doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com A familiar Reilly 1885 case for sale in UK

Some time ago I posted the history of my Reilly case, which was returned to UK to join its original gun:
https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=594199
There were several interesting features about that case, the manner of construction which I came to believe was typical of the 1880's and the unique "outlier" label with 16 New Oxford Street, London and 2 Rue Scribe, Paris on it, along with the crests of the King of Netherlands, Spain and Portugal. I did not think I'd see another such label again.

Voila, a Reilly case, almost identical, not in good shape but certainly salvageable for sale on UK eBay (case is for a gun with a two barrel set?).:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/373669081073?hash=item570069aff1:g:QWAAAOSwWglgx1lF

The price is affordable - £49...mailing is a little steep. It would probably cost $300-$500 to put it back into shape. But, it is original from the period I'd estimate 1883-1885 with that unusual Reilly label; if you have a Reilly made at 16, New Oxford Street during that time period (say SN 24820 to about 26280) this might be an authentic artifact worth picking up.

Just for kicks, went back to look at the case. I was trying to figure out who might have a extant gun that would fit this two barrel or double-gun case.

-- I really think the label is limited from 1884-mid-1885. So that severely limits the number of extant Reilly's that could have used the case..about 28 are in my database.

-- The gun would have 30" shotgun barrels (front slot) and from the looks of the back barrel slot, 26" rifle barrels... 30" barrels would eliminate .410's or 28 gauge.


-- I don't know what that extended space is at the chamber end of the barrels - but it does look like originally the barrels fit into their slots vertically?


-- The space for the stock looks to have no room for hammers. And it looks very deep. Is it possible that two stocks could have been stacked on top of each other?


-- And what is that slot for at the end of the stock cavity?


-- For a gun authentically to fit the case it would have to have the New Oxford Street address on the rib....it may or may not have had rue Scribe , Paris on the rib. There are a number of guns which didn't have the address published in the ads - sleeved or barrels missing so you might get away with putting one of those into the case..but of those which do have the New Oxford Street address, below is the list - not a lot.
-- Now where do you find an extra barrel? Or a second gun?

Here are the only extant Reilly's that might benefit from this original case: -- of course, the list could be stretched backwards or forwards...but getting back into 1883, there are still Reilly guns being labeled with the old 502 New Oxford Street address on their ribs...going forwards, as I did for my 1897 gun 34723, the gun would fit but would not be authentic.

26530 - E.M. Reilly & Co., New Oxford Street, London. .450. BPE SxS rifle. U-L, Hammer gun, 3 1/4” chamber’s. 28” brls.
26554 - E.M. Reilly & Co., 16, New Oxford Street, London & rue Scribe, Paris; .450 Cal Rifle SxS. U-L, hammer gun. Steel barrels. (SN ara "26434").
26584 - E.M. Reilly & Co., 16, New Oxford Street, London & rue Scribe, Paris. 12 bore Shotgun SxS. BLNE. (A&D use #8072)
26730 - E.M. Reilly & Co., 16, New Oxford Street, London and rue Scribe, Paris. 12 bore. Top key BLNE
26781 - E.M. Reilly & Co., 16, New Oxford Street, London & rue Scribe Paris. .360 BPE, SxS rifle. AD Boxlock; W-R "C" fastener, Top Lever.
26880 - E.M. Reilly & Co., 16, New Oxfort Street, London & Paris. .500 Rifle SxS. BPE U-L, hammer gun.
27340- E.M. Reilly & Co., Oxford Street, London & rue Scribe, Paris. 12 bore. Shotgun SxS. hammer gun. (Last SN w/rue Scribe)

Stretching list by going back to 1883:
25449 - E.M. Reilly & Co., 16, late 502, New Oxford Street, London & rue Scribe, Paris. 28 ga Shotgun (originally a rifle) SxS, top lever, hammerless. Anson fore grip 1872 patent use #7757
25513 - E.M. Reilly & Co., 16, New Oxford Street, London and rue Scribe, Paris. 10 bore SxS shotgun. Top lever, BLNE, Pistol grip; A&D use #4343
25519 - E.M. Reilly & Co., 16, New Oxford Street, London & Paris. 12 bore SxS shotgun. Top lever, BLNE. 7 lbs 6 oz, .0018, .0024 chokes. A&D use #3976 (Pigeon gun)
25592 - E.M. Reilly & Co., 16, New Oxford Street, London. 12 bore. SxS shotgun. U-L, hammer gun.

If you eliminate the hammer guns...you're down to about 6.

Deep stock slot for a crossover gun.

Ah, that might explain it. Looking at the barrel slots, top looks smaller than bottom and is indeed 30" rather than 26". So to be authentic, you'll need an 1884-85, Reilly shotgun with a crossover stock, with the New Oxford Street address and two barrels 12 and 20. Should be a piece of cake. Historical sleuthing is enjoyable.

Does the leather cover cardboard or wood?

Steve, as I mentioned I owned an identical case. The leather does not cover wood and I think those thick oak covered cases were phased out in the mid-1870's. The cases got much thinner and lighter. From mine I couldn't tell what the leather covered. I almost thought it was just leather hardened to the level of a shoe sole. These type cases are around. Somebody should be able to tell you but I sincerely doubt it was cardboard. There's a section of the lid with the velvet missing. Take a look...or ask the seller. He's very accommodating.

(Wonder if it's tin? - whatever it's got to support handles with weight and a lock.) (I'd think the label alone worth $30.