Original Item: Only One Available. This is a really cute example of a small just post Civil War Moore's Patent revolver with a six shot cylinder in .32 Teat-fire caliber. The frame is brass, though removing the grips shows that it was once originally nickel plated. It is beautifully scroll engraved all over the frame and still has lovely walnut grips. The underside of the barrel is marked with serial number 589, which we estimate puts production around 1865. Additionally, the rear of the barrel, cylinder arbor pin, frame under the grip, and rear of the cylinder are marked with assembly number F 89, with 89 on the interior of BOTH grip scales. Only the barrel wedge is non-matching, marked "H 10". The wedges were often lost, and it's rare to find a revolver that still has the original.

The 3 1/4" barrel is marked on the top :-

The back of the cylinder is also marked with patent information:

The revolver properly breaks down when the barrel wedge is removed, however the sheet metal loading rammer on the right side of the barrel is completely missing, though the securing screw is still present. The brass frame still has traces of the original plating in areas, especially on the grip frame, while the rest has a lovely mustard patina. The matching original "birds head" grips are in fantastic condition, and are made from lovely figured walnut.

The revolver does cycle, but the main spring is somewhat tired, so the mechanics are a bit weak. It does dry fire and index well, though sometimes the cylinder lock does not engage properly and the cylinder can be rotated by hand. The bore is in very good condition, with clear lands and grooves and a mostly bright finish. There is just a bit of oxidation and fouling in the grooves.

In lovely condition and most original color, this is ready to display!

Specifications:

Years of Manufacture: 1864-1870
Caliber: .32 cal Teat-fire
Ammunition Type: Teat-Fire cartridge
Barrel Length: 3 1/4 inches
Overall Length: 7 inches
Action: Single Action
Feed System: 6 Shot Revolver

The Teat-fire cartridge was a .32 caliber pistol cartridge designed by Daniel Moore and manufactured by Moore and his partner David Williamson for their Pocket Revolver and was produced under both the Moore and National Arms marques by the National Arms Company of Brooklyn, New York in the mid-19th century.

The Moore Caliber .32 Teat-fire, which used a unique cartridge to get around the Rollin White patent owned by Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson, proved very popular during the Civil War, with both soldiers and civilians. The "Teat-fire" cartridges did not have a rim at the back like conventional cartridges, but were rounded at the rear, with a small "teat" that would protrude through a tiny opening in the rear of the cylinder. The priming mixture was contained in the "teat" and when the hammer struck it, the cartridge would fire. Thus, it was akin to a rimfire cartridge, but instead of having priming all the way around the edge of the rim, it is centrally located in the teat. This also meant that the revolver cylinder was loaded from the front, which is why there is a loading gate at the front of the frame, and not the rear.

Moore's Caliber .32 Teat-fire Pocket Revolver proved very popular during the American Civil War, with both soldiers and civilians. National Arms produced about 30,000 of the revolvers from 1864 to 1870, when it was acquired by Colt's Manufacturing Company.

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