Above: An exquisite Purdey 16-bore extra-finish game gun engraved by Harry Kell.
William Larkin Moore was first and foremost a wingshooting and fine-gun enthusiast, and those entwined passions led him into the gun business in 1973. He went on to become one of the country’s foremost importers of fine shotguns — primarily from Italy and Spain — first with a showroom in Westlake Village, California, and then moving with his wife, Erma, and sons, Dan and David, in 1994 to Scottsdale, Arizona, where William Larkin Moore & Sons continues to thrive.
Bill Moore passed away in 2011 at the age of 75. In addition to his family and the business that bears his name, he left behind a large private collection of exceptional firearms. The collection will be presented for sale at James D. Julia’s October auction. Numbering in the many dozens, the collection includes Purdeys, F.lli Rizzinis, Fabbris, Piottis, Diamond Grade Dalys, near-mint Parkers, extraordinary double rifles and more. Many feature stunning examples of the engraver’s art.
The auction highlights are online here, while the full catalog will be available some weeks before the October auction. — Ed Carroll
