doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 4 bore Reilly muzzle-loader wild-fowler

If anybody has been looking for something like this, there single-barrel 4 bore percussion gun for sale in UK on Gunstar:
https://www.gunstar.co.uk/e-m-reilly-co-fowling-piece-4-bore-gauge-muzzleloader/Shotguns/1352767

The gentleman selling it says it has no serial number and "E.M. Reilly & Co." on the hammers. There is not a lot of detail in the ad but he is responsive to messages.

I commented that with the name "E.M. Reilly & Co.," the percussion-gun would be post April 1859. With no SN it was probably made in Birmingham and Reilly engraved and retailed it. The price is £800. No certificate needed. I assume you could just put it in the mail, or in your luggage. I thing Richard, the seller, is looking to post some photos. I for one would like to see what kind of barrels are on it. 12 lbs plus....41" barrel.

do hit cum wid wheels an ah lan yard

I've got a couple of very early Reilly 6 bores in my database including this one from about 1855

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10315
https://www.proxibid.com/aspr/REILLY-LONDON/22392022/LotDetail.asp?lid=22392022
£3,600.00 sold
A GOOD 6-BORE PERCUSSION SINGLE-BARRELLED FOWLING-PIECE, serial no. 10315,


Terry Buffum sold this Reilly 8 bore:
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1850’s
https://live.amoskeagauction.com/m/lot-details/index/catalog/18/lot/6858?url=%2Fm%2Fsearch%3Fkey%3Dreilly
About 8 ga., 37 1/2” round barrel with a lightly oxidized bore. The barrel is a soft plum brown patina showing only remnants of its damascus pattern, with light oxidation and some sparsely scattered pitting as well. There is a simple brass bead front sight and remnants of an interesting rear bead sight as well, with remnants of the makers name near breech of barrel. The breech plug shows some light engraving as does the long tang, both are a dull pewter gray patina. The lockplate and hammer show the same nice quality loose open flowing scroll, the lockplate maker marked “E M Reilly & Co”.

Argo44,

"I assume you could just put it in the mail, or in your luggage."

I claim no expertise in British firearm laws but I believe both the options you mentioned are illegal.

Perhaps Toby Barclay can join the conversation.

I'll post some pictures Richard sent me...condition is indeed not so good. Stock looks to have red paint on it...can't tell what wood is under there. No pics of the proof marks. The brass around the tip of the forearm looks odd. Side plates and hammers are rough. Barrel starts out as an Octagon and after a couple inches transitions to circular...usually they'll transition to a hexagon then circular. Still it's a 4 bore with a 41" barrel.

There would be no restrictions as to purchase and own here in the U.K. Only thing is that if intended for use (perfectly legal for wildfowl shooting) it would need inclusion on a shotgun certificate. The only restricted persons would be certain ones who have served a certain length of imprisonment; I think it's 3 years and that is only a fairly recent restriction. Lagopus.....

All true but I will add that you will not be able to use the post, Royal mail will no longer carry antique firearms internationally. Fedex will happily deliver it to your nearest International Airport where you will need to clear it through Customs in order to collect it.
Steve

Steve, but the gun is pre 1898. Customs doesn't care about that...at least it didn't when I put an 1850's home-made SxS in my luggage in Pakistan and brought it back. Anyway, I'll let the owner know. I think it is a "project gun" and can be restored but who knows. He said it is so heavy it is difficult to carry....wonder if it were a punt gun of some sort.

Usually if used as a punt gun as well they normally have a hole in the stock for a breeching rope. Looks like a shoulder gun. Surprisingly they are not as unwieldy as you would think as most shots are taken on the near vertical. Lagopus.....

Argo44
Recently, I had a barrel and a stock for a pinfire made in 1865 that
a well known gun maker in England couldn't send me. Royal Mail
wouldn't touch it. Had an experience with US Customs in Sacramento.
They wanted proof it was an antique. As it was a percussion gun, no
proof should have been necessary. Always assume that Customs agents
don't understand US firearms law - and you will never be wrong.