John.P.MOORE double barreled percussion rifled hunting rifle, cal 44

The company that bore John P Moore’s name was established by him in New York in 1823 at 302 Broadway. Moore was a gunsmith who performed repairs, built guns and sold them as well. Like many American gunmakers during the second quarter of the 19^th century, Moore was likely much more of a gun assembler than a craftsman who made every part of the gun. Most makers during this period relied upon commercial locks and barrels, often imported from England or Belgium, as well as commercially available brass and iron furniture. What the maker did was assemble guns from these available parts, being more like gun stockers than the classic image of the gunsmith who made each and every lock, stock and barrel. In 1838 John moved the business to 204 Broadway, where it would remain for more than two decades. In 1863 the firm would relocate to 208 Broadway, where it would remain until it went out of business circa 1887. In 1855 John’s sons George G and Henry T Moore joined the firm, and it became John P Moore & Sons. In 1860 the company was officially reorganized as John P Moore’s Sons, and the direction of the company shifted to more retailing and importing of arms than their production. At that time, inexpensive single- and double-barrel percussion shotguns were readily available for import from England and Belgium and American retailers often sold them with a retailer mark applied that would make many think they were the makers of the guns. Moore marked import shotguns survive to this day, as do at least a couple of southern retailer-marked shotguns that also bear Moore markings. This indicates that they were large enough importers to be able to do wholesale business with smaller gun retailers in the south. The Moore’s also became distributors and retailers for Colt revolvers and were the New York agent for Colt’s Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company. This close association with Colt may be an integral part in figuring out exactly what the true source for the Moore Enfields really was.

 

With the outbreak of the American Civil War, John P. Moore’s Sons, like so many people in the firearms business, sought to sell small arms to the US Government. Records indicate that the firm sold some 22,000 “Long Enfield Rifles”to the US Government, which were imported from Great Britain. It is possible that the connections necessary to obtain such a large number of Pattern 1853 Enfield Rifle Muskets at a time when every major and minor arms broker in the north and south was trying to acquire them in England may have been made by Colt, who the Moore’s acted as agents for in New York. 

John.P.MOORE double barreled percussion rifled hunting rifle, cal 44   

Factory browned barrels, condition is outstanding. Close to mint and works perfect, the case is of the period and has the original lining, 

The inside of the  patchbox is signed,   Excellent  plus.