doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com E.M. Reilly; History; Chronology; Serial Numbers

There is a 5 year posting window for this line and that window runs out on the p.57 Reilly serial number database this spring. It must be moved forward to allow for future updates. When this happens the "5000" series will have to be added. While there is an upper limit 1847-48, based on addresses on ribs, there is no lower limit except for the August 1835 move to 316 High Holborn.

After consideration the start of the series for now is placed at summer 1837 when he ceased serial numbering pistols. This could be 1836 or summer 1840 when EM became a full partner. However, until more information is developed here is what will be added to the chart based on 7 guns in the series; this includes adding the to the yearly total - this solution is the most logical as far as number per year serial numbered:

1837:. . .4500 - 4500. . +. 90 . . (4573)
1838:. . .4590 - 4730. . +140 .
1839:. . .4730 - 4870. . +140 .
1840:. . .4870 - 5010. . +140 .
1841:. . .5010 - 5160. . +150 .
1842:. . .5160 - 5310. . +150 .
1843:. . .5310 - 5460. . +150 .
1844:. . .5460 - 5620. . +160 . . (5512, 5580)
1845:. . .5620 - 5780. . +160 . . (5759)
1846:. . .5780 - 5940. . +160 . . (5810)
1847:. . .5940 - 6100. . +160 . . (5991 - New Oxford St.)
1848:. . .6100 - 6160. . +. 60 . . (6155 - New Oxford St.)

Edit: The SN chart has been updated. The history para III/14 which discussed the 5000 series has been moved to II/7 and the footnotes changed.

*7 J.C. "5000" Serial Number series Late 1830's - mid 1840's:

There are seven extant Serial Numbered SxS percussion guns ranging from 4573 to 6155 from apparently the late 1830’s to late-1840's which are very similar. Reilly apparently had a consistent “5000” serial number series of some sort.

It may be that J.C. and E.M. split their gun numbering series around 1840 when E.M. apparently became a full partner (and when the firm began using just "Reilly" in its advertisements) well before the move to Oxford Street, E.M. keeping the main-line series and jumping it to 8350 in 1847 and J.C. numbering guns with the 4500-6000 series and jumping those numbers to the 7000 series in 1846; Or more likely it may be that J.C. Reilly created this serial number series around 1837 when he stopped numbering hand guns. (There is an upper date limit marker for this "series" - 5991 & 6155 - which are post March 1847 from the address on the rib. However, there is no lower date marker for the series other than the 316 High Holborn address on the ribs - which could extend back to August 1835.)

. . . -- SN 4573 - c1837, a 7 gauge, smoothbore, short single barrel, dangerous game gun with "J.C. Reilly, 316 High Holborn, London" on the barrel. The gun appears to be from the 1840-1844 timeframe.*7a

. . . -- SN 5512 – 1844, a 16 bore SxS muzzle loader shotgun, which has “J.C. Reilly, 316 High Holborn, London now 502 New Oxford Street” on the rib, the only gun found so far with both addresses and it would appear numbered around the time of the move. However, the two addresses are printed a slightly different font indicating 5512 may have been brought in for maintenance after the March 1847 move and re-engraved at that time; *7b

. . .-- SN 5580 – 1844, a 12 bore SxS muzzle loader shotgun, which has “J.C. Reilly, 316 High Holborn, London” on the rib, (engraving and format very similar to 5512 above); *7c

. . .-- SN xxxx – 1843-47?, The engraving on 5512 and 5580 match remarkably to a 12 bore SxS percussion gun advertised by Christies with “J.C. Reilly, 316 High Holborn, Londonn” on the rib; The SN was unpublished, however, it could be part of this possible “5500 series.” *7d

. . .-- SN yyyy – 1843-47?, The engraving on 5512 and 5580 also match quite well a 16 bore Reilly SxS percussion shotgun with “Reilly, 316, High Holborn, London” on the rib.*7e

. . .-- SN 5759 – 1845, a 10 bore SxS percussion shotgun, serial numbered “5759” on the barrels; no SN on the tang. No address on the flat filed rib; "Reilly" on the action. The seller speculated that the barrels had been rebored from a 12 bore rifle; The barrel is substantial and is stamped "12." The rib possibly was re-laid at that time and the scroll guard trigger/pistol grip tang replaced.*7f

. . .-- SN 5810 – 1846, 16 bore SxS percussion shotgun, SN 5810 “Reilly, 316, High Holborn, London” on the rib.*7g

. . .-- SN 5991 – 1847, a 17 bore SxS percussion rifle, serial numbered “5991” on the barrels. “991” is found on forend stock, hammers and ramrod. “Reilly, New Oxford Street, London” is engraved on the rib; “Reilly, London” on the side plates. The case has a post December 1847 Reilly label pasted over a Lang label from 7 Haymarket Street, from circa 1845-1848. If this serial number is part of the hypothetical “5500” JC series, then it may indicate that the series was continued for some reason into the late 1840’s and used along-side the new “7000” series. *7h

. . .-- SN 6155 – 1848, a .550 bore SxS .550 percussion cap sporting musket with 24" octagonal barrels. Reilly on the lockplate; SN on the tang, 6155; no serial number on the underside of the barrel; no address visible.*7i

Interesting single barrel 20 ga. shotgun with absolutely lovely lines, 4 lbs 10 oz. The gun has Reilly SN 20175 from 1876. However it was rebarreled sometime after 1887 with a barrel by Arthur Turner (Sheffield) (SN 17099).
https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...s-underlever-single.cfm?gun_id=103428789

That is, indeed, a beautiful gun.

A knife as well:

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/...queryId=03eec96b683c96d30c57afd588fdf0f7

Thanks Steve. I've seen Reilly bayonets but not knives. A lot of the bayonets were made by Charles Reeves who did license others to produce his patented one-piece swords. However, I somehow doubt that Reilly actually made and etched his bayonets himself. Also I've never seen Reilly labeled cutlery from this late in time, post November 1881. This has been added to the Cutlery section of the history per below. I'll ask the seller if there are any extraneous initials on the knife: (Edit: Reply from auction: "No engraving or marks beyond that noted in the description." Also note that it is engraved E.M. Reilly & Co., not "E.M.R.)

Here is the Text from the book with sentence added and the footnotes for the record:

*43 Early 1860’s: Reilly and Cutlery, Swords, Bayonets

Business anthologies at this time identified EM Reilly as both gun and pistol manufacturers and sword/cutlery makers.*43a Reilly's name has been found engraved on bayonets and swords from the era. Bayonets were a part of the Yoemanry Militia “kit” and Reilly included a bayonet with each militia rifle he sold, enough volume to make a subsidiary business profitable.*43b. A Reilly stag-horned hunting knife also exists from as late as the 1880's.*43c

One surviving Reilly bayonet is a slightly modified version of the “official” “sword bayonets” attached to Gen. Jacob’s patent SxS’s which fired an explosive bullet; Reilly made the guns under license.*43d

One Reilly sword/bayonet has the maker's name "Reeves" engraved on it.*43e Charles Reeves patented a solid hilt sword in 1851 and marketed it to officers. Reeves became the largest sword maker in Birmingham in the 1850's and appeared to have partnered with Wilkinson in London. He would engrave or rather etch swords to a retailer's specification.

There were makers that made Reeves patent swords under license. Whether Reilly did so or bought the blades from Reeves is not known.*43f

====== *43 Reilly Cutlery, Swords, Bayonettes - FOOTNOTES ======

. . . . . *43a 1864 – Williams’s Manufacturers’ Directory: Reilly listed under “Swords: Cutlers Manufacturers” section:


. . . . .*43d Standard pattern bayonet and Volunteer rifle:
. . . . . . . . . .22 Dec 1860, “Volunteer Services Gazette” - Note SN EMR 11396: This number no doubt is the serial number of the Enfield which the bayonettes went with.



. . . . . *43c - Stage-handled hunting knife marked "EMR, 16 New Oxford St., London."



. . . . .*43d Sword Bayonette

Gen Jacob’s Sword Bayonette


====== *43 Reilly Cutlery, Swords, Bayonettes END FOOTNOTES ======

This is a bit morbid but does add context to the life and times - things like this - pandemics, financial panics, wars, riots, technological advances, etc. - all are important to understanding what happened:

E.M. Reilly passed away July 1890 from pneumonia/respiratory illness. Upon review this was quite likely the result of his contracting the Asiatic or Russian flu, the last great pandemic of the 19th century. It always seemed odd that EM would come down with pneumonia in the middle of summer in London. Modern researchers believe this was a corona virus. A note to this effect has been made in the history.

The 1889–1890 pandemic, often referred to as the "Asiatic flu"[1] or "Russian flu", was a worldwide respiratory viral pandemic. It was the last great pandemic of the 19th century, and is among the deadliest pandemics in history.[2][3] The pandemic killed about 1 million people out of a world population of about 1.5 billion (0.067% of population).[4][5] The most reported effects of the pandemic took place from October 1889 to December 1890, with recurrences in March to June 1891, November 1891 to June 1892, the northern winter of 1893–1894, and early 1895.

This gun is in Holt's spring 2026 sale; attractive gun for an attractive price. It is posted for two reasons which confirm some previous conclusions:

1). SN 22127 can be firmly dated to mid 1879. However it has a Purdey patent 1104 top lever PUN 6777. The Purdey patent expired in May 1877. One plausible reason to have a Purdey PUN on this late serial numbered gun were if the action were paid for before 1877 and then just sat on the shelf awaiting a buyer. There are multiple other TL Reilly's from the time period using the Purdey patent without a PUN. (The Scott Spindle patent was still active until October 1879 - But it would have been stamped "Scott spindle WMS pat 2752" with a different PUN as is the case on Reilly SN 21839 and 21337).

2) It is cylinder bore in both barrels. Holt's has not confirmed this but presumably there is no "NOT FOR BALL" stamped on the barrel flats because of this.

https://www.holtsauctioneers.com/as...++1801+&refno=++242788&saletype=
E.M. REILLY & CO. 
A 12-BORE TOPLEVER HAMMERGUN, serial no. 22127, 
for 1879, 30in. black powder only bold damascus barrels, the rib engraved 'E.M. REILLY & CO. NEW OXFORD STREET. LONDON & RUE SCRIBE. PARIS', 2 1/2in. chambers, bored approx. true cyl. in both, some pitting, elongated treble-grip rounded bar action, carved percussion fences, rebounding sidelocks with dolphin hammers, J. Purdey patent locking bolt, patent no. 1104 of 2nd May 1863, use number 6777, fine acanthus scroll engraving with varied ornate bordering, brushed and blued finish overall, triggerplate with pin, 14 1/2in. stock with ink enhanced figuring, chequered horn buttplate, fore-end with Scott 1873 patent 'key' fastener, weight 6lb. 14oz. 


Ken forwarded this advertisement. It is for a Westley-Richards "Improved-Martini" action breech loading .451 high velocity rifle made under license by or marketed by Reilly. (I doubt Reilly made it - engraving looks factory):
https://www.rockislandauction.com/d...-martini-action-single-shot-target-rifle

Actually this is not a Martini action at all but a WR invention that competed in the 1868 rifle trials against the Martini and the Henry. It lost out but was marketed in South Africa where it continued to be very popular for many years. Note it has a Henry barrel. Other's can add to the history - this is a good site:
https://www.rathcoombe.net/sci-tech/classics/westley-richards/westley-richards-1869.html

This is the first ever Reilly made/marketed example I've seen and will be added to Chapter 54: (Reilly seems to have had a problem with W-R and from the time of the W-R "Monkey Tail" breech loader in about 1858 up until 1871 did not advertise selling W-R products. In fact the 1871 ad may have been because of this very gun. The history speculates that this might have been because Reilly actually had a financial stake in Prince and Green; the Monkey Tail was a competitor.)
*54 1872-1912 Reilly sells other Military Rifles; Swinburn, Gibbs, Westley Richards, Soper, Lee-Speed





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