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

There is a wreck of a Reilly on Guns International. Awful replacement stock. looks off face. Cheap. But it does have 30" Damascus and is 20 gauge, top-lever, hammer-gun, a top quality Damascus 3 iron British best pattern and really nice engraving; at one time it was something. Someone might be able to restore it.

It is SN 21382 which would date to spring 1878. However it appears to have 277, Oxford Street, London address, an address which did not appear until early November 1881 when the numbers changed. Perhaps it was rebarreled or refurbished at some time. Pictures of water table and barrel flats have been requested. It should have a Scott spindle patent number on it. (this is the 746th Reilly in the database whose parameters are known).

Edit: The tang has been cut probably when the stock was replaced but wondering if this is a cobbled together gun. water table should solve the mystery.

https://www.gunsinternational.com/g...nglish-side-by-side.cfm?gun_id=103481906




The seller forwarded photos of the water table and the barrel flats:

Water table confirms that the SN was 21382. It has the Scott Spindle patent use number WMS PUN 8358 as expected. Purdey Patent 1104 expired May 1877 (though there are some Reilly actions from after that time period with it still displayed). Scott Spindle continued to be active for another two years. Reilly SN 21377 has WMS PUN 3587. ReillY SN 21839 has WMS PUN 8699.


However the barrel flats have 1887-1896 proof marks, The barrel tubes have no SN's. This coupled with the 277 Oxford Street address indicates the gun was rebarrelled in that time period:



I have not asked about the condition of the bores but the seller seems very responsive. Realize restoring this gun would be a stretch but again, with that engraving at one time it was quite an excellent firearm.