Carrying not six, but seven self-contained metallic .32 Cal. rimfire cartridges, the Moore came with silver-washed engraved brass frame, triggerguard and buttstrap as standard features, all making it a viable threat to Smith and Wesson, who made sure to shut down its production with a patent-infringement lawsuit after some 5,000 to 8,000 had been produced from 1861 to 1863. Late production guns had a Smith and Wesson designation added to them. This pistol, serial #22975, has the standard barrel address, crisply marked: “D. MOORE PATENT SEPT. 18, 1862.”

The pistol loaded by unlatching the cylinder and barrel assembly, rotating it to the right and using a barrel mounted detachable ejector rod to get rid of spent cartridges and then insert new rounds. Some think this was a more rugged system than the top-hinge method used on the S&W No. 2, making it even more of a threat, though we don’t know of any data supporting this. The engraving on the pistol, however, is attractive, using floral scrolls on the frame and the base of the backstrap, which has a fan-shell at top, under the hammer, framing a space that just begs for an inscription and in this case there an owner’s name very nicely engraved in script: “G.G. Smith.”

These were popular pistols with officers, but we can’t rule out a civilian, and there are too many candidates to be certain: only three volunteer officers show up as G.G. Smith, but there are ten others listed as G. Smith, with no middle initial specified. Nevertheless, the inscription is absolutely real and the pistol shows some use, rating near very good for condition, showing some original finish: perhaps 20 percent of the silver wash, though less of the original blue on the barrel and cylinder, which are smooth metal, but shading to gray in color with traces of faded blue. The grips are tight and have good color, but show wear to the finish, mostly, it seems, from exposure. Bore is dark but clean; barrel measures 6”.  Mechanics function fine.

This would fit well in an officer’s display or collection of early metallic cartridge arms. [sr] [ph:m/L]

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