E.M.Reilly & Company London

[Gene Williams]

I just got access to the photos. It looks like the serial number is 15293 (very unclear-behind the trigger guard). If so this gun can be dated precisely. EM Reilly opened Rue Scribe in Paris in Feb 1868. The first SN I've found with "Rue Scribe" on the rib is 15270. He was numbering about 50 guns a month. 15293 would therefore have been numbered in Feb, March 1868. From other examples it may or may not have Rue Scribe on the Rib and may or may not have rebounding hammers.

The first SN with EM Reilly on the gun (vice JC or just plain Reilly) is (reportedly - i.e. no photos - so without evidence this number is suspect) 10621. This would have been late 1857, early 1858. The first advertisement for Reilly in London periodicals which used "EM Reilly" vice "Reilly" is in and 1858 publication. The first SN I've actually confirmed via photos with EM Reilly on the gun is 11247, an Enfield - Reilly did not number guns he did not build.