E.M.Reilly & Company London

[Gene Williams]

Originally Posted by CraigThompson

We have an E.M. Reilley 450 BPE hammer double with a Jones underlever for sale at the shop .

Sir, in the chronology of Reilly SN's above there are four or five 450 BPE's numbered by Reilly. These range from 17214 - the first Reilly Martini Henry I can find (and the SN might not be his) and include 21304, 25273, 27847, 30846, 34221.. There are several Martini 450's not numbered by Reilly but sold by him. With a Jones under lever you'd suspect the SN would be perhaps the 21304?-or in that neighborhood. It would be interesting to know the SN and the address on the rib. Many Thanks. Every Reilly which turns up adds to knowledge.

[Gene Williams]

Originally Posted by CraigThompson

We have an E.M. Reilley 450 BPE hammer double with a Jones underlever for sale at the shop .

There are 6-7 450 BPE's in the chronology mentioned above. If yours is a double gun (and not a Martini Henry), with a Jones under lever...it'll likely be around 21,000..SN...i.e. about 1880-81. Would be interested in the SN and rib address for historical reasons. Many thanks. (sorry double post...I'm in the middle of no-where at Z+1 and dealing with a very balky internet.)

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Gene Williams

Sir, in the chronology of Reilly SN's above there are four or five 450 BPE's numbered by Reilly. These range from 17214 - the first Reilly Martini Henry I can find (and the SN might not be his) and include 21304, 25273, 27847, 30846, 34221.. There are several Martini 450's not numbered by Reilly but sold by him. With a Jones under lever you'd suspect the SN would be perhaps the 21304?-or in that neighborhood. It would be interesting to know the SN and the address on the rib. Many Thanks. Every Reilly which turns up adds to knowledge.

#21,361 , GB # 731041963 , if I think about it tomorrow I'll tell you what the rib inscription is and post a picture on the auction . I'd like to have the gun myself I just think $7,800 is a touch high . But of course I'm most likely wrong .

[Kensal Rise]

All things are relative. Contact ANY London maker and see how far $7,800 USD will get you toward any new .450 BPE double.

[Gene Williams]

Originally Posted by CraigThompson

#21,361 , GB # 731041963 , if I think about it tomorrow I'll tell you what the rib inscription is and post a picture on the auction . I'd like to have the gun myself I just think $7,800 is a touch high . But of course I'm most likely wrong .

21,361 may have been numbered in Fall 1877. It should have 502 or 315 New Oxford street + the Rue Scribe, Paris address on the rib. (He sometimes left off the Paris address - assume this was to satisfy some Francophobe customer and there were a lot of them at the time in UK).

26584 is the last SN I've found with Rue Scribe on the Rib. He closed Rue Scribe in Paris in summer 1886. At that time he was numbering about 50 guns a month. This 450 BPE is 5,223 numbers before 26584 divided by 50 = 104 months before July 1886, 8 years, 8 months = Autumn 1877. (you can go the other way too starting with the first SN with Rue Sribe on a rib 15270 -from Feb 1868 - and counting forward). (And there are some checks which can be applied - the first numbered Martini Henry - knowing when the Martini Henry was adopted for British service).

A check could be made of the patents on the gun to confirm this though it won't be definitive: The gun may have these:
1872 - Patent: Anson's fore-end fastener patent no. 3791
1874 - Patent: Needham patented a hammerless, barrel-cocking gun which was also the first ejector in 1874.
1875 - Patent: W.M. Scott's patent 3223
1875 - Patent: Anson & Deely patent; the first hammerless gun with top lever.

It should not have these:
1878 - Patent: Mills 3rd bite patent no 4980
1878 - Patent: Patent Number 761 was recorded by William Middleditch Scott and Thomas Baker

Also we've found that Reilly stockpiled barrels at least in the 1890's. Barrels were put onto guns which were proofed six years prior to the SN.

Terry Buffum sold a lot of Reilly's recently at least one was a 450 BPE as I recall. A check of Amoskeog and his auctions should confirm this.

[Gene Williams]

Kensal, I've order the DBJ from summer 2015 and can't wait to read it. I'm having it delivered to my home but won't be back there till mid-Jan. My son also writes and I dabble as well (mostly Vietnam history stuff) and authors and researchers should be paid for their work Like I said I wish I'd known about it when I started my own research in December 2015.

[6pt-Sika]

Originally Posted by Gene Williams

21,361 may have been numbered in Fall 1877. It should have 502 or 315 New Oxford street + the Rue Scribe, Paris address on the rib. (He sometimes left off the Paris address - assume this was to satisfy some Francophobe customer and there were a lot of them at the time in UK).

26584 is the last SN I've found with Rue Scribe on the Rib. He closed Rue Scribe in Paris in summer 1886. At that time he was numbering about 50 guns a month. This 450 BPE is 5,223 numbers before 26584 divided by 50 = 104 months before July 1886, 8 years, 8 months = Autumn 1877. (you can go the other way too starting with the first SN with Rue Sribe on a rib 15270 -from Feb 1868 - and counting forward). (And there are some checks which can be applied - the first numbered Martini Henry - knowing when the Martini Henry was adopted for British service).

A check could be made of the patents on the gun to confirm this though it won't be definitive: The gun may have these:
1872 - Patent: Anson's fore-end fastener patent no. 3791
1874 - Patent: Needham patented a hammerless, barrel-cocking gun which was also the first ejector in 1874.
1875 - Patent: W.M. Scott's patent 3223
1875 - Patent: Anson & Deely patent; the first hammerless gun with top lever.

It should not have these:
1878 - Patent: Mills 3rd bite patent no 4980
1878 - Patent: Patent Number 761 was recorded by William Middleditch Scott and Thomas Baker

Also we've found that Reilly stockpiled barrels at least in the 1890's. Barrels were put onto guns which were proofed six years prior to the SN.

Terry Buffum sold a lot of Reilly's recently at least one was a 450 BPE as I recall. A check of Amoskeog and his auctions should confirm this.

The left barrel is inscribed "E.M. Reilley and Co Oxford Street London" and the right barrel is inscribed "& Rue Scribe Paris 450 Bore Express" . I didn't bother to take a picture and add it to the auction as I don't think the camera will make it legible in a picture .

[Gene Williams]

From my database...still looking.

17314 - (1872-3?) (First Reilly Martini - has to be after 1871) !!!!!!!! First Reilly Martini !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Name: E.M Reilly & Co., Oxford Street, London (no Paris address)
Descriptions: .577 (.450) Martini-Henry action
Comment: This is the first Reilly Martini I can find. Has to be after the 1870 trials. Martini’s were made in various calibers by Reilly for 30 years. This is the only one I’ve found so far with a Reilly serial number. In the Victorian era it was common practice for Officer’s & Other Ranks of Volunteer & Militia Units to privately purchase their own weapons to supplement their limited supply of issued weapons. Privately purchased Martini Henry rifles & carbines were manufactured by quality gunsmiths using genuine Enfield manufactured parts.
http://britishmilitariaforums.yuku.c...i#.VrgJC3hQoqY

Here are other Reilly Martini’s, with no identified SN’s.

— See this Martini, E.M. Reilly & Co, New Oxford Street, London & Rue Scribe, Paris, .450, black powder, Elay 3 1/4 express.
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/view...70014&start=20

— and this .577/.450 Reilly Martini, E M REILLY & CO, OXFORD ST, LONDON; black powder. (no Paris address)
https://www.gunsamerica.com/99942584...lly-577-45.htm


xxxxx - (1875-1890?) (Reilly Martini) (It’s possible Reilly quit putting Reilly SN’s on Martini’s shortly after making 17414)
Name: E.M. Reilly & Co, New Oxford Street, London & Rue Scribe, Paris
Description: Martini action serial 10889. Danish gun. .450 cal bore (classic Martini-Henry), Black powder, Ely 3 1/4 Express.
Comment:
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/view...70014&start=20

18595
E.M. REILLY OF LONDON,.450 (3 ¼ in. black powder express) rotary-underlever double-barreled hammer rifle. 26" Damascus barrels. Name engrave on left receiver "A.Geo A. Rush" with a coat of arms. Possible the rifle of Alfred George Anderson Rush borh 1851, Farthinghoe Rush family.
http://www.gunsinternational.com/gun...n_id=100885109

21304 -
Name: E.M.Reilly & Co (no mention/photo of complete address by auctioneer)
Descriptions: .450/.500 double rifle
Comment: Come on pros..give us the data.
https://www.gunsamerica.com/98074884...uble-Rifle.htm

21761
Name: E.M REILLY & Co., NEW OXFORD STREET, LONDON & RUE SCRIBE, PARIS
Description: E M Reilly double rifle for me. It is a hammer gun
.....Comment: Purdey under bolts and dual side bolts. chambered for 500 BPE. HWK’s gun from this board (Doublegunshop); he bought several of Terry Buffum’s guns.

25273 -
Name: E.M. REILLY & CO., 502, NEW OXFORD ST., LONDON
Descriptions: .450 (3 ¼ in. black powder express) rotary-underlever double-barreled hammer rifle. 28 in. (71 cm.) black powder only blued barrels; double triggers, non automatic safety and extractors. Included is a beavertail forend
Comment: 502, no Paris.
http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/a...6-details.aspx

25572
Name: E.M. Reilly, 16 New Oxford Street, London and Paris
Description: E.M. Reilly .450 BPE; Good to find condition. Three proof marks - London provisional proof since 1856; Crown over interconnect GP; London definitive black power proof; and the crown over V since 1670 London view mark. Purchased in Spain by a relative in 1950’s. 10 lbs, 28” barrel, .450 caliber; gold inlay - E.M Reilly, London and Paris, “To their majesties the kings of Spain and Portugal” on top of the barrel; Double hammer. Three sights. COC 9 under the barrel; SN 25,572. Fancy scroll work.
.....Comment: Hammer gun, underlever. SN would place it about 1884
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.ph...t-made.671624/

27847 -
Name: Not mentioned
Descriptions: 450 bore express. under-lever ejection, rebounding hammers.
Comment:
http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/view...p?f=5&t=270014

30846 -
Name: E.M Reilly - rest not mentioned in the ad.
Descriptions: 450 BPE, 28” steel barrels, double gun, double triggers.
Comment: “modern” group side plates
http://www.amoskeagauction.com/108/3...aign=108Eblast

34221
Name: E.M. Reilly & Co, 16 New Oxford Street, London. (E.M. Reilly & Co, 315 Oxford Street, London (case). (re the case label, this is16 years after 315 Oxford street was renumbered; the label may be a reproduction).
Descriptions: 16 bore x 450 No. 2 Musket, 29 3/4" barrels with very good bores. This is an interesting set of guns which feature seven leaf express sights and are on the plainer side, being working guns. The actions and back action locks show only light border engraving. The barrels are each engraved with the 16 New Oxford Street address. The guns feature rebounding hammers and full pistolgrip walnut stocks.
Comment: Terry Buffum collection ; one of a pair, see below.
http://www.lot-art.com/auction-lots/...-02.4-amoskeag

[Gene Williams]

And back to the original post. Would like to see Tarnation post the Reilly SN and the address on the rib of his pinfire. History waits.

[Gene Williams]

Well, I've bought DGJ Summer 2015 and had it sent to the house. A friend photographed the article (and since Ive bought it I don't feel like I'm stealing anything). There are three blatant errors in the first three paragraphs, Sorry. The neat stuff is the interviews and photographs...the errors are in history, John..let's talk because this DGJ article is not right.