US Moore ''Belt'' Pistol

By Crusader1307

This unique .32 caliber handgun was designed by a private owned Armory (Williamson and Moore in Brooklyn, New York). Light and designed to be “slipped” into one's belt, The Moore Pistol featured an innovative cartridge that feature no percussion cap – but a small teat that extended from the cartridge itself. Once the chamber rotated the round and the hammer struck the teat, the resulting chemical ignition would fire the round. Designed to fire 6-shots, The Moore Pistol had a 50 yard effective range. Many soldiers in The American Civil War carried them for personal (or additional) protection. The US Army was never interested and one had to pay (around $25.00 USD) to own one. Some 30,000 were produced from 1864 to 1870, when Colt brought out The Williamson and Moore Company. They never explored any further development of the Moore Pistol.