Original Outlaw Rigs

[Fox Creek Kid]

Funny how many of us have our ideas of what Old West gunmen & outlaws used based on Hollywood and not reality. Here's a great example. Some firearms and two belt/holster rigs recovered from the James/Younger raid in Northfield, MN. Two flap holsters and only one with thimble loops eleven years after the end of the Civil War:

[David Carrico]

Nice! Where are these on display at? Thanks for sharing!

[Fox Creek Kid]

Nice! Where are these on display at? Thanks for sharing!

The museum there in Northfield.

[Camano Ridge]

Those are great thanks for sharing the photo.

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Very cool. Thanks for posting this.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Thanks Kid, for sharing, this is an awesome collection....


tEN wOLVES

[Massive]

`That would make sense, they were used to them, and they were riding long distances, without much retension built into a holster other than a top strap.  But they got to choose the time and place of their robberies, so getting quick access to their pistols might not have been a priority.

[bedbugbilly]

Interesting!  I love looking at originals.

A question - it appears the revolver in the middle is a '51 Navy.  What about the one on top?  I can't see real clear but it looks like a 5 1/2" barrel Navy conversion?  Richards & Mason?  Do you recall the description of it?  Thanks.

[Blair]

bbbilly,

That is a D. Moore, 7 shot,.32 caliber rimfire. Breech loading with a bored through cylinder.
This last was an infringement on Rollin White's patent. So, many of these will be marked
"Made for Smith & Wesson" with the Moore Patent date of Sept. 18,1860.
I hope this helps.
My best,
Blair

[buttebob]

The top pistol is a 7 shot Moore in 32 RF made from 1861-1863 in Brooklyn, NY. They were sued in 1863 by S&W for patient infringement.
The last 1200 guns made had "Made for S&W by Moore Arms" on the barrel.

[1961MJS]

The museum there in Northfield.

Dang it, I drove right past it.  I had found the two story outhouse in Belle Plaine Minnesota, but it was closed.  I was getting chewed on by the ex-wife so we didn't stop.

To quote the functionality of the outhouse:

"It's at the historic Hooper-Bowler-Hillstrom house in Belle Plaine, Minnesota. "Samuel Bowler had a large number of children so he added on to the outhouse structure," reports Jill Bowers. Bowler was her great-great-great uncle. "Not only does the house boast a 'five-holer' but also a skyway connecting the upstairs of the outhouse to the house proper."

Like the model in Gays, "The upstairs facilities are situated a little further back so that the 'materials' released from the second floor fall behind the wall of the first floor."  "

Later Y'all

[bedbugbilly]

Thanks for the ID of the top revolver - I was waaaaay off!      I appreciate you fellas taking the time to post the information on it - interesting stuff!  Jim

[Bruce W Sims]

bbbilly,

That is a D. Moore, 7 shot,.32 caliber rimfire. Breech loading with a bored through cylinder.
This last was an infringement on Rollin White's patent. So, many of these will be marked
"Made for Smith & Wesson" with the Moore Patent date of Sept. 18,1860.
I hope this helps.
My best,
Blair

.32 Cal.?  Seriously? Doesn't seem like much fire-power for someone choosing a life of
willfully walking into Harms Way. Nowadays we'd call that a "lady's gun". I wonder why
someone would carry such a small caliber. Thoughts?

Best Wishes,

Bruce

[Good Troy]

Thoughts?

It does have one more shot than typical revolvers of the era.  The capacity vs. caliber delima in the 19th century...

[buttebob]

It was a cartridge revolver in an era of cap and ball when it came out and it was well made.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

.32 Cal.?  Seriously? Doesn't seem like much fire-power for someone choosing a life of
willfully walking into Harms Way. Nowadays we'd call that a "lady's gun". I wonder why
someone would carry such a small caliber. Thoughts?
Best Wishes,
Bruce

With the scarcity of medical assistance, and very poor assistance at that, any wound to the body was likely to be fatal.