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INSCRIBED MOORE REVOLVER OF CAPTAIN MICHAEL MURNANE, 169th NEW YORK

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This Moore revolver rates very good for condition with little finish left on the barrel assembly, common for Moores from grabbing it there to swing out the barrel assembly and the chamber for loading, but retaining some color on the cylinder and much of the silver wash that was standard on the floral scroll engraved frame, triggerguard, and grip straps. As this implies, the engraving itself is very good- detailed and well defined. Moore’s .32 caliber rimfire revolvers were a viable threat to Smith and Wesson- they offered seven shots versus six and the attractive engraving and silver wash were standard. Some collectors think they were more robust than the top-hinged S&W No.2. In any case, Smith and Wesson took the opportunity to shut them down for patent infringement on the bored-through cylinder, ending their production in 1863 after some 5,000 to 7,000 pistols by Flayderman’s estimate.

This one is serial number 2857. It is complete and all original. The barrel is  4 inches and the mechanics are perfect. The barrel is silver gray with some dark gray spotting. The barrel address is sharp: “D. MOORE. PATENT. SEPT. 18. 1860” and correctly lacks the later Smith and Wesson stamping added after the lawsuit. The cylinder shows some faded blue and a very thin dragline. The silver wash shows wear mainly on places most subject to touch by the hand or fingers in handling the pistol- some on the recoil shield and some along the backstrap.

The backstrap shows one of the appeals of the Moore- at the top, around the base of the hammer is engraved a very well-done fan shell and at the heel is engraved some rolling floral scrolls in the manner of rococo “raffles,” which nicely frame any inscription. This bears a professionally done inscription in script, “Capt. M. Murnane.” This is Captain Michael Murnane, who enrolled at Troy, NY, at age 27 on 9/20/1862 to serve three years and mustered in as Captain of Co. I of 169^th New York on 10/6/62. His commission, dated 11/10/62, gave him rank from the date of his enrollment. The regiment was nicknamed the “Troy Regiment,” with five companies mustering in at Troy in September and the remainder on Staten Island on 10/6/62, before leaving the state on Oct. 9. Murnane’s company was nicknamed the “Nail Factory Company” and we find him later in the 1870 census as a “Roller” by occupation, giving some idea of background. The regiment left the state 10/9/62 and was assigned to the provisional brigade, Abercrombie’s Division, the defenses of Washington. While on this assignment, Murnane resigned and was discharged at Chain Bridge, Va., 12/31/62. We do not have his full file, so don’t know the reason for the resignation, but he does not seem to have had subsequent service. His wife filed for a widow’s pension in 1891 and the index card lists only the 169^th for his service.

This is a very good example of a popular officer’s sidearm in the Civil War, with some interesting history in the arms trade, and a nice looking inscription to a New York officer.  [sr] [ph:m]

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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