I was not able to find the post you refered to. However, I have done some research on Wm Moore, Wm Grey and Wm Harris. A lot of excellent information is available on the IGC.

In 1829 Wm Moore (who was already in business in London) opened a stock making business at Court, 4 Whittall Street, Birmingham. This may also have been a purchasing office. In 1837 the stock making business moved to 35 Loveday Street, Birmingham where it was recorded up to 1845. This seems to have been the start of a long relationship which William Moore had with William Harris who occupied 35 and 36 Loveday Street at various times. William Harris was born in 1817 in Aston, Birmingham. In 1838 William Moore and William Harris were recorded as partners in the firm of Moore & Harris, also at 35 Loveday Street, but William Harris also traded from these premises in his own name. In 1840 the partnership was recorded at 36 Loveday Street trading as gun and pistol makers; at least some of the guns sold were marked "London" and were marked Moore & Harris, London and were proved in London. Harris ceased trading in his own name in 1845.

They appear to have supplied the trade as well as William Moore in London, and they also developed an export trade to the USA. William Harris was recorded in the 1851 census as a master gun maker employing 5 men. He was living at 38 Great Hampton Street, Birmingham, with his wife Emma Lucy (nee Hedder b.1813 in Northampton), and his mother-in-law and a servant. On 1 October 1852 William Moore and William Harris patented a hinged percussion revolver which was produced in limited quantities (patent No. 69). By 1859 in Birmingham, Moore & Harris had expanded into barrel and lock making and in 1861 they moved to the Great Western Gun Works at 91 Constitution Hill. The 1861 census records William Harris and Emma Lucy living at 36 Loveday Street. William described himself as a gun maker. In 1862 the partnership of William Moore and William Harris exhibited military and sporting guns at the International Exhibition in London. In 1864, perhaps because of temporary financial problems (American Civil War contracts ending?) or because William Moore died (no date of death is known though my own suspicion is it was 1859), the business at the Great Western Gun Works at 91 Constitution Hill was sold at auction; the buyers were a partnership composed of "Moore and Harris" (I suspect a company name) and a Mr Richards. Mr Richards was probably Westley Richards. In 1864 and 1865 Westley Richards joined Moore & Harris in a partnership established to save the manufacturing business of Moore & Harris from closure. The venture failed and, because Moore & Harris had a fairly substantial business exporting to the USA, the business was bought at auction by W & C Scott & Son.

Moore & Harris are known to have been trading in 1867 from a showroom at 2 Long Acre, London. When it ceased trading is not known, but it may have been prior to 1870 or even up to 1877. William Harris was recorded in the 1871 census living with Emma at 126 Buckingham Palace Road, London, clearly having moved down from Birmingham. He described himself as manager of a gun factory. There are no known extant gun production records for Moore & Harris.

Gun examples I have come across include:
1: 30" Damascus barrels, not choked. 3" chambers. Early Birmingham proofs. Side lever action. This is a very early breech loader. Research reveals that Moore & Harris made guns under military contract and also made sporting guns for export to the Great Western Firearms Company of Pittsburgh. They also developed a reputation for converting muzzle loading shotguns into breech loaders.
2: No 5987-Single bead sight on a solid concave rib marked "MOORE & HARRIS, LONDON. LAMINATED STEEL". Light scroll engraved hammer and lock plates. Lock plates marked "MOORE & HARRIS" with game bird scenes on the lock plates and trigger guard. Nicely figured checkered walnut forearm and straight grip stock with flat butt plate and initial oval. Complete with a leather and double faced embossed shot bag marked "4 / lbs". G
3: Moore & Harris, serial no. 1909, 14-bore, with re-browned twist signed sighted barrels, engraved patent breeches each with platinum plug, signed border, scroll and game scene engraved back-action locks, figured walnut half-stock with chequered grip and fore-end, re-blued engraved iron mounts, silver escutcheon, and original brass-mounted ramrod with London proof marks and maker's mark 'M&H'.

Hope this helps.

Tim

Last edited by trw999; 02/25/14 05:01 AM.