Couldn't resist taking a pic of Mack551 and OIDabble's Roller, prior to dismantling / packing it to send home.

In yesterday AM's clear albeit cold light,....a new, and somewhat older arrival sure looked right at home beside it

Interesting, "New York Perchbelly Rifle" from a somewhat accomplished builder,....R.R. Moore, Cortland, N.Y.

Over and under, Nominal .38 Cal. up, 28 Ga. Down

Outside of missing it's wiping sticks, and needing but a few MINOR repairs, ...this more than likely "Historically Signifigent" O&U is in pretty remarkable shape,... The wood in the lock areas ands wrist in particular

This piece is SCREAMING to be awoken, and taken back into the "Leatherstocking Country",... put back to work and HUNTED hard,...

Busy I-net tonight,...and slow uploads indicate that one should go after this in calmer seas.More detailed pics, ....soon.
I'm REALLY looking forward to getting inside of and beside this wonderfully balanced and very practical muzzle loading arm

It's a nice place to sit,....my beat up old lurk,....those who've sat here, present and departed could tell ya' that,...Very nostalgiac, and somewhat bemused time,...in terms of what means "Adios'", Compadres.

The lurk,....
Damn near everywhere I look, I'm seeing American Black Powder History, ALIVE, and ongoing into the future !
I'd like to thank all involved in this phenomena for the TRUST and faith inveyed,....and for continuing to haul in these pieces of the past, with a view towards SHOOTING them, as opposed to "collecting".

FWIW, there's a FANATICAL Hivernan from the "Dacks" working up some more history about this one,....He'll KNOW who I'm talking about,....If the mood's upon him, I'd appreciate his throwing in with his $.02 about the builder, and the area he and the rifle springs from.

He's already bent my ear,....and it's the stuff of legend, .....no chit, take THAT to the bank.

GTC

Can't wait to see the fruits of this endeavor, Greg.

May you have a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year!

Ed

Dan's big 25 lb. .54 is next in the que, Ed.
Looks like the regeneration of all the four pin gear, ball starters, and other loading tools / sights is do-able,...albeit really head scratcher material,...

So many of the fine old target guns are missing their original kit, it seems to be a worthy quest,...

No idea as to what the final disposition of this NY piece will be,....just tickled to grab a feel, as it were.

Looks like that original .45-90 is going to be a long term resident,...

Happy New Years and forward to you, your fine lady ( the brains of the outfit) and all your stock.


GTC

That Moore O/U is lovely!

It certainly IS a handsome and endearing piece.

Poor quality pic of the Tang, which is bored / tapped to take a "Lollipop" sight (missing, of course). Very strange gun to view from the top side ,...e.g. sidehammers but only one barrel



Hmmmm, did the owner pack this rig south of the MD line ?
.....The chiseling on the barrel sight looks an awful lot like that now unmentionable ********** flag , ....no ?



Moore built false muzzled heavy target rifles, AND telescopes,....reputedly less than 1200 rifles total, and he DID serial number them,...this one's well into the 1100 range, he was getting on towards the end when it came together,....the crisp and very well calibrated stadia in front of the front dove would maybe call out two different options ? NICE brass part, the "hunter" that it currently wears. The forward set of stadia look to be calling out a tunnel sight to me, ....probably windage adjustable.



Greg

GTC,

That OU is phenomenal!

Believe me, the photos don't do it justice, and hangin' that perch belly stock against one's cheek and watching the sights line right up is a real treat.

I'm TRYING to get some feedback out of it's place of birth, "Leatherstocking Country"...it's CLEARLY a "historically signifigant" arm, crafted by a locally famous craftsman.

Got this off the web
I'm currently seeking copies of the pages discussed,. bolded / Red, below. .....or any OTHER feedback regarding RR Moore's guns.

The only gunsmith known to have worked in Cincinnatus, New York, was Rensselaer R. Moore, which sounds like too good a match to be coincidence. He stamped his rifles "R. R. MOORE CINCINATTUS NY". He worked in Cincinnatus circa 1837 - 1866. In mid-year 1866 he moved to Cortland, New York, where he continued in business until his death in 1877. Rifles made in Cortland are stamped "R. R. MOORE CORTLAND NY". Many of his rifles are serial numbered. Many also have an eagle stamped after his name and address.R. R. Moore was born in New York in 1821 or 1822, and claimed in 1855 that he had lived in Cincinnatus his entire life. He died in Cortland, N Y , on January 11, 1877.R. R. Moore was by no means a crude country blacksmith/gunsmith. He made extremely high quality rifles, including some very complex long range target rifles with false muzzles and guide bullet starters. Many of these were equipped with a full length scope of Moore's own manufacture. He also made double and three barreled rifles and rifle/shotgun combinations. There are 19 pages devoted to R. R. Moore and his work, in THE NEW YORK STATE FIREARMS TRADE, Vol 3 by H. J. Swinney/ Tom Rowe. These include beautiful photographs of nine different rifles

Once I've got the big Civil War sniper's rifle off the bench, and the original Sharps re-lined, I'll be waking this o&u up and shooting it.
Needs a hammmer screw, one worn sear notch built up and re-cased, wood chip repair,...minor stuff.
Depends, ...the rifle IS for sale,and a buyer may wish to do alla' that himself. and credible offers WILL be entertained.
I would HATE to see this rifle disappear into a "collector's" vault,....it belongs back in the dacks,....hunting game.

GTC

Yes, that rifle needs to be in the 'dacks; badly.

Was it Matthew Quigley that said, "You sure are pretty in the mornin' Sun" ?
Likin' the view from what passes for a desk here this AM,..I swear the German Silver / "White Brass" furniture on these two old galoots came from the same foundry, if not the same pour.
The O&U More rifle is cuddled up next to the wood off a George Leonard and Sons, New Hampshire ML target rifle that probably rode with Berdan's crew of miscreant long shooters,...a 25 lb beast that's near ready to shoot after extensive repair and refit, another one that came in broken in half. Currently am spooling up a complete set of 4 pin muzzle guides, starters, etc. Gotta' build a rear sight, too.
Neither one of em's a slouch,...but
The quality of the Moore Rifle's assembly, versus the Leonard is evident, Moore was the better engineer, and the Leonard bunch placed their faith in cabalistic adornment,...It sports some pretty nice engraving, to compliment it's WTF that is on the cheekpeice.

Nice toy you're playing with there pard, are you worthy?

Those deep grooves make me smile if for no other reason than I've toyed with them in the past. Takes some determination to make them shoot, but shoot they will, make no mistake.

Dan

PS: You're getting pretty hot with that camera. Kudos on that morning sunshine pic!

If I lay my head up against whatever the hell that's SUPPOSED to be on the cheekpiece, and get one INKLING that something's not right, or if it starts to glow red hot, and give off "negative waves" I'm going to call in an exorcism team,...


I would imagine that laying it on the ground and pizzing all over it will settle it down until they're dispatched from the Vatican.
I lost the Pope's number,...anybody have it handy ?

GTC

Are those the Traditions rifle available at bass pro and walmart? snicker,,,,,,

I had it out at a meet, and some idiot asked me, "How many bullets does it hold?"

Is it just me , or are there more of them around than ever before ?

GTC

Keep your eyes peeled for a Ballard 32-40 at a decent price.

Compadre, I think that weird design may be one of the odd "early American" bird motifs.

http://www.freergunshop.com/consignment.html

These guys had a nice Ballard last year, though IIRC it was a .38-55, and it was a decent price - for the seller

I wish you'd be quiet about my counterfitting racket.

This one came from a K-Mart that was getting out of the gun business,
The Wood is pictured here in the able paws / jaws of my "Director of Antique Finishes and Patina Development"