I've done a good bit of research on Reilly air-canes. There is a chapter devoted to them Chapter II/8 - "Air Guns" (p.94 on this line). They are ingenious and Reilly was a well known maker/retailer. Most London gunmakers offered them in the 1830'-1870's. E.M. seemed to specialize in them in the 1840's and wrote a Pamphlet which is still around (mentioned in the history). But I've only found one with a Reilly SN and it was made by J.C. So they can't help date the contraptions. Not surprisingly though, the oldest extant Reilly trade label. . .for 316 High Holborn. . .came out of an air-gun case - it obviously wasn't carried out into muddy fields.

If you go to P. 72 of the line, you'll find a lot of pictures including references to Reilly air guns being mentioned in fiction:
[Linked Image from jpgbox.com]

I have the Reilly-Comblain patent use #5109. It's mentioned in the re-edited history posted at the top of p.99. It has Birmingham proofs. I speculated that Reilly moved "production" from London to Birmingham and bumped the PUN's up to begin anew at 5000 (from about 150) (see the list). The interesting thing about this advertisement is the mention of two "inspectors" marks" behind the tang. No photos.

Last edited by Argo44; 06/02/24 10:57 PM.
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