doublegunshop.com - home Forums Thread Like Summary - 1884 Reilly 12 ga/.577 Cape Gun

Diggory Hadoke forwarded a query about a Reilly cape gun, based on the Reilly article he published 3 years ago. In correspondence with the Canadian gentleman he asked if I would post it. He is thinking of selling but hasn't a clue about value. Neither do I. Searching Guns International I can find only one Brit-made cape gun for sale, an Army-Navy at $4,500. Any opinions would be welcome: Here is his description of the gun:

Greetings I have just found your excellent website and am very impressed. I was researching my E.M.Reilly s/n 26445 which is a Cape gun in 12 bore and 577 BPE 3 1/4 inch . It is an under lever with beautiful Damascus barrels . It has been professionally refinished and the Damascus brought out to a magnificent finish. I felt you may want to add this info to your list of known Reilly guns. I can send some photos if this is of interest. I am curious to find out a ballpark value if that is possible as i am thinking of selling this gun. Thank-you







I responded as follows:

26445 would date per my chart to late summer, early autumn 1884. Reilly had surged his production of serial numbered guns in 1882 to enable him to sell off the rack; his box locks, about 40% of his sales that year from the limited number still in existence, probably were made in Birmingham like everyone elses and finished in London. I believe he made most of his side locks himself. (There are 22 Reilly's from 1884 existing or whose parameters were known through other means - catalog advertisements etc.; 10 of these are box locks.)

You can read the last published version of the Reilly history on p. 94, 95 of this site where all the Reilly research was posted. (This text is being extensively edited as I try to prepare a version for publication at some point). On that same site on p. 57 is the current Reilly extant or known gun list along with footnotes explaining the methodology.

I would very much appreciate seeing photos of your gun. In addition, what are the address(es) on the rib. It should be 16 New Oxford or 277 Oxford + rue Scribe Paris. Paris might be omitted. I unfortunately cannot estimate the value. I'd speculate in the $2,000 - $3,500 range depending on condition but Cape Guns are not a much known quantity. You might get an idea if you post it on Doublegunshop. I could do it for you if you'd like. I'm wondering if Trudeau's decision to ban all rifles in Canada would effect your gun?

As for history: The first advertisement for a Reilly cape-gun was back in 1858: - this snippet from latest edit of the history:

. . . . .1861: Cape Guns:*46i Reilly was one of the first to advertise “Cape Guns” (22 May 1958, “The Field”).*46i(1) The earliest extant serial numbered Reilly cape guns are:
. . . . . . . . . .SN 12207 - late 1861: E.M Reilly & Co., (address not legible); SxS Cape gun; 17 ga/.488 cal hammer gun, muzzle loader.*46i(2)
. . . . . . . . . .SN 12251 - early 1862: E.M. Reilly & Co., Oxford Street, London; SxS Cape gun 25 bore/.500 cal; percussion hammer gun.*46i(3)

The last extant Reilly Cape Gun is this New Zealand gun which unfortunately did not include the Serial Number. I believe it is contemporary with yours:

http://gunauction.co.nz/catalogues/38.pdf
New Zealand

169 - CASED CAPE GUN
A very fine cased Cape Gun by English maker Reilly. 30" 174 Side by side damascus barrels, 1 in 12 guage the other is rifled in .577 express cal. The rib between the 2 barrels is marked E.M.Reilly & Co with London & Paris address. Also has 4 engraved leaf sights and full swamping, plus London proofs underneath. The action also marked Reilly & Co and is borderline as well as scroll foliage engraved over most of the action including the hammers, top underside and lever. Excellent condition chequered Walnut stock and forend. The metalwork retains quite a lot of original browning on the barrels and thin original blue on the action and steel trigger guards. Included in its red leather bound case with trade label are dummy rounds, 175 cleaning rod, tools & reloading tools, oil bottle etc.
V.G.W.O.& C. A.L.R.

Is the owner sure about the chamber length of the rifled barrel?

12 bore and .577 Snider (2 1/4 inch case) was a popular combination for British Cape guns, the military cartridges being widely obtainable throughout the Empire.

I note it has a push forward under lever rather than a Jones screw grip.