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Lot 1283:Cased Pair of Charles Moore Rifled Percussion Pistols

May 20th, 2023|Rock Island, IL

Lot 1283:Cased Pair of Charles Moore Rifled Percussion Pistols

May 20th, 2023|Rock Island, IL

Price Realized:

Estimated Price$3,000 - $4,500

A) C. Moore Percussion Pistol

This pair of pistols were manufactured by Charles Moore of London c. 1825 as pellet-locks based on Westley Richards' 1821 design and were then adapted for use with percussion caps. A very similar pair with the pellet-lock mechanisms still installed are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Accession Number: 19.53.108a–g). The Damascus barrels are rifled and have dovetailed silver blade front sights, "77 St James Street LONDON" on top, and platinum banded breech plugs with "C MOOR/LONDON/PATENT" platinum maker's marks. The standing breeches have dovetailed notch rear sights. The locks are marked "C MOORE LONDON" and have border and scroll engraving and The underside of the barrels are marked "C-M" and "1249." "EA" and "1249" are marked inside the forends. The serial number is also repeated on the breech hooks as well as the lower tangs. The latter are also numbered "1" and "2." The trigger plates have stylized pineapple finials. The stocks have horn forend tips, silver wedge escutcheons, checkered wrists, and silver wrist escutcheons inscribed with a horse over a coronet. The pair comes in a fitted hardwood case with a Charles Moore trade label inside the lid, loading/cleaning rods, and a three-compartment powder flask.

ConditionVery good with strong original case colors towards the center of the lock, strong niter blue on the trigger plate, attractive aged patina on the silver, light pitting along the barrel, gray and brown patina, and generally minor age and storage related wear overall. The stock is fine and has crisp checkering, dings and scratches mainly on the left side, and general mild handling and storage marks. Mechanically excellent. The case and accessories are good and have moderate age and storage related wear including dents in the flask and cracking on the lid.

Details

ManufacturerMoore

ModelPercussion

TypePistol

Serial number

ClassAntique

Caliber / Gauge48

Barrel9 3/8 inch octagon

Finishbrown/casehardened/blue

Stockwalnut

Item LocationRock Island, IL

Catalog page272

B) C. Moore Percussion Pistol

See "A."

ConditionVery good with attractive aged patina on the silver, strong original blue on the trigger plate and trigger guard tang, light original brown and Damascus patterns on the barrel, mostly smooth gray and brown patina, some mild pitting along the barrel, a piece of the tail of the safety switch absent, and generally mild age and storage related wear. The stock is also very good and has crisp checkering, some dents and scratches, a thin crack visible at the breech on the left, and handling and mild storage wear. Mechanically excellent.