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==================================================================================================================================
1862 Green Brothers Patent Breech Loader


In 1860 Green Brother, C.E. AND J., took out a provisional patent on a breech loader and in 1862 received the full patent. Reilly produced one (surviving) gun on the Green brothers patent which he serial numbered. In 1865 the Green brothers (possibly with Reilly as a silent partner?) submitted the gun for testing when British Ordinance, panicked by the 1864 Prussian victory over the Danes using breech-loading needle fire guns, decided Britain needed a breech loader. The Green Bros gun did very well but ultimately lost out to the Snider Enfield.

13333. .577 percussion cap breech loader on the Green Brothers Patent marked E.M Reilly & Co., 502 New Oxford St., London on the rib behind the ladder sight and on the bolt. On the bolt also is Reilly's name and address along with Green Bros' with license #23 - one of the first produced. This is an 1862 Green Brothers Patent gun one of the first - serial numbered by Reilly and appropriately engraved. As such it is a definitive date "marker" for serial numbers. Edit: Per subsequent post, Reilly did not start manufacturing this gun until April 1864...it was trialed in June. Thus 13333 should have been made about May 1864.

[Linked Image from jpgbox.com]

==================================================================================================================================
1866 Snider Enfield


In early 1864 the armies of Europe were shocked by the decisive victory the Prussian Dreyse Needle Guns brought during the Danish-Prussian War. In 1865 the British began to seriously look for a breech-loading replacement of their Enfield 1853 Pattern rifle muskets. Following trials of various submitted designs Jacob Snider's cartridge conversion was selected and in September 1866 the .577 Snider rifle was introduced becoming Britain's first breech-loading military rifle.

Snider was an American inventor who from 1864 to 66 submitted three versions of his snider breech. He never received a penny and died in poverty in 1866 in London before his invention was adopted. It was ingenious. All it required was to saw off the back of the 1853 barrel and screw on the Snider breech. Ammunition gave some initial problems but was rapidly overcome.

Snider's continued in use for 60 years, and were entered in marksmanship contests up to 1920 in Canada and pre-war in Britain. They were issued to the Indian Army in 1875 after the British adopted the Martini-Henry; (Britian after the Mutiny always made sure Indian troops were one generation behind in rifles). They were instrumental in the Indian Army Abyssinian campaign.

[Linked Image from jpgbox.com]

Because of the ease of conversion, a lot of Reilly 1853 Enfields were converted to Sniders in the 1860's. Here are some Reilly Sniders which he numbered; he did not number guns unless he built them.

11651 - E.M. Reilly, Oxford St., London. .577 cal; Enfield type, percussion muzzle loader converted to Snider breech loader.

[Linked Image from jpgbox.com]

15239 - E.M. Reilly & Co. New Oxford St., London. .577. single barrel Snider Enfield.

[Linked Image from jpgbox.com]

16607 - E.M. Reilly (no address). .577. Rifle; Single barrel. Snider Enfleld.

[Linked Image from jpgbox.com]

XXXXX - .577 caliber Snider, Canadian gun. No Sn mentioned. Snider sporting rifle by Reilly of London (no full name/addreess mentioned).

[Linked Image from jpgbox.com]

Xxxxx - No SN mentioned. .750 caliber. African game gun labeled E.M. Reilly & Co., 502 New Oxford Street, London.

[Linked Image from jpgbox.com]

Last edited by Argo44; 09/07/21 04:13 PM.

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==================================================================================================================================
1868 Reilly Comblain


The 1866 Snider Enfield was regarded by the British Army only as a stop-gap breech loader until a fully dedicated breech loader could be developed and adopted. Also I believe Ordinance noted that the .577 bullet went sub-sonic after about 400 yards and this effected its accuracy at longer distances; they were interested in a smaller caliber, higher velocity cartridge (I'll let the Snider guys discuss this further). In 1867 Ordinance put out the call for a breech loader design - to be covered further in the Martini Henry section below:

In 1867 the Belgian firm Comblain took out a patent on a breech loader. The patent was described in “The Engineer” of May 15, 1868 on page 347. See this site: http://www.militaryrifles.com/Comblains/ComblainCart.htm; Patent No. 5480.

Reilly went into partnership with Comblain to try to market it to the Ordinance. The bid didn’t progress very far. Apparently the Army felt it was too similar to the Snider. The Comblain breech loader was adopted by Belgium and for 30 years by the Brazilian army. However, Reilly became the “sole manufacturers” of Comblain’s in Britain and his name is on at least seven of them that are extant. Most Reilly-Comblain have only the London address-it was a British army trials after all and having a Frenchy address would not have been a pluse; however one trial's gun has “Paris” stamped on the butt plate. Most of the early guns were proofed in Belgium - some have Birmingham proofs - and none of them have a Reilly Serial Number on them. One, however has “E.M.Reilly & Co., Sole Manufacturers, New Oxford St London just ahead of the breech:

Xxxxx. .577 Reilly-Comblain rifle, serial no. 32. Blued 30in barrel, block and blade fore-sight, ladder rear-sight, the nocksform signed 'E.M. REILLY & Co. RIFLE MANUFACTURERS, NEW OXFORD STREET, LONDON', lift up lever with horizontal bolt handle mounted to the right hand side lifting and drawing out the breech-block, the block signed 'REILLY-COMBLAIN PATENT No. 32', plain colour-hardened lock signed 'E.M. REILLY & Co. LONDON’.



Xxxxx. This rifle is stamped on the barrel ahead of the breach E.M.Reilley& Co Sole Manufacturers New Oxford st London on the lock plate E.M.Reilly & Co. London. Caliber is .577.



Xxxxx. Reilly Comblain rifle; 30”, barrel with Birmingham proofs "25", sabre bayonet lug and typical period Enfield sights; 5-groove rifling like the 1860 or '61 Short Rifles. Chambered for the .577 Snider round. Receiver ring stamped "E.M.REILLY & Co / SOLE MANUFACTURERS / NEW OXFORD STREET / LONDON" . Breechblock stamped "REILLY-COMBLAIN / PATENT No 5048". Butt is marked with a large 3" ink stamp "PATENTED BY E.M. REILLY & Co LONDON & PARIS".



Xxxxx. Fusil d'infanterie ŕ percussion centrale, modčle E. M. Reilly ; calibre 14,8 mm ; canon poli blanc, poinçonné et signé : "E. M. Reilly & C° Sole Manufacturers new Oxford Street London" ; culasse marquée : "Reilly Comblain patent n° 5298" ; platine avant polie blanc, marquée : "E M Reilly & C° London"



Xxxxx. .577 Snider, 20 1/2" barrel. The top of the action is engraved "H. HOLLAND / 98 NEW BOND ST. / LONDON", the lockplate is engraved simply "H. HOLLAND" and the breechblock is marked "REILLY-COMBLAIN / PATENT NO. / 125". A brass plaque affixed to the bottom of the stock beneath action is beautifully engraved "Reilly / Comblain / Patent / No. 25”. (Note 98 New Bond St. is the address of Holland & Holland.). (Also, since I can find no record of a Reilly-Comblain Patent 25 - Believe that this is the 25th gun produced on the Reilly Comblain patent? by H&H no less).


Last edited by Argo44; 09/27/18 10:01 AM.

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==================================================================================================================================
1871 Martini Henry:


This is the gun of the Zulu Wars, Rorke’s Drift, 2nd Campaign in Afghanistan. In Kabul I bought several Pashtun made copies of the 1853 Enfield, 1866 Snider Enfield, and both Mark I and Mark II variants of the Martini-Henry. Whenever anyone sees the guns together, they immediately go to the Martini Henry.



To begin the process on the next generation breech-loader, British War office held a prize competition in 1865 with a prize money of Ł5000 to select from weapon that used a smaller, higher velocity projectile than the .577” snider. The trials were to take place within the next two years, with an ultimate winner to be announced in 1869,

On June 11, 1867, the prize sub-committee of the OSC reported that 104 rifles had been submitted for examination. Of those, 37 were in compliance with the terms of the advertisement, 67 had not complied, and while ineligible for the competition were set aside for consideration on their own merits. Further consideration of the 37 complying rifles, resulted in the rejection of 28. The nine systems to be carried over for trial, and requiring six specimen arms were the Albini & Braendlin, the Burton No.1 and No. 2, the Fosbery, the Henry, the Joslyn, the Martini, the Peabody, and The Remington. (See the Reilly Comblain mentioned in the chronology below)

The Martini action coupled with a Henry barrel won out. (Frederic von Martini of Switzerland basically copied and improved on a design by American Henry Peabody.). On 13th April 1871 the orders were placed at the Royal Small Arms factory at Enfield for full scale production of the Martini Henry Rifle, between then and 1874 The Martini Henry was trialled throughout the Empire by various regiments, and finally on September 28th 1874 it was authorized for full issue to the British Army. (Mark I-IV variants).

Many companies made Martini-Henry clones including Greener.

17314 - E.M. Reilly & Co., Oxford Street, London. .577/.450. Rifle single barrel. First Reilly Martini SN (if it is his). You'll note the Martini patent on the left side of the receiver. Supposedly if a company wanted to build a Martini, they had to contact Enfield which would send over the parts. This Reilly if the SN is correct would be 1871 - just after the formal adoption of the Martini and its trial period. Perhaps this explains why it was serial numbered. I'll have to defer to the Martini experts and there are a number of excellent sites and experts out there. Edit: Subsequent post shows the first Reilly advertisement for a Martini-Henry to be December 1871. The Reilly SN Date List on P.17 below dates 17314 to very late 1871.





Xxxxx E.M. Reilly & Co, New Oxford Street, London & Rue Scribe, Paris; 52 on the bore means, that it is a .450 Cal. Bore. This fits with 11.6mm bore dia. Proof marks show Black Powder, possibly 3 1/4” cartridge length. This might be a 450, 3 1/4 BPE or a 500/450 BPE.



Xxxxx. E M Reilly 577/450 Martini. This gun came out of an estate of a gentleman who hunted in South Africa and Rhodesia in the 1960's and 70's. According to the estate manager the gun was purchased while gent was on a hunt to Rhodesia. This is a commercially built 577/450 Martini Henry by E M REILLY & CO, OXFORD ST, LONDON.



Xxxxx. Small framed .380 martini rook-rifle retailed by E.M. Reilly, 315 oxfordstreet , London.


Last edited by Argo44; 09/11/18 12:44 PM.

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===================================================================================================================================
1903-11 SMLE Enfield. (Lee Speed - sporterized version)


In 1879 the British Army began experimenting with magazine fed bolt-action rifles. This led to the adoption of the Lee-Medford in 1888 chambered for .303. It had problems especially with its single stack magazine. In 1892-5 this was fixed with the adoption of the Lee-Enfield aka “Long Lee”. I have one from Afghanistan. Lee-Medford continued in service for years. In 1907 or thereabouts the famous SMLE Enfield .303 was born, used by the British army and the empire for 50 years in both World Wars and by tribesmen from Yemen to Baluchistan.” (the history of the Lee-Medford/Enfields is so extensive that I'll let the experts talk further about it).

You don’t think of Reilly making a magazine fed high-powered modern rifle, Yet here it is. (The labels after 1898 did advertise "magazine rifles" - see trade label posts below). A sporterized SMLE Enfield - i.e. a Lee Speed... E.M.Reilly & Co., .375 X 2.5" nitro express. Patented tang safety. Full length file cut rib. Express and ladder sights. Scroll engraved on wrist strap action and trigger guard. Scope mounts fixed in past. Barrel address reads E.M. REILLY & CO. 295 OXFORD STREET LONDON. (i.e 1903-1911)

The .375 Nitro Express 2˝ inch Velopex , was a nitrocellulose (smokeless) powder cartridge introduced in 1899. A hunting cartridge produced for single-shot and double rifles, the .375 Flanged NE is a slightly longer version of the .303 British necked out to .375 caliber.



And Lee-Speeds were being sold by Reilly before the Enfield became the SMLE...these had to be Long Lees?

03 June 1893, "Volunteer Services Gazette"


By the way, did other prominent London gun makers maker similar guns?


Last edited by Argo44; 09/11/18 12:45 PM.

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===================================================================================================================================
1835-1912 Reilly Case-Trade label Analysis


A CASE FOR LABELS

I’ve looked at every Reilly case label I’ve been able to find and there is a case to be made that case labels can help dating a gun or at least understand what was going on in the company at the time. Of course case labels can be easily changed out; cases are relined;, replaced and an awful lot of sellers who have original case labels just don’t photograph the label.

Following are several different labels that look to have been used by Reilly from pre 1847 to 1903 (when they moved from 277 to 295 Oxford Street). I’ve tried to pick examples that were authentically original and not-surprisingly, some of these came out of pistol/revolver or air-cane cases - obviously those cases were left in hall-cupboards of the rich and weren’t being carted off into the woods in the rain. This compilation may not mean much, unless it does. And there are often some pretty neat inscriptions on original labels such as serial numbers, dates, prices, Sanskrit writing. Note: Most of the labels after 1848 which are probably authentic are rectangular with scolloped corners. I'm not ready to call every paper label without scollops "reproductions" but again most (not all) originals have that feature.

If anyone has other labels out there…photographs would be much appreciated, especially for the 1850’s era when those mysterious stamps appeared and now need to be interpreted (edit: Mystery SOLVED) and anything from about 1880-87 - the labels which reference royalty.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
.............Pre-1847 - J.C. Reilly, 316 High Holborn
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

1). Pre 1847; No gun serial number (Air Cane)
Comment: This label has the 316 High Holborn Address. Note that Reilly identifies himself as “Gun Maker.” The is the only existing 316 High Holborn label I've found.



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
.............1847 - Move to 502 New Oxford Street
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


May 1847. S/N 8463;
Rib: Reilly, New Oxford Street, London
Label: Joseph C.Reilly,
Gun Maker
502 Oxford Street;
Removed from Holborn



Nov/Dec 1847 S/N: 8578
Rib: J.C. Reilly, 502 New Oxford Street, London
Label: Joseph Charles Reilly,
Gun Maker
502 New Oxford Street London.
Removed from Holborn



1847 S/N: 7201
Rib: Joseph Charles Reilly, 502 New Oxford Street, London
Label: Joseph Charles Reilly,
Gun Maker
502 Oxford Street
Removed from Holborn
Comment: The “J.C. - 7000 series” with “Removed from Holborn.”



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
.............1848-C1855? Reilly, Gun Maker, 502 New Oxford Street
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This is the generic Reilly label after their move to 502 New Oxford Street: They were proud of this building and featured it on their labels. These labels were on guns and on air canes. It also probably reflects the business acumen of EM Reilly - his father used plain, almost business-card-like labels; this one is more professional.

Looks like French handwritten numbers on the label. 640 Piece francs or Pierre Freres? G9291210 (no idea what the number means - they look like numerals written in sub-continent style):



Air Cane label from same era.



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
.............C1855?-1859? Reilly, Gun Maker, 502 New Oxford Street with “stamps”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


At some point two stamps were added to the above label on either side of “London.” There are four examples of this. They refer to his having exhibited at the 1851 Crystal Palace industrial exposition in London and the 1855 Paris Universalle. If a gun has this label, and it is original...it is 1855-1859.

.............London 1851 Bronze Medal"..................................................Napoleon III prize from the 1855 Paris Universelle:



And there is a French phrase "Fusils a bascule" on the label which means "Center Break (breech loading) long guns" reflecting the impact Casimir Lefaucheux had at the 1851 Crystal Palace Exhibition. Lang put out the first British breech loader in 1853 on Lefracheux's system...upgraded...a pretty shameless invasion of a patent and by 1855, Reilly is advertising the guns (in French) along with "improved breech loaders," which may apply to other patents coming current at the time such as Prince's 1855 patent.

This first label below comes from an amazing four barrel muzzle loader made for the India Market probably in mid-1850's. It has "Exposition Medal London" and "Prize Medal Paris" . Sanscrit writing on the label...




Last edited by Argo44; 09/11/18 12:46 PM.

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+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
.............1859 - 1867; E.M Reilly; 502 New Oxford Street; internal border added
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"E.M." appeared on ribs and ads in Fall 1859; The branch at 315 Oxford Street was opened in January 1859. Yet the address on the labels for the most part featured only 502. Labels have corner scollops and an internal border. (see p. 19 for a more complete explanation)

1859? EM Reilly,
........Gun Manufacturers,
........New Oxford Street,
........London (Indian market)



The Sanskrit script reads .. Maharaj Pratap Singh ji Solarkar or Sarkar Palamau. Vaishak..(i.e April/May) Sudi 12 means 12 of April/ May..Sanwat 1937 means Hindu calendar Vikrami Sanwat 1937. that is 137 years old. 200 Silvers rupees paid to the seller along with some presentation. I.e. the gun was resold in India in 1880 for 200 silver rupees to Maharajah Pratap Singh ji, Sarkar (lord) of Palamau.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
.............1859-68 (502 but no 315 Oxford Street)”GUN MANUFACTURERS”; Internal border on paper labels
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

And Reilly began identifying himself as a "Gun Manufacturer" possibly as early as summer 1860.

1861 (Based on gun S/N) S/N: 12532
Rib: REILLY 502 NEW OXFORD STREET LONDON
Label: E.M. REILLY
…….…502 NEW OXFORD STREET
……….LONDON
Ornamental gold-wash gun and case made for Indian market



This is the generic label from 1859 to the French exposition in Paris of 1867. There are a dozen examples of this label in exactly the same configuration. There is only 502 Oxford Street on these labels yet S/N’s of the guns show they were numbered long after 315 Oxford Street was opened. "Fusil a Bascule" has become "Improved breech loaders...." - THIS IS THE GENERIC LABLE OF CHOICE FOR REPRODUCTIONS THESE DAYS. And it may have been revived circa 1879-circa 1885. (see below) but with internal borders.

1862 (based on gun S/N) S/N: 13599
Rib: E.M. Reilly & Co., 502 New Oxford Street, London
Label: E.M. Reilly & Co.
Gun Manufacturers
502 New Oxford Street
London
Large Assortment of Double Fowling Pieces, Double Rifles
Approved Breech Loaders on the Latest Approved Systems
No illustration, no medals; Sanskrit writing:



Tipping & Lawden Derringer from early 1860's with Sharp's patent.



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
.............1868 (502 and 315 Oxford Street and Medals won in Paris Summer 1867) GUN MANUFACTURERS - Internal border
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


This Air-Cane label is after the close of the Paris Exposition in July 1867 (and the awarding of the medals) and before the opening of Rue Scribe in Feb 1868. NOTE: This is in error - there is mention of "establishments" (plural) and a close inspection will show that 2 Rue Scribe on the right side of the label has been rubbed out - someone didn't much like the French.



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
.............1868-1872? (502, 315 Oxford Street, 2 Rue Scribe and Medals won in Paris Summer 1867) GUN MANUFACTURERS
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The generic label used by Reilly from 1868 upon the opening of Rue Scribe until he dropped the medals from his labels sometime in the 1870's. This label has the three addresses ("and 2, Rue Scribe...indicating it had just opened?), the medals won in Paris and the types of guns he makes and sells. This label is on at least 15 cases from the era.
-- About 1868 he placed on his newspaper and magazine advertisements "Fournisseurs Brevete de S.M L'Empereur" - i.e. Napoleon III. (There were two Reilly's discussed on this board 10 years ago which had been owned by Princesses Eugenie). Obviously N-III went into the dust-bin of history during the Franco-Prussian war two years later. There is no evidence of this hubris appearing on his labels, however. Of course Napoleon III abdicated after the defeat at Sedan in September 1870. Reilly still had the medals on his magazine and book advertisements in 1871, and mentioned the Emperor in an ad in an 1872 issue of Bradshaw. Nothing afterwards
-- In 1876 he added "King of Portugal" to his advertisements; and in 1881 King of Netherlands and King of Spain. The three "Kings" began to appear on labels about 1882?



Somebody wrote the price in Dollars - $260.00. Branch Establishment (singular); The "and" is dropped in front of Rue Scribe. 315 is missing.



Presentation case from 1871:



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
.............Circa 1872? - 1886? (502 and/or 315 Oxford Street with no Paris Medals; GUN MANUFACTURERS
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sometime in the early-mid-1870's he dropped the Paris medals from his labels. I'm wondering if this actually happened earlier - Napoleon III's face was on those medals and they might not have sat well with the 3rd French Republic when it was constituted in 1875. (per above, on advertisements the medals disappear after 1871 and references to the emperor disappear in 1872 (and that last advertisement in Bradshaw likely had been contracted for months before).

Anyway, there are fIVE examples below from guns numbered 20255 (c1875), 22423 (c1879) 25377 (c1884) and two from cases containing guns whose SN is unknown. It's interesting that some of these had 502 or 315 on them even after the numbering system on Oxford Street changed in December 1881. This label seemed to go on and on: Terry Buffum reported that his guns serial numbers 34221 & 34222 with the 16 New Oxford Street on the ribs has a case with the 315 Oxford Street address (likely relined many years ago). It may be this was the reprinted Reilly label of choice which might call into question its authenticity in some of the below cases... (by 1881 "Gun and Rifle Manufacturers" began to appear on his advertisements - not all, but a significant number. and he regularly used 16 and 277 rather than 502 and 315. So I could be persuaded to call the last four of the below labels, the ones without rue Scribe, "reprinted" even if some time ago - although with 5 old labels...that's sort of like trying to put the toothpaste back into the tube.

20255 - E.M, Reilly & Co., (address on rib not mentioned). 12 ga, Shotgun SxS top lever, hammer gun. 315 main address + 502 & Rue Scribe (no "Branch Establishments"). - This label appears authentic. (scollops but no internal border).



22423 (1879) - Oid label...no rue Scribe. This label looks to be from 1859-67. And it appears that Reilly from about 1872-86 used this old label often deleting Rue Scribe and 315?:


Last edited by Argo44; 12/16/18 11:35 AM.

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Unknown S/N: This has only 502 and no Rue Scribe like the above label. It looks like Reilly went back to the 1859-68 generic label often after 1872. The canvas covered case fits with advertisements from the era late 1870's-early 1880's; and the two below labels, one with a dated gun. (no scollops)



315 Oxford st with both 502 and Rue Scribe: 1872-1881: no scollops.



1884 (per gun Serial Number) S/N: 25711
Rib: E.M. REILLY & CO. NEW OXFORD ST. LONDON. AND 2. RUE SCRIBE. PARIS
Label: E.M. Reilly Co.
Gun Manufacturers
502, New Oxford Street
London
For: H. H. Maharana Shree Warhatsingji Loonawara -- Looks like a one-off special label - usually it would be inset into the velvet without a paper label -- or more likely a replace label and possibly case. - note: No scollops.



And another restored SxS in what the seller claims is an original case. Again E.M Reilly & Co..with only 502 and "Gun Manufacturers"...(this is a side-lever hammer gun; no S/N is given. The case looks a little new; perhaps relined years ago making the label a copy. (scollops)



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
.............1882 - 1886 (In Dec 1881 Oxford St. was renumbered. 502 became 277; 315 became 16. Labels still had “GUN MANUFACTURERS”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


His gun trade labels for the most part continued to use 502 or 315 though advertisements used both numbering systems and 277 and 16 became normal on gun ribs.

Label for a Tower Bulldog revolver made by Bentley before Webley took over the Tower trademark about 1882. Interesting - 16 Oxford street, 277 Oxford (post 1881) and rue Scribe (pre-1886). And it paradoxically has the medals from 1867 Universalle...this label can't logically exist in a normal world. (scollops) (except per follow-on post below, Reilly did occasionally use the Paris medals in both ads and trade labels up to 1886).



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
.............1880?? (502, 315 Oxford Street, Rue Scribe) “GUN AND RIFLE MANUFACTURERS”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sometime in the early 1880’s Reilly changed from “Gun manufacturers” to “Gun and Rifle Manufacturers.” In addition in late 1881, 502 was renumbered 277, 315 was renumbered 16. Yet labels and ads often kept the old address for a few years - which address was written on the ribs of guns produced post 1881 or on the labels seems to be haphazard.

(edit: I'm wondering if the addition of "Rifle Manufacturers" might have had something to do with this success in advertising: "Two prominent Victorians were associated with E.M. Reilly. Sir Samuel Baker used a pair of Reilly 10 bores and inspired by Baker, Frederick Courtney Selous took a Reilly 10 bore to Africa on his first venture there. Selous’ gun was stolen shortly after he arrived and so it is mentioned only ruefully, but Sir Samuel’s pair achieved fame through his books. Because Baker was a hero to the Victorians and his books sold well, the fact that he used Reilly guns was a good endorsement. See SN 30363), Number 1 of a pair. Also a lot of London gun makers switched to "Gun & Rifle Manufacturers" at this time.

A couple of labels from royalty cases one with “Gun and Rifle Manufacturers” on the other - only “Gun Manufacturers.”

1883 (per gun Serial Number) (but an 1880 - allegedly - case) S/N: 25161
Rib: E.M. REILLY & CO. NEW OXFORD ST. LONDON. AND 2. RUE SCRIBE. PARIS
Label: E.M. Reilly Co.
Gun and Rifle Manufacturers
502 New Oxford Street
London
(lowest line illegible)
Comment: The case lid exterior is mounted with an ornately carved and engraved frame, with central crowned monogram for Alfonso XII and brass banner pierced with 'CONCURSO DE TIRO DE 1880' (Shooting competition 1880). This is strange - The gun should have been serial numbered in 1883-4. The tale of the gun is a twisted one. Nevertheless, this might be the origin of Reilly’s claim to be a gun maker for H.M the King of Spain. The ad for the gun claims that, “By 1887 his trade labels have the additional acknowledgements of 'By special appointment to His Majesty the King of Spain; His Majesty the King of Portugal; His Majesty the King of the Netherlands.’ “ (this in fact began appearing on his advertisements much earlier - 1876 for King of Portugal; circa 1882 for King of Spain and King of Netherlands).



This label was added to S/N 10354 (1857) when it was redone in the 1880’s or early 1890's. The label is unique - Note “Gun and Rifle Manufacturers”...the 502 Oxford address, and the simplified curlicues seem to find a echo in the 1886 label below although the Font's are different. (no scollops)(internal border just visible).



The Capitol letters "G", "R", & "M" in this label are similar to those in H&H and Watson Bros from the same era: And by the way, label art is in a way addictive...this is a good site with a lot of reproductions and I noticed their descriptions of Reilly reproduction labels recently changed to add date periods...maybe the influence of this DGS line? https://www.peterdyson.co.uk/acatalog/TRADE_LABELS.html



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
.............Late 1870's-to 1886?? Unique label for 315 Oxford St. on Pistol cases? “Breech Loading Gun & Rifle Manufacturers"
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Label for a Webly&Scott revolver. EM Reilly 315 Oxford street. Breech Loading Gun & Rifle Manufacturers: (no internal border)



Identical label on another Webley Scott (no internal border):


Last edited by Argo44; 05/15/18 10:23 PM.

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+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
.............1884?-1890? (addition of references to royalty to labels) GUN AND RIFLE MANUFACTURES
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

In 1876 Reilly advertisements began mentioning making guns for the King of Portugal; by 1882 he'd added King of Netherlands (a quasi-maniac bully) and the King of Spain. 25161 (c1883) with a 1880 case for the King of Spain is one example; 25572 (c1884) with a rib inlaid with gold - E.M Reilly, London and Paris, “To their majesties the kings of Spain and Portugal” is another; (no internal border, no scollops)

1886 (per written note on label) S/N: 26584
Rib:
Label: E.M Reilly & Co.
wholesale and Retail
Gun and Rifle Manufacturers
16 New Oxford Street
London
Branch establishment: Rue Scribe, Paris
Comment: Gun is not extant; SN and date are written on the label. Crests of from left to right “by Special Appointment to H.M. King of Portugal”; “By Special Patent to H.M King of Netherlands”; “by Special Appointment to H.M. King of Spain”.



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
.............1890?-1898 (Rue Scribe closed 1886)(16 closed 1898) GUN MANUFACTURERS
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The post 1886 labels - possible 1890? the year EM died?) had 277 and 16 Oxford St. address, no rue Scribe, no mention of royalty, and reverted to calling the firm “Gun Manufacturers.” (no internal border)



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
.............1898-1903 (Rue Scribe closed 1886)(16 Oxford closed 1898)(move from 277 to 295 Oxford in 1903) GUN & RIFLE MAKERS
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Two empty ornamental cases: GUN AND RIFLE MAKERS (not manufacturers) and 277. It could be anytime from 1886-1903 (guns were not included with the cases). - (16 closed 1898; moved from 277 to 295 Oxford 1903) Note that on presentation cases the font hasn't changed since the first one posted above 1859.



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
.............1898-1911? GUN MANUFACTURERS (Air Cane)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

One final dramatic label from an air-cane. Cannot read it well but this one is odd. Did Reilly hire a circus poster illustrator for this label? (no internal border, no scollops). (edit: poscript post below shows this label was used 1898-1903 at 277, then at least once (with a handwritten scratch out of 277) at 295 Oxford street, post 1903).



I’ve found no labels with 295 Oxford Street (1903-1911) other than the below posted "carnival label" with 277 struck through and 295 written above it. Wouldn't mind seeing some of the post 1917 Riggs Reilly labels as well. Welcome additions. Oh yes...can anybody read Sanskrit?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
.............Modern reproductions
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


For comparison - here are two of today's generic reproduction labels - No scollops.
.........Label used 1859-1867 (& 1879-1886??)...............................................................Label used 1868 - 71/72?



And here is a reproduction label. I've never seen an original which doesn't mean anything except I haven't seen it. Reilly's shooting gallery was at 315 Oxford Street...it's mentioned in his advertisements. This label...for whatever gun it was made for - and it may be in fact an advertisement not a trade label - highlights 315. It still has "Fusils a Bascule" on it so I suspect the original to have been made very early after the opening of 315 - circa 1859 (if anyone knows of a gun with this trade label on the case, please let me know about the Reilly gun...this had to come from someplace...two firms are advertising it.):


Last edited by Argo44; 05/15/18 10:08 PM.

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===================================================================================================================================
1860 - Reilly and the Volunteers - Yoemanry


This article from an 1860 British publication on the rifles and the Volunteer rifle regiments. The several pages on Reilly's entry in the 1859 trials is historically interesting; Also the militia and home guard had to supply their own weapons and were far more experimental and forward looking than Ordinance.

https://books.google.com/books?id=gVIBAA...lly&f=false











===================================================================================================================================
1860 - 1893 - Reilly and the Volunteers - Yoemanry -2


Reilly sold wholesale to volunteer units...he advertised in the "Volunteer Services Gazette" every week for 30+ years. Here is an example.

14 Jan 1860, "Volunteer Services Gazette"


03 Jun 1993 - "Volunteer Services Gazette"

Last edited by Argo44; 09/11/18 01:05 PM.

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===================================================================================================================================
1904 - Reilly agent in Hong Kong


Here is a 1904 mention of Reilly and the 295 Oxford Street address in the Directory and Chronicle of China, Hong Kong, Macao, Corea, Eastern Siberia, etc. - there were agents in the Far East - Lane, Crawford and Co., Hong Kong. So rhere was a Reilly catalog. Somewhere someone has a Reilly Catalog.

https://books.google.com/books?id=WYxEAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA1125&lpg=PA1125&dq=catalogue+at+our+agents,+lane,+crawford&source=bl&ots=POUcdPKrI4&sig=7BI-h_EOrWvqKIYU0lyM25o3qYg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjEzejIiKLZAhXQct8KHR7lDcIQ6AEINjAB#v=onepage&q=catalogue%20at%20our%20agents%2C%20lane%2C%20crawford&f=false




Lane Crawford was founded in 1850 by two Scots In Hong Kong as a sort of Macyi's type buy it all store. It now is into luxury goods all over China. I may write to see if they still have that catalog in their records someplace. Or they might be in the British Library.

===================================================================================================================================
1869-1898 - Reilly agent in America


And here is the American Agent for Reilly for 15 years...Joseph C. Grubb of Philadelphia - ad at the time of the 1876 centennial exposition in Philadelphia:



And since I live near DC and have access to Library of Congress - it just might have some of the Reilly Catalogs..or at least a Grubb one.see below:

"Manufacturers' trade catalogs are a source of much valuable and useful information for those interested in various decorative arts history, the history of design, and trends of various industries. Catalogs chronicle the development of different styles and tastes of the public and can be used to identify articles as well as to provide information on specifications, prices, and types of material used in construction. For the most part, however, trade catalogs have not fared well in libraries. Because of the catalogs' size and frequency of issue, many libraries are unable or reluctant to collect them. For those libraries that are interested, trade catalogs often are very difficult to obtain.
Fortunately, the Library of Congress has a representative collection of trade catalogs that are dispersed throughout the general collections. But because they are listed in the card catalog under many different headings, users interested in accessing them must resort to several strategies in order to find them.

This guide has been prepared to assist those users. The emphasis is on catalogs of 19th and early 20th century American craftsmen and manufacturers. There is a short bibliography on the history of manufacturing in the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries listing useful sources of information on a particular type of manufacture or on manufactures in a particular geographical area. Also listed are some catalogs from the Library of Congress collections for the following types of manufactures: furniture, silver, glassware, and pottery.

Of the sources listed in this guide, almost all are part of the general collections and are either on reference in the Main Reading Room or need to be requested from the stacks. The microform collections are to be requested in the Microform Reading Room. If you need assistance in locating the catalogs included in this guide, please consult a reference librarian."

Last edited by Argo44; 09/11/18 01:08 PM.

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