A Joseph Charles Reilly percussion SxS barrel is for sale at Holts SN allegedly being 9089. The following request for clarification has been sent to Holt's which is self explanatory. Holt's has not been very responsive lately but these are low budget items probably not worth the research time:

Nick, the percussion barrel by Joseph Charles Reilly allegedly has a SN of 9089. Is this correct? Might it be 8089? JC had his own numbering series from about 1845 until he retired in 1857, These numbers began around 7000. . .the last one known being 8186. If the number is indeed 9089, it would date to 1851 and would actually be part of the main-line SN series. if 8089 it would be part of the JC 7000 series and would date to 1856. Could a better picture of SN and proof marks be obtained? Thanks for helping history.

The ad does not say whether these are rifle or shotgun barrels. 28" barrels could be either though Reilly almost always used 30" barrels for his shotguns of this bore. They could be a shotgun cut down by 2" but they look pretty "hefty".

Admittedly a 14 bore rifle - about 70 caliber - would be more than "hefty": Yet .70 caliber rifles from this period were not rare. Hawken and the British Brunswick come immediately to mind and smooth bore muskets including the Brown Bess were .75 caliber.

https://www.holtsauctioneers.com/as...++2107+&refno=++232619&saletype=
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

Edit: Holt's has sent a better picture of the proof marks. 17 bore not 14 - .650 caliber.

Last edited by Argo44; 07/16/25 09:29 AM.
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