Manufactured c. the 1870s, this is a seldom encountered example of one of the unsung heroes of frontier firearms that is full of western character. While not as celebrated as the iconic Colt Single Action Army revolvers or the legendary Winchester lever actions, double barrel hammer shotguns like this example were, without a doubt, one of the ever-present workhorses of the American West. The simplicity of these guns, as well as needing little training to effectively use them, made them an ideal choice for self defense for many heading to the frontier. Shotguns like this one would have been a common sight behind saloon bars, general store counters, and tucked under the seats of thousands of westward-headed wagons, giving their owners a welcome sense of security. The particular example was originally made in Britain by William Moore & Co., before making its way to the heart of the American frontier and the shop of firearms icon John Moses Browning. By the second year of the Civil War, Browning was working his father's shop repairing firearms. By 1878, Browning had developed his first firearm design and began producing them in a small shop in Ogden, Utah along with his younger brother Matthew. Besides producing their own firearms, the Brownings sold and repaired a plethora of other arms, including shotguns such as this one. By 1880, only a little over 6,000 residents lived in Ogden, and Utah remained a relatively lightly settled and quite untamed western territory. The barrel rib on this example has a laminated steel marking as well as the added marking of the Browning Bros. shop. The lock plates are both marked "W.MOORE&Co" and have light floral border engraving. The serial number and British proofs are marked on the watertable. It is fitted with a makeshift bead front sight made of a nail on the concave rib. It has a checkered splinter forearm with an ivory inlay at the tip and pistol grip stock with a blank German silver escutcheon on the bottom of the stock and smooth steel buttplate. The wrist has an interesting period repair utilizing brass plating and screws, which very well may have been carried out in the Browning Bros. shop, quite possibly by John Moses Browning himself. The length of pull is 14 1/4 inches.