Manufactured in circa 1840 by the renowned London gunmaker William Moore who had been apprenticed to the great Joseph Manton, this gun was imported into New York by Henry Tomes before being retailed on Long Island by Stephen Taber. With browned twist barrels signed “STEPHEN TABER, ROSLYN L.I. BEST LAMINATED STEEL” on the concave rib and with silver front sight. Shaped casehardened border and scroll engraved patent breeches each with pierced platinum plug and inlaid with two gold lines on the rib section. Border engraved casehardened standing breech, side locks and furniture including buttplate and trigger guard. The locks are each signed “WILLIAM MOORE/MAKER. LONDON” and the trigger guard is engraved with the serial number on the trigger bow and “IMPORTED BY HENRY TOMES, NEW YORK” on the rear tang. Well figured walnut straight hand half stock with checkered grip and forearm, the underside of the butt with blank gold oval initial escutcheon. The barrels are secured by two barrel keys and with brass mounted ramrod. Stephen Taber (1821-1886) was a Democrat state assemblyman in 1860 and 1861 and representative from New York in the House of Representatives in 1865-1869. He was also the president of the Long Island North Shore Transportation Co. and the Roslyn Savings Bank. His father, Thomas Taber II (1785-1862) was also United States Representative from New York. The schooner Stephen Taber launched in 1871 is the oldest documented sailing vessel that has remained in continuous service in the United States and has been designated as a National Historic Landmark. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection

Very good. The barrels retain nearly all of an older thinning rebrowned finish with clear signature. Breeches retaining 50% original casehardened finish. Locks retaining 75% original casehardened finish. Furniture with some traces of original finish in more sheltered areas. Stock with some handling marks, well-defined checkering, nice figuring. Mechanically excellent.