamson patent date. The frame of
the revolver, including the back strap and butt, shows extensive factory
executed floral scroll engraving with a punchdot background. The top of
the barrel is marked with the Moore’s one-line address, and the underside
is marked “7862”. The assembly number “BY62” is marked on the left of the
grip frame along with a “K”, and the matching assembly number is hand
marked in pencil inside both grips. It is fitted with a blade front sight and
hammer notch rear sight, as well as the factory, smooth antique ivory grips.
Includes a hardwood presentation type case with a cartridge block inside
featuring a full compliment of teatfire cartridges.
CONDITION: Excellent, retains 97% plus of the original gold finish with
some light flaking mostly on the front grip strap and bottom of the frame,
and both the acid etching and engraving remaining crisp overall. Most of
the nitre blue remains on the small parts. The grips are also excellent with
some short, faint age lines around the screws and a few very light handling
marks. Mechanically excellent.
Provenance: The Brig & Louise Pemberton Collection.
Estimate: 4,500 - 6,500
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