This remarkable wooden artifact from the Civil War era is a finely constructed, lockable (no key), portable writing case or lap desk taken to war by many officers during the Civil War. Carried in their luggage, this two-piece, hinged lap desk measures a relatively compact 14” long x 8¾” wide x 5½” high when closed. The case exterior wears a dark mahogany or burlwood veneer-like finish that retains a dried, wrinkly appearance overall. Each exterior lid corner is fitted with a triangle piece of a light colored, scallop-edged section of wood (1¾” x 2½”) while the top center of lid has a light wood shield device inlaid. Bottom exterior has a cover of green cloth material glued to the base. Cloth is now faded and frayed and is peeling away from the wood bottom. Box is free of cracking but does show very minor light chipping, or edge scuffing and some scratches from storage and use.

Box lid opens upwards and reveals a flat, two-section writing surface covered in a pleasing wine-colored red velvet cloth material. Velvet cover extends into the top lid of the case. In very good condition, the thin velvet cloth is framed with a 1” border of fancy burlwood. Velvet surface shows no thinning or wear-through and is clean. No tearing at the case’s center hinge point as would be expected. Each writing surface area opens to reveal a deep compartment below for paper and storage. Both compartments are clean but the base compartment is custom fitted with the same wine colored velvet to accommodate a pair of single-action, .32 caliber, rimfire revolvers, (serial # 5307 and serial # 7843), both manufactured by the D. Moore Patent Firearms Company of Brooklyn, NY.

Though not a matching set of revolvers, each Moore SA belt sidearm is in very good condition and has a 4” octagonal barrel, a seven-shot cylinder, removable ejector rod, ornate brass frame, triggerguard, buttplate, two-piece walnut grips and the square butt. Revolver # 5307 has 80% of the original bluing on the barrel and cylinder, a clear maker address of “D. MOORE. PATENT. SEPT. 18. 1860” on top facet, crisp mechanics, ornate engraving on frame, triggerguard, backstrap, buttplate, and thin patent markings on the cylinder. Revolver # 7843 shows just light traces of the bluing on barrel and cylinder, and a very thin and worn maker’s address on barrel. Also, it has worn away patent dates on the barrel top, mechanics that need work, and a similar but not same ornate etching design on frame, triggerguard, backstrap and buttplate. No visible patent markings on the cylinder. Left grip has a small chip at the bottom rear. Both revolver grips show light shrinkage. Revolver #5307 shows no silver plating but # 7843 exhibits some traces of silver plating on forward section of the triggerguard. A fine writing lap desk from the Civil War era that comes with its own bang.

DISCLAIMER: All firearms are sold as collector's items only - we do not accept responsibility as to the shooting safety or reliability of any antique firearm. All firearms are described as accurately as possible, given the restraints of a catalog listing length. We want satisfied customers & often "under" describe the weapons. Any city or state regulations regarding owning antique firearms are the responsibility of the purchaser. All firearms are "mechanically perfect" unless noted, but again, are NOT warranted as safe to fire.

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