William Moore is recorded at 78 Edgware Road from 1828 until 1846 and noted by Blackmore (Gunmakers of London 1350-1850) as being described by a contemporary as “a very ingenious workman and an excellent shot”. He is first recorded as a gunmaker with his own premises in 1808 and was appointed Gunmaker-in-Ordinary to William IV in 1836. With William IV having died in 1837 and the rib inscription noting “Maker to His Late Majesty” we can date this rifle to circa 1840. William Moore entered into partnership with William Grey in 1848 and traded out of the 78 Edgware Road premises as Moore & Grey until 1853. The firm continued in business with variances to the name for many decades becoming one of the more highly regarded London gunmakers. With browned twist barrels cut with two groove rifling for a winged bullet and signed “WILLIAM MOORE. MAKER TO HIS LATE MAJESTY, 78 EDGEWARE ROAD, LONDON” on the raised rib. The rib is fitted with a bead front sight and standing rear sight with gold center line. Patent breeches each with pierced platinum plug, inlaid with a short platinum line and finely engraved with scrollwork on the rib section between. The underside of the barrels and breeches struck with London proof marks. Standing breech engraved with double border lines, scrollwork and a vignette of a stag. Border and scroll engraved casehardened locks each signed “WILLIAM MOORE” and with blued safety bolt for the hammer. Border and scroll engraved iron mounts including trigger plate with pineapple finial, blued pistol grip trigger guard with checkered finger rest and a vignette of a recumbent stag on the bow, and hinged patch box cover and blued butt plate each with a vignette of a stag. Well figured walnut half stock with checkered grip and forearm, and with raised cheekpiece. Original brass mounted ramrod with removable cap to allow differing attachments to be fitted, the underside of the butt with blank silver oval initial escutcheon and sling button, the corresponding front sling eye fitted to the central ramrod pipe. In brass cornered fitted oak case lined in green baize and with handwritten serial number “708” on the back edge, the lid with printed William Moore trade label, and with accessories including iron bullet mold numbered to the rifle for a winged conical bullet, white metal topped and banded Hawksley tin powder flask, and large Cogswell & Harrison marked oiler.

The barrels retaining 98% rebrowned finish with some slight muzzle rub and minor fading. The blued front and rear sights have almost certainly been replaced. Engraving to the standing breech clear and well defined, the surface of the metal bright. The locks have crisp engraving and respectively retain 15% faded original casehardened finish on the right and 25% stronger original casehardened finish on the left. The safety catches are a bright lustrous blue. Each lock place appears to have a filled slot behind the hammer for a safety catch channel, but it appears the rifle was built with the current forward positioned safety catches. The stock has been refinished and has sharp checkering with some occasional slight storage and handling blemishes. The trigger guard and butt plate have each been reblued with some softening to the engraving. The case has some slightly loose partitions and age related wear and staining to the lining, the exterior has numerous age related storage marks and scratches. The trade label has some age related staining and is holed in one spot. The bullet mold is of fairly recent manufacture, other accessories generally in very good condition with expected age related wear. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.