This is a very high condition example of the Moore’s Patent Firearms Single Action Belt Revolver, better known to collector’s today as Moore’s Patent Seven Shooter Revolver. These unique pistols were chambered for the recently introduced .32 rimfire cartridge that had been made popular by the introduction of Smith & Wesson’s Model No2 Revolver in 1861. Moore patented his design on September 18, 1860, protecting the somewhat unique mechanism that allowed the loading and unloading of the gun.

Daniel Moore would spend much of his life as a firearms designer but would only spend a relatively short period of time actually manufacturing his designs. Between 1860 and 1888 he would receive not fewer than eleven patents related to weapons, many of which would be assigned to the firm of Merwin, Hulbert & Company and would be integral to the designs of that company’s handguns.

Moore’s first US firearms patent appears to have been #30,079 and was issued on September 18, 1860. The concept covered an improvement in designs for breechloading metallic cartridge firearms. As originally patented, the design specifically mentioned “Volcanic” ammunition, as it was B Tyler Henry (of Henry Rifle fame) who had improved the original Rocket Ball ammunition used in the Volcanic pistols, as well as their preceding designs, and had made it a practical, self-contained rimfire ignition cartridge. The design was for an open top single action metallic cartridge revolver that consisted of two major components: the frame and the cylinder barrel assembly. By placing the revolver on half cock and depressing a release button on the upper right rear of the recoil shield, the barrel and cylinder assembly could be pivoted to the right about an inch, allowing enough clearance to load and unload the chambers of the cylinder. A small loading groove in the right side of the recoil shield ensured enough room for cartridge rim clearance. Extraction was manual, using a small removable rod that stored under the barrel to punch out the empty cartridge casings. Unlike most medium to large frame handguns of the era, the Moore design used a seven chambered cylinder rather than the more common five or six chambered designs. Only the Smith & Wesson Model No 1 immediately comes to mind as a seven chambered revolver produced in any quantity during this time frame.

Moore established the Moore’s Patent Firearms Company in Brooklyn, NY in 1860 to manufacture his revolver design, as well as a single shot metallic cartridge derringer he was working on, and found a ready and receptive marked. The fact that the American Civil War was about to erupt certainly didn’t hurt the sales of this innovative design. What Moore likely did not anticipate was that his success would soon be curtailed by legal problems. One of the primary principles that made the Moore design workable was the bored-through cylinder design. The problem was that Rollin White had patented that concept in the US April 3, 1855, and had assigned the patent rights to Smith & Wesson. The idea was certainly not an original one and had been patented by Eugene Lefaucheux in France several years earlier. It appears the concept was part of Lefaucheux’s February 2, 1848, French patent, although most people refer to Lefaucheux’s Model 1854 revolver design patent from approximately a year earlier. At any rate, due to the legal construct of “prior art” White should not have been able to patent the concept in the United States.

Interestingly, Ethan Allen actually used that argument as a defense when Smith & Wesson sued the Allen & Wheelock company for producing Lip Fire revolvers with bored through cylinders. Allen admitted that his design violated White’s patent but argued that the patent itself was not valid because the concept previously existed. The case made it all the way to the Supreme Court, where a court of eight justices deadlocked in a four-four decision, which allowed the lower court’s ruling in favor of Smith & Wesson to stand. 

Smith & Wesson pursued legal action against Moore and his distributor Merwin & Bray for violating the Rollin White patent and as they did in nearly every case, they won. Part of the settlement was that remaining inventory of completed Moore firearms would be turned over to Smith & Wesson for sale to compensate them for the financial loss due to the patent violation. The number of guns that Smith & Wesson acquired varies according to different sources, although the most commonly quoted number is 3,376. The number of guns actually produced is also unclear, although most reliable sources put production in the 6,000 to 8,000 gun range. 

Despite the major economic set back Moore experienced by losing the lawsuit, he pushed forward by continuing to produce his single shot Model No 1 .41RF cartridge derringer and by introducing a new front loading revolver design that utilized the proprietary “teat fire” ammunition.  His Front Loading Teat Fire Pocket Revolver was very successful and evaded the Rollin White patent. The market success of these two Moore designs set the stage for the company purchased and reorganized as The National Arms Company in 1865. National Arms continued to produce both models through 1870, when the company was purchased by the Colt Patent Firearms Company. Colt continued to produce the Model No 1 derringer under their own moniker but discontinued the Front Loading Teat Fire Pocket Revolver, likely due to its popularity, proprietary ammunition and the fact that it was a direct competitor to Colt’s new Open Top pocket revolvers and would have also competed against their New Line series of handguns that was about to launch. Moore continued to design and patent improvements related to handguns and several of his designs were assigned to the new company run by his old distributor Joseph Merwin. Merwin had established Merwin, Hulbert & Company, after he closed down Merwin & Bray. Moore’s design contributions would be instrumental that firm producing some of the finest American revolvers of the post-Civil War period. 

As previously noted, the Moore’s Patent Firearms Single Action Belt Revolver was an open top, single action design with a seven chambered, unfluted cylinder and patented action that allowed the cylinder and barrel to rotate about 20 to 25 degrees to the right to allow for loading and unloading. The sights were the typical of the period, consisting of a rudimentary hammer nose notch rear sight and a brass cone front sight. Ejection was manual and utilized a simple metal rod that was stored under the barrel. The revolvers were produced with 4”, 5” and 6” blued octagonal barrels, blued cylinders, color casehardened hammers and engraved silver-plated brass frames. Grips were smooth varnished one-piece walnut. Like any gun maker of the period, higher grade grips and finishes could be obtained at extra cost, but usually through a reseller like Schuyler, Hartley & Graham who performed the work in house. The revolvers were certainly popular with the soldiers going off to fight during the Civil War, as a number of examples are known with engraved presentations to Civil War soldiers and even more have good provenance to having been owned by both enlisted men and officers who carried them during the war. Standard markings on the early guns were D. MOORE PATENT SPET. 18, 1860 on the top flat of the barrels. After the loss to Smith & Wesson in the lawsuit, the barrel markings were changed to MANFG FOR SMITH & WESSON BY MOORE’S PAT. FIREARMS Co and the patent dates for both the Rollin White patent and Moore’s patent were added to the cylinder.

This Moore’s Patent Firearms Single Action Belt Revolver remains in VERY FINE overall condition and bears the very desirable Smith & Wesson patent infringement markings. The top of the 5” octagon barrel is clearly marked on the top: <b>

MANF’D FOR SMITH & WESSON BY MOORE’S PAT. FIREARMS Co

The cylinder is marked roll marked:

PATENTED APRIL 3, 1856 & SEPT. 18, 1860

These dates reference the Rollin White patent and Daniel Moore’s patents, respectively. The bottom of the forward portion of the frame is marked with the serial number 7023. 

The pistol retains about 70%+ original bright blue on the octagonal barrel, showing moderate amounts of flaked loss, fading and dulling and has blended with an attractive smooth plum-brown patina in the areas where there has been finish loss. The barrel retains sharp edges and equally sharp lettering on the top flat. The barrel is mostly smooth with freckled oxidation shot through the blue and some scattered areas of lightly oxidized surface roughness. The cylinder retains even more of the original blue, about 90%+, with the aeras of loss showing a mostly dull gray patina. The primary loss on the cylinder is due to a turn ring through the cylinder stop slots, and some high edge wear. As with the barrel, the markings on the cylinder remain clear, crisp and fully legible. The hammer retains about 70%+ of its vivid case colors, mixed with a fading silvery-brown patina around the periphery. The brass frame retains about 90%+ coverage of the silver plating, with moderate thinning and fading and some loss due to high edge wear. The silver is moderately tarnished and has a mostly dull pewter gray patina. The engraving on the brass frame remains extremely crisp and sharp and is very attractive. The action of the pistol works perfectly and the revolver times and locks up exactly as it should. The action opens and closes easily, and locks closed appropriately. The ejector rod is not original to the revolver but is very well made, shows some real age and is probably a period of use replacement. The rod fits the revolver perfectly, engaging the stop at the end of the barrel as it should and tensioning perfectly against the spring in the frame. The bore of the pistol is in about VERY GOOD condition. It is mostly bright with crisp rifling. There is some scattered oxidation and dirt in the bore, and it shows some lightly scattered. However, the bore would likely clean up quite nicely and could only improve in overall condition. The one-piece smooth walnut grip remains in about FINEcondition with no breaks, cracks or repairs. The grip retains about 90%+ of the original varnished finish, with most of the loss being the result of high edge wear. The grip does show some lightly scattered handling marks, minor dings, and surface mars, but remain quite crisp and sharp, matching the overall condition of the revolver well.

Overall, this is an exceptionally attractive and untouched example of a Moore’s Patent Firearms Single Action Belt Revolver. The pistol has wonderful eye appeal and has the very desirable Smith & Wesson patent infringement markings on the barrel. All of these pistols were Civil War production pieces, and their popularity during the period makes them a desirable addition to any Civil War era revolver display. Whether you collect early cartridge revolvers, Smith & Wesson and related guns, or just typical arms carried by the officers and men of the American Civil War, this pistol will make a nice addition to your collection.