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#594193 03/20/21 12:11 AM
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Argo44 Offline OP
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This doesn't have to do with much of anything except a sort of quest and how that turned into history and a story.

When in 2015 I finally found my first SxS an EM Reilly hammer-gun SN 34723, later established as the last extant gun made at 16 New Oxford Street spring 1897, I looked for a case. Jan 2016 bought one from UK ebay, persuading the seller to ship it to USA. It was a little rough but perfect for the gun with an 16 New Oxford street outlier label that had the date 1886 and a Serial number 26584. (The seller said the case was found in a recycle center in Bridgport, Dorset).
[Linked Image from jpgbox.com]
[Linked Image from jpgbox.com]
(Note details of the label - the three kings at the top Spain, Portugal, Netherlands. I dated 26584 as made in 1884. The label has rue Scribe, which was discontinued in August 1885. The gun apparently wasn't sold until 1886 per the handwriting on the label; see the Reilly line for an explanation of Reilly manufacturing at this time).

Last Spring a UK gentleman (a true gentleman of the old-school aka "Papeman" on this board) wrote that he actually owned 26584. After a minimum of contemplation (and over his objections) I sent the case to him and asked him to distribute £100 to poor people out of work because of the virus in UK. Here is his gun with the case and he did send notice every time he gave away £20...The gun is located in North Hertfordshire.
[Linked Image from jpgbox.com]

That left me without a case for 34723. Then this case came up two weeks ago on ebay UK. I bought it and it just arrived. The label is for 277 Oxford Street address in a format used from summer 1885 to May/June 1897. I have a 16 bore side lever made in 1886 at 277 Oxford Street but with the right-side side-lever it's an awkward fit (and besides it's a pair) - but the 12 bore hammer gun (even though made at 16 New Oxford Street) fits perfectly (note the hollowed out area on the chamber end of the barrel slot, obviously jury-rigged for a doll's head which fits perfectly with the 16 bore whitworth barrel doll's head).
[Linked Image from jpgbox.com]
[Linked Image from jpgbox.com]

Ho hum so far...I don't want to "restore" the case, just have handle, straps and locks put back on and the oak rib on the bottom side of the top resolidified. The guns are old, the case is old, I'm sort oldish (according to Diggory) so why do plastic surgery? I'm talking to Kevin McCormack (close by) to see what he could do (he does leather, not wood).

But here is the interesting part. On the top of the case is in faint letters the name "I.M. Bonham-Carter."
[Linked Image from jpgbox.com]

I believe this is likely to be Air Commodore Ian Malcolm Bonham-Carter. He was born in 1882. The Reilly labels changed in 1897, when he was 15, but, the gun could have been bought for him or by his father and his name added later. Cases and labels are always fascinating...and I don't plan to change it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Bonham-Carter
[Linked Image from jpgbox.com]

Last edited by Argo44; 04/04/21 08:49 PM.

Baluch are not Brahui, Brahui are Baluch
3 members like this: FallCreekFan, Imperdix, GLS
Argo44 #594195 03/20/21 01:17 AM
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All I can say is wow!

Argo44 #594197 03/20/21 06:49 AM
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That was a fine gesture, Gene. I'm sure it gave you something that no amount of monetary compensation could have. Well done.

Stan


May God bless America and those who defend her.
Argo44 #594199 03/20/21 07:32 AM
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Good to see a gun re united with it`s case!

Argo44 #594203 03/20/21 07:57 AM
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This Oak and Leather Leather case is very similar to yours but unfortunately the inside was trashed and what was not broken the Moth had removed all the Baize. So it was a full internal re fit plus new straps and handles and stabilizing all the joints.


[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]


The only lessons in my life I truly did learn from where the ones I paid for!
Argo44 #594204 03/20/21 07:58 AM
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As shown by that act, you are a fine gentleman Gene. A quality best displayed when no-one is looking. Good call on preserving the character of your latest case. Straps and handle will make a big difference.

I would be very happy if someone were to connect me with a trade label appropriate to 1869 date of manufacture.

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

Argo44 #594211 03/20/21 09:34 AM
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A most gracious act, sir. May your tribe increase.


Speude Bradeos
Argo44 #594212 03/20/21 09:36 AM
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Great story Gene, thanks for sharing.


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Argo44 #594213 03/20/21 09:57 AM
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Great story!

Argo44 #594218 03/20/21 11:24 AM
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Argo44 Offline OP
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JB, re a label for your case: per my records this is your gun which would date to about late-summer 1868:

15857 - E.M. Reilly & Co., 502 New Oxford Street, London. 12ga. Shotgun SxS. center-break, center-fire, U-L. Non-rebounding hammers. (JBLondon's gun)

2 rue Scribe, Paris opened in Feb 1868 and the 1867 Paris Universelle medals with Napoleon III's profit on them appeared at the top of he label. In addition, 315 Oxford Street had opened in August 1858 (the complete chart dating Reilly labels is on p.49 of the Reilly line):

In addition to having a database with more than 500 extant Reilly guns in it, I've also collected a database with more that 150 original labels dating from the 1830's-40's to 1912.

Here are examples of post Feb 1868 Reilly labels with scolloped corners - you'll note that some of them had both 315 Oxford Street and rue Scribe as branch addresses, some only one of the Branches. At this time guns made at 315 Oxford street would have had the identical label.
[Linked Image from jpgbox.com]

I always assumed the Reilly long gun cases used labels with scolloped corners but going through the database this is not true. Here are two from this time period without the scollops:
[Linked Image from jpgbox.com]

Well, here are the three EM three reproduction labels currently on the market - the second one is an absolute time-period match to your gun - you could add the scollops if you wanted.

. . . . . .Repro label Summer 1860 - Feb 1868. . . . . . .Repro label Feb 1868 - Nov 1881
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(after Sep 1871 Battle of Sedan - fall of Napoleon III -
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .sometimes w/o the medals)

[Linked Image from jpgbox.com]

. . . Repro Label for 315 Oxford Street circa summer 1875 - Nov 1881 (possibly to Aug 1885)
[Linked Image from jpgbox.com]

Last edited by Argo44; 03/20/21 09:57 PM.

Baluch are not Brahui, Brahui are Baluch
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