Moore & Harris Great Newport London
Does anyone have information on this gun? It is a 12 ga damascus double barreled shotgun marked Moore & Harris, Great Newport London, Improved Lever Hammerless, Patent Crystal Indicator. There is a clear glass insert on either side of the receiver that shows when the hammers are cocked. I'll be posting a photo at my web site later if anyone wants to take a look. View at www.angelfire.com/tn3/thunderbolt Thanks.
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If you get no info here, drop me an e-mail reminder and I will dig out some books and see what I can find on this one. I have some resources on the Brit shotguns.
He Dog0 -
Found a reference for your Moore & Harris shotgun.
It notes that they were in business from the late 1830's to the mid 1860's.
Since your shotgun appears to be a internal hammer, centerfire, breechloader. The dissolution date of the business ( 1864 ), seems to be in error. I don't believe all these features, were in general use until the 1870's.
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Thanks guys. Any and all info is appreciated. 0 -
There appear to have been two William Moores who founded gunmaking Companies around the same time frame in England. One was founded in 1829 in Birmingham and in 1838 William Harris became a partner. They started at 4 Whittall street, Birmingham and from 1840 to 1860 were at 36 Lovejoy street. From 1961 through 1864 there were at Great Western Gun Works, Constitution Hill. The Co. was sold at auction in 1864. I can find no indiction they were ever in London, but is is possible they had a store there.
The other William Moore, started in London in 1818 and was in Edgeware Rd. in 1833. William Gray became a partner in 1844. They continued in several locations and several names, and by 1854 It appears Wm. Gray and son were the owners, though the Wm Moore & Co. and Wm. Moore and Gray names were variously retained through at least 1915. The firm was bought by Cogswell & Harrison in 1908.
From what I can find, Moore and Harris built a Side lock, Hammerless, Damascus barreled sxs with detachable barrels with engraving and checkered wood. I find no listing for the glass side plates or the markings you mention. What comes to mind is the possibility that this may have been a sales sample with glass sideplates designed to show the workings to prospective buyers. You are probably going to have to talk to someone with a good deal more experience with British doubles to get a real handle on this one. If you search the net looking for British doubles you may find some dealers to start asking. Boothroyd was the real expert and historian and author, but he has passed. Good luck, let us know if you persue this to some solid information.
He Dog0 -
Thanks again for the good info! 0
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