Can This Pstol Be Id
 

A friend has this old pistol with no markings whatsoever. Can anyone ID this pistol

It looks to be in the form of what were called "Suicide Specials" this looks like an early type being that most of them had a cylinder release pin where this one shows it's cap and ball heritage. It may be a conversion but I am thinking it was built that way from the ground up just into the cartridge era. What caliber is it? Any guess? .22,.32 etc. The cylinder lockup appears interesting as well. It appears to have a serial number or something under the missing grips. It may also have been hand made.

Looks like a smith & wesson knock-off ? I know there were many made in the later 1900's?

Would Smiths book cover something like this?

Ed

It might be a Moore's Patent Front loading revolver. Simpson's has a VERY similar revolver listed under antiques! Even the engraving looks similar! Inventory number C19517

http://www.simpsonltd.com/product_in...ducts_id=34989

Moores was my impression. I seem to recall that the teat fire cartridge was an attempt to circumvent the Smith and Wesson "bored through" cylinder patent

The engravings are rather nice looking. Too bad, trying to find ammo now must be nigh impossible! :eek:

I found some info on the Moore, they operated from 1862-1865 then the National Arms Company, Brooklyn, NY took over from 1863 to 1870 and made these front loading Daniel Moore patent teat cartridge revolvers. Picture of the gun in the book I looked it up in looks the same as the gun posted.