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This is a very rare mechanism. The hammers are flat nose or noseless. The strikers are retractable with the cocking of the hammers. This gun could be considered a "false hammerless" design. The firing pins are connected internally to the cocking rods on the exterior of the action, which are in turn connected to slots via the anterior portion of the hammers. Very ingenious and another way to invent the mousetrap!


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Cocking indicators...Geo

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EDIT: This chart doesn't work....there's another marker that I didn't account for, Nov 1881 when the numbering of Oxford St. changed. 1st SN with 277 or 16 was 23816. I can't make that number fit into Nov 1881 very easily without skyrocketing the number of Reilly's built in the following 5 years. I've sent Terry a message ask about 27854 and 27570 and how confident he is in a Paris address being on either rib or barrel. The chart will be edited asap.

Here are the latest estimates of the dates of Reilly SN's guns taking into account 12boreman's 14983 rue Scribe rib and Terry Buffum's 27854 with "a Paris address" (I haven't seen 27854's rib photos; Terry is pretty meticulous about his guns so we'll assume this is the new end-number for rue Scribe). To repeat the above caveats: there are assumptions:

1). 1825 was chosen as a start date and gun SN "1". Both assumptions are not proven. Allegedly Reilly became a member of the London Proof House in 1825, the reason for choosing this date. The earliest gun SN found is 162. Thus the reasoning for starting at "1".

2) The number of SN'd guns produced between marker dates was estimated and an effort was made to make increases logical. That's also is not hard and fast data but subjective reasoning. For instance after the 1855 Paris Universelle, he was "overdone by orders" but I've only shown an increase in gun production of about 20.

3). I had a problem in the 1859-67 era, where, if we were to accept 13333 as having been made in early 1862 it would have meant he produced 600 guns from 1859-62, but 360 62-67, so I used the average for the whole period and smoothed it out so that there was not sudden jumps in production. (This turned out to be correct; 13333 was made in circa May 1864 when Reilly had the manufacturing rights to Green.)

4) I assumed the decline of Reilly was pretty sharp beginning in the mid 1890's - it of course could have been earlier or later but without analysis of proof marks from a number of guns SN's 32000-35000 is impossible to say objectively; the marking of this decline is therefore subjective based on lack of ads and closing of 16 Oxford St. in 1898. (I assumed 16 Oxford, the larger building, was their largest finishing facility; 277 had the shooting gallery. Without enough orders to keep both open, closing 16 would seem logical).

Again, Reilly targeted a specific sector of the market for his bespoke serial numbered guns - low price, quality hand-made wares, rapidly delivered; as the factories went towards mass production and steel barrels, and you could walk into a sporting gun shop and buy factory made guns off the rack, his business model just couldn't hold up.

The reasoning and research behind these numbers and a chart of history, names on gun ribs, case/trade labels, etc. will be a separate post below.

This chart of course cannot be definitive; but enough checks have come in to show that it will get a Reilly owner close to the date his gun was Serial Numbered.

(DELETED - See below for latest)

Last edited by Argo44; 10/12/18 11:10 AM.

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Chart is out of date....see p. 33.

Last edited by Argo44; 12/15/19 09:24 PM.

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This is out of date: Latest version is p. 33

There are a lot of erroneous Reilly history-summaries published by auction houses and on double-gun historical sites. I can't really fault the inaccuracies on lack of historical scholarship because there was just so little information available in the 1990's early 2000's when Brown published his book on English gun-makers with incomplete information and others then copied the published research in magazine articles or on the internet. These became the references that others quoted. It led to bad information being verified by "circular reporting."

So, here is an updated short history of Reilly which can be used from now on and hits the most relevant high-points. Admittedly there may be some inaccuracies; research will continue; more guns will appear. Where there are questions, I've used best guesses but fudged by using conditionals ("about," "circa," "probably," etc.). Trust me though - these are pretty good guesses. This will provide the essence of Reilly's history as gun-makers. The convoluted story of the family has been largely left out - it'll be addressed later. A complete historical justification of the below will be a separate (and last) post - most of it has already been mentioned in previous posts on this line.

====================== A New, Short History of Reilly of London, Gun Maker =======================

Joseph Charles Reilly was born in Ireland in 1786. He hailed from a well-to-do family and aspired to become a lawyer. In the mid-1800's he went to London to study; However, instead of law school, in 1814 he opened a jewelry shop, later described as also dealing in silver-plate, at 12 Middle Row, Holborn hard by the inns of the court where his clientele included country gentlemen and barristers. In 1817 his son Edward Michael was born, the third of four children. He prospered, buying a country estate in Bedfordshire in 1824.

Jewelry shops in London at the time often dealt in guns, engraving them and re-selling them. By 1825 he was a member of the Worshipful Company of Gun Makers (the London Proof House) and around this time numbered his first Reilly built gun which presumably was 001. (The oldest extant Reilly is SN 162). His guns during this period often displayed the address “Holborn Bars.” The serial number guns included pistols, rifles and shotguns.

JC Reilly early on adopted a business model which did not change for 80 years: i.e. provide a quality hand-made product for a moderate price and deliver it rapidly. With this model he undercut more expensive and better known makers and made his profit on volume.

Reilly dealt in used guns taken on trade and sold guns under license. However he did not serial number guns he did not build and he numbered his guns consecutively for 90 years with certain exceptions during the move to New Oxford Street in 1847. Reilly had extensive finishing facilities in his large London buildings and may have stockpiled actions and barrels imported in the white from Birmingham to allow him to meet orders three times as quickly as his competitors.

By 1833 all references to “jeweler” or "silver-plate" vanished from his advertisements and from that time forward he identified himself solely as “Gun-Maker.”

In August 1835 JC Reilly with EM as an apprentice moved to 316 High Holborn Street. The first serial numbered extant gun with the High Holborn address is SN 1024. By circa 1837 pistols were no longer numbered in the Reilly chronological numbering system; His serial numbered guns seemed to be limited to bespoke long-guns made to order.

In August 1840 the firm’s name in advertisements changed from J.C. Reilly to just “Reilly” which may mark the advent of 23 year old EM as a full partner in the company. The names on the gun ribs continued to be “J.C. Reilly" or "Joseph Charles Reilly.” Case/Trade labels were styled like an embossed business card with "Joseph Charles Reilly," "Gun Maker," and the High Holborn address.

JC Reilly during this period also became known for his air cane guns. Young EM was billed as the expert and was so mentioned In advertisements, identified as “Reilly Junr." In 1847 or early 1848 EM wrote a widely disseminated pamphlet on air guns (mostly an advertising brochure highlighting the company's ability to produce all sorts of air-guns and parts) which is cited to this day. The pamphlet title page noted the author was "Reilly junr," used the 502 New Oxford Street address and included "removed from Holborn.".

In March 1847 Reilly moved to 502 New Oxford street, a large building In the "Elizabethean" area. The last extant guns with High Holborn on the ribs are 3392 and 3402. At this point the main serial number chronology for Reilly long-guns was jumped up 5000 numbers to begin anew at 8400 probably with production supervised by EM Reilly. The name on the gun ribs was “Reilly.” (And with this move, Reilly demonstrated another trait of his business acumen, i.e. "Location, Location, Location." He always chose prestigious, high-traffic locations for his stores.)

The first extant SN’d gun with "Reilly," and 502 New Oxford Street on the rib is SN 8463; the label notes the firm had “removed from Holborn." (There is a SN 8578 with J.C. Reilly, 502 New Oxford Street on the rib with an apparently original case label with Joseph Charles Reilly, the Oxford St. address and "removed from holborn," possibly one of the last such guns in the new 8400 series.)

Soon after the move, the trade label changed to the name "Reilly, Gun Maker" and featured a sketch of the estimated 20,000 sq foot building at 502 New Oxford Street. Note: From 1848-1859 long guns and hand guns can be found with “Edward M.” Or “Edward Michael” on their ribs; these, however, were not built by Reilly - they were only engraved and marketed.

Around the time of this move and the change in the main serial number chronology, J.C. Reilly appears to have kept a series of numbers for himself beginning at SN 7000 and ending around 8100 when he retired in 1857. JC Reilly often (but not always) put his full name on the ribs of these serial numbers per his 27+ year tradition but with the 502 New Oxford Street address; yet the trade/case labels with "Reilly" as the firm's name and the advertisements/publicity remained the same for both number series.

The first extant SN’d gun in the JC “7000” series is 7201 (a SN 7021 exists but with the High Holborn address possibly indicating the Reillys split their numbering system a bit before the move to 502 New Oxford Street); the last (no doubt made in 1857) is 8052. There is one outlier 3514, with "Reilly" and the New Oxford Street address on the rib, apparently made (per the trade label in the case) after 1855, a number which harkens back to High Holborn, illustrating the sometime quirkiness of JC Reilly.

Reilly exhibited at the 1851 Crystal Palace International Exposition (as Edward M. Reilly) were he was much taken by the Casimir Lefaucheaux center-break guns. Reilly, Lang and Blanch became the major advocates for these new types of guns in England. Advertisements show that Reilly had a 300 yard shooting range somewhere near his London establishment (possibly at JC's estate in Bedfordshire).

Reilly also exhibited at the 1855 Paris Universelle Exposition, where he received much acclaim and "many orders were booked." The exhibit was in the name of E.M Reilly; however, advertisements make clear that though EM won the medals, the firm was still "Reilly, Gun Maker." Reilly case labels changed after 1855 to illustrate the 1851 and 1855 medals and to highlight “Fusils a Bascule” (French for center-break guns) and other breech loaders (such as Prince Patent guns which he marketed and promoted).

In September 1857 JC Reilly retired to his country estates at Bourn End, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, where he died a wealthy man in January 1864; his last guns in the "7000" series were engraved with Caesar's words "Veni, Vidi, Vici" possibly as his swan song story of his life. "Formerly Gun-Marker, London" is chiseled on his tombstone.

In January 1859 with new partners (unknown) he opened a branch store in a large building at 315 Oxford Street (early on also referred to as "the Armoury House" - (Salvation Army hall was located behind the building) which had a 50 yard shooting gallery.

Later that year around September 1859 the company’s name was changed to E.M. Reilly & Co, a name which continued in use until bankruptcy in 1912. His labels changed to reflect the new name, "E.M. Reilly, Gun Maker." The first extant serial numbered gun with E.M. Reilly on the rib is SN 11115.

A year later In circa August 1860 the company description on labels and in advertisements was changed from “Gun Makers” to “Gun Manufacturers” and probably at that time hthe sketch of 502 New Oxford Street was dropped from his case labels.

In 1862 Reilly showed at the London International exposition and won a medal for an exhibit which included a gold washed 12 bore shotgun which may still exist (SN 12532).

From at least the 1840’s the Reilly’s tried mightily to win a lucrative military contract from the British government. JC Reilly exhibited brass mortars in 1845. EM Reilly promoted the Prince patent breech loader in the late 1850’s. He worked with the Green brothers to win a contract for their patent breech loader, to which he had manufacturing rights, in the early 1860’s (competing against the Snider which won out). He put forward the Comblain breech loader from Belgium, to which he gained patent rights in England, in 1868-70 (competing against trial guns such as the Martini and the Henry, a combination of which was adopted). And, he patented an explosive bullet in 1869, a sort of early M-79 idea. However, he failed to obtain a government contract.

Reilly did sell and engrave British military guns - Enfields, Snider's, Martini's and later Lee-Speeds; He hawked these guns to the Volunteer Militia at wholesale prices, versions of them to Military personnel going abroad and to big-game hunters for 50 years. But, unless he built them himself he did not serial number these guns.

EM Reilly always seemed to be enamored with Paris and as the 1867 Paris Universelle exposition approached, he meticulously prepared an exhibit that was extensively lauded. It won him gold and silver medals, led him to became a “gun maker” for Napoleon III, and in February 1868 to open a branch office (EM Reilly & Cie.) at 2 rue Scribe, Paris where orders for his guns could be taken. This branch office remained open for the next 17 years. The first extant gun with 2 rue Scribe on the rib is 14983.

His case labels changed at this time to feature the two medals won at the 1867 World’s Fair and often (but not always) mentioned both branch addresses. Two and a half years later after the battle of Sedan Napoleon III fell from power; the medals disappeared from Reilly’s case labels yet continued occasionally to resurface on both labels and in advertisements for the next 15 years. (Reilly attempted to sell 6,000 Chassepot rifles to the new French Republic and was also prosecuted for attempting to smuggle 2,000 shells to his rue Scribe Address in Fall 1870, a violation of UK neutrality in the conflict).

In 1876 Reilly labels and publicity began advertising a connection to the King of Portugal and by 1882 to the Kings of Spain and The Netherlands. Also around 1876 he changed the description of the company in ads to "Gun and Rifle Manufacturers" (as did many other English gun makers). This description was sometimes but not always used on his trade/case labels for the next 15 years.

In addition from as early as 1868 Reilly had evinced an interest in penetrating the American market. He acquired an American agent, had his guns advertised in mail order catalogs, and exhibited at the 1876 Philadelphia centennial along side very high-standard British guns such as Purdey, and won a medal.

Reilly again exhibited at the 1878 Paris exposition and again won medals. By 1880 Reilly sold a third more - soon to be twice as many - serial numbered, hand made bespoke guns than both Holland and Holland and Purdey combined, this in addition to a very active business in guns sold under license from well known gun makers including revolvers (Trantor, Baumont-Adams, Walker, etc), rook rifles, repeating rifles (Sharps, Winchester, etc.), as well as merchandising every type of gun accoutrement - reloaders, cartridges, shells, cases, etc. and sustaining a huge business in previously owned guns.

In November 1881 Oxford Street was renumbered; ”502” became “16 New Oxford Street” and “315” becoming “277 Oxford Street.” The first extant gun with either of the new addresses on the ribs is SN 23816. (In spite of the formal change in numbering, the old numbers occasionally appeared in Reilly ads and on gun ribs for the next couple of years).

Reilly’s business was booming and bespoke gun production topped 900 a year. He exhibited at the 1882 Calcutta fair (a British Empire only affair) and won a medal and was highly praised for his exhibit at the 1885 London International Inventions Exposition where he again won medals. Reilly guns dominated live pigeon shooting contests throughout the 1880’s and big game hunters in Africa used his guns and advertised the results (including Henry Morton Stanley, the Welsh-American and perhaps the most famous of all African explorers).

In July 1885 rue Scribe was closed. The reasons for this are not known - hand made guns were being sold at a very high rate; it may have had to do with the departure of a long-time partner (possibly a M. Poirat). The last extant SN’d gun with rue Scribe on the rib is 27340 (there are two guns with later serial numbers which may have Paris on their barrels). Note: Allegedly at some point in the 1880’s Reilly opened a branch establishment at 29 Rue du Faubourg, St Honore. This has not been confirmed; no guns with this address on the rib have been found; the only advertisement with this address appeared in Jan 1886 touting a win by an Italian at a Monte Carlo pigeon shoot).

Reilly exhibited at the 1889 Paris World's Fair, the “Tour Eiffel" Exposition Universalle, and may have won a silver medal. However, by this time advertisements for Reilly guns had significantly declined and he did not publicize the medals if he won them. A nasty law-suit on easement limitations to the Salavation Army Hall behind his establishment at 277 Oxford Street was litigated. The fact is, something changed with the firm after 1886; Reilly's guns regularly won competitions and were given as prizes; but the company just gradually disappeared from mass-media print.

In July 1890 EM Reilly passed away. Reilly's sons Herbert H. and Charles A. were young. His wife Mary was in her 40's. Business was still lively. Who ran the company during these years is not known though widows did successfully manage companies in England at the time after the deaths of their husbands. By 1894 Reilly guns were no longer being mentioned as winners in Pigeon shoots; Reilly victories and promotional donations of guns as prizes had been a prominent feature in London papers for 25 years. His oldest son Edward Montagu "gun maker," who was involved with the company in some way, died in 1895.

In 1898 the company closed 16 New Oxford Street where it had been located for 50 years; 277 Oxford Street remained open. Bespoke guns continued to be sold in the early 1890’s at a goodly clip but as the decade advanced, and factory mass produced guns with steel barrels began to compete with Damascus, the demand for these hand-made and measured guns in a middling cost category seemed to decline.

Reilly advertisements in mass media, an almost daily occurrence in the London press since 1833, declined markedly as the 90's progressed. In response, with sales diminishing, closing the finishing facilities at 16 New Oxford street while retaining the shooting gallery and smaller sales and manufacturing spaces at 277 Oxford Street would seem to have been logical.

The last extant SN’d gun from 16 New Oxford Street is 34723. After 1898 the trade/case labels changed to reflect the marketing of magazine guns and advertised the medals won in 1876 (Philadelphia), 1878 (Paris), and 1885 (London). On his presentation cases, the company description changed back to "gun and rifle makers" although the company was still "Gun and Rifle Manufacturers" in phone and business directories.

In 1903 the Company vacated 277 Oxford Street where they had been quartered for 44 years while the building was being renovated and moved 300 yards down the street to 295 Oxford Street. The company apparently was run by Herbert H. (Bert) Reilly and Charles A. Reilly, EM Reilly’s sons. The first extant gun with 295 Oxford Street on the rib is 35422. The company remained at 295 until bankruptcy was declared on 06 June 1912. The last extant gun with 295 on the rib is 35678.

Bert Reilly opened a small gun shop, E.M Reilly & Co., at 13 High Street, Marylebone in 1912 after the bankruptcy. No advertisements can be found for the shop though per London postal address, telephone and business directories they identified themselves as "gunmakers." No guns with this address on the rib have been found. The date of its closure is not noted although it is listed in London telephone directories up to 1919 and in business directories to 1921.

In August 1922 The Reilly name was bought by a sporting goods dealer named Charles Riggs (most Reilly history summaries put the date of purchase as 1917; this is belied by the dates of newspaper advertising). Riggs apparently decided he could use the name to promote his premium line of guns (possibly built by BSA). Whether a Reilly had any say in the design of these Riggs-Reilly guns is unknown. Riggs remained in business until 1966. His “Reilly named” promotion guns have six-digit serial numbers and appear to begin at around 130000. A Riggs "Reilly" with a serial number in the 150000’s is known to exist. It is doubtful that all these Serial Numbers were "Reilly named" premium products.

The Reilly's sold all types of guns in various qualities using all types of actions. Reilly serial numbered about 33,000 guns from circa 1825 to 1912, all built by them. The guns that they made had an artistic elegance and balance, which is unmistakable. they were one of the first to use highly figured French walnut for their stocks and their engraving, for the most part floral scroll work, was consistently classy. Reilly's best guns were as good as those produced anywhere in England at the time.

Gene Williams, June 11, 2018

Last edited by Argo44; 12/15/19 09:25 PM.

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Here's adding another E. M. Reilly gun to the mix, a double-barrelled 12-bore pinfire gun serial number 14672, with 30 in. barrels marked "E. M. Reilly & Co Oxford Street London" on the top rib. The plain back-action locks are marked "E. M. Reilly & Co London". The gun has very plain hammers and minor border engraving only. It is a very well-made but unadorned gun.

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Thanks Steve, I'll be updating the summary page on all the SN'd guns I've got, last posted about six months ago, in a few weeks adding about 25 guns and adding stuff to the history sections...it'll be part of the historical justification for the above "New Short History of Reilly." 14672 should be 1867 per above.

Photos would be appreciated and enjoyed.

Last edited by Argo44; 08/25/18 07:44 PM.

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Originally Posted By: Argo44
Thanks Steve, I'll be updating the summary page on all the SN'd guns I've got, last posted about six months ago, in a few weeks adding about 25 guns and adding stuff to the history sections...it'll be part of the historical justification for the above "New Short History of Reilly." 14672 should be 1867 per above.

Photos would be appreciated and enjoyed.


I'll try and post photos soon.

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Just for comparison sake, here are a few comments on Reilly from the internet - auction houses, gun experts, etc. over the past 15 years. If you've followed this line, you'll note the obvious and repeated errors of fact in every one of them.

They're posted anonymously; I don't want to smear anyone; just to illustrate the difference between the then current widely accepted knowledge about Reilly and the above new short history. This includes Brown (though admittedly Brown didn't have much to go on at the time he wrote the book).

By the way trw999 had by far and away the best summary of the Reilly's on the internet at the time and I used his compilation as a starting point for my own research. http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=333352

Looking at actual gun serial numbers and ribs was a key starting point to researching the company and the two men; I hope this line has reestablished the history of a forgotten important London gun maker and brought their names out of the shadows.

========================================

Other Notes: Joseph Charles Reilly started business as a jeweller at 12 Middle Row, Holborn in 1816 (when his son Edward Michael Reilly was born) but, as was common in those days, he also sold guns. In 1832 Edward joined him in the business and by 1835 they were trading together as gunmakers at 316 High Holborn, moving regularly over the years before separating. Edward began trading on his own account as 'E. M. Reilly & Co' in 1869. As well as the London shop, Reilly also opened premises in Paris and, in 1898, upon the death of his father, Edward inherited that business. In 1911, probably on the retirement or death of Edward Reilly, the firm became a limited liability company and in 1912 they moved to 13 High Street, Marylebone. Reilly guns are generally of high quality and many are of the very best quality. The firm made a wide range of guns for the game and live-pigeon shooter and since the firm traded throughout the most inventive period of gunmaking history, the variety of Reilly guns encountered is wide.

===========================================

According to Nigel Brown's "British Gunmakers" , E.M. Reilly produced shotguns from around 1881 until at least 1916 in London in two locations and also had a retail store front on the Rue Scribe in Paris.

Reilly functioned in a similar fashion as did Scott, Webley and other London makers of the time in that his work was evenly divided between retail sales and also wholesale manufacture "to the trade". It appears that he made guns for several famous London makers who in turn marked his products with their Company names.

Reilly made weapons in several grades from pure field utilitarian (very plain) to extra fancy (heavy scroll engraving, cased, burl walnut grain stocks). Depending on the form and condition, the standard models retail from $325 to $450 and the higher grades up to $2,500 with collectors.

==========================================

Joseph Charles Reilly set up as a jeweler in 1816, and went into the gun business in 1835. His son Edward Michael joined him in 1848 and was well established by the time that breech-loading guns became popular. It is more than probable that E M Reilly built no guns himself but he contracted with the very best makers including at least WR and Thomas Turner, and he marketed their excellent guns under his own name, E. M. Reilly and Company since 1882. Reilly did well enough that for some years he maintained a shop in Paris as well. In an 1887 advertisement Reilly claimed to be gunmaker “By special appointment to His Majesty the King of Spain; His Majesty the King of Portugal; His Majesty the King of the Netherlands.” 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.

==========================================

J.C.Reilly se establece con taller de joyería en 1816, en Holborn, mudandose en 1835 a 316 High Holborn. En 1848 su hijo Edmund M. Reilly, comienza a producir las primeras armas, mudando la firma a Londres, donde se establece en 1848, en 502 Oxford St. y posteriormente en 1903, al definitivo 277 y 295 de Oxford Street.
Podemos asegurar que entre 1915 y 1920,

Reilly fabrica algunas de las escopetas y rifles mas finos que podemos encontrar en Inglaterra.

Sus armas destacan por su extraordinario ajuste, la precisión relojera de su construcción, la calidad de los materiales, su seleccion de maderas y sus grabados, especialmente los tipo Scroll, de los que son verdaderos maestros en una época que podemos considerar de oro entre los grabadores ingleses. Alrededor de 1920 la firma es adquirida por Charles Rigss y desaparece la marca.

============================================

Other Notes: In 1867 E. M. Reilly & Co were awarded a Prize Medal at the Paris Exhibition and in 1869 opened up a premises in Paris as E. M. Reilly et Cie at 2 Rue Scribe, Paris. It was here they gained the appointment as gun maker to Napoleon III. This shop closed in 1872 and it wouldn't be until 1884 that a second premises was opened at 29 Rue du Faubourg, St Honore.

Holt's 'Shooting Calendar' for the year 1883 reported the number of wins at live pigeon shooting competitions by London made guns as: Reilly 82, Purdey 55, Lang 48, Grant 40, Hodges 34 and Holland 8.

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.'

=============================================

Our Assessment: Starting as a jeweler in 1816 and later transforming into a gun making outfit in 1835 the Reilly company had an eye for detail and precision craftsmanship. In 1880, E.M. Reilly & CO was successful enough to open and keep a shop in Paris. In 1882, their trade label shows 315 Oxford Street as the main address with the Rue Scribe, Paris location also listed such as the markings found on the rib of this shotgun. As quoted from The Reilly Factor by John Campbell, “So what makes a Reilly gun so special? Well, for me, it’s the overall craftsmanship and precision they embody. Like the more famous names such as Purdey and Holland & Holland, a Reilly is almost always beautifully proportioned and fitted with the finest of English walnut stocks. The locks and metal fits are precisely achieved and beautifully polished and fit. And Reilly engraving is not only classically English, it is flawlessly executed. Even in its more simple expositions.”

============================================

REILLY
Edward Michael Son of Joseph Charles. Gunmaker with father, 1841 Census (age 24). Airgun maker, 502 Oxford Street, 1848-60. Published a Treatise on Air Guns, c 1850. Granted British Patent No. 1259 (Explosive bullet), 1869. Became E.M. Reilly & Co., 1861. Developed in wholesale gun makers, in business until 1917. 

Joseph Charles Jeweller, 12 Middle Row, Holborn, 1816-35. Gunmaker, 316 High Holborn, 1835-47; 502 Oxford Street, 1848-58. Became Reilly & Co., 315 Oxford Street., 1859. re-numbered 277 Oxford Street, 1881; taken over by E.M. Reilly & Co., 1899. 

============================================

Reilly made or marked shotguns from the late percussion era (say 1860) through about 1915. I've seen many hammer guns, fewer hammerless, but both side lock and box lock. Their name also appears on handguns and rifles.\n. \nQuality seems to be higher than average, with most guns showing good engraving and better than average wood. Most barrels are damascus, but I've seen Whitworth, and many have been "tubed" in the modern era.\n. \nGenerally nice pieces

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E.M. Reilly & Co.

Edward Michael Reilly was a London gunmaker born 1816 who entered his father’s business in 1848. By 1861 the firm was called Edward M. Reilly & Co., which later evolved into E.M Reilly & Co. The firm was located in Oxford Street throughout its existence, but the numbers changed sometimes because the firm moved and sometimes because the buildings were renumbered.

For awhile in the 1880’s, the firm had an outlet on Rue Scribe in Paris - an indication of how successful the company was.

Although it was not a household name E.M Reilly was well respected and its products were used by two of the most famous hunters of the Victorian age Sir Samuel Baker and Frederick Courteney Selous. Baker used a pair of E.M. Reilly 10 bores to back up his monstrous “Baby”; Reading of this and seeking seeking to emulate the much admired Baker, Selous took a Reilly 12 bore with him on his first venture to Africa but the gun was stolen shortly after he landed.

E.M. Reilly lasted until 1917 when it was bought out by Charles Riggs & Co., which sold shooting accessories. The Reilly name disappeared from gun making.

Reilly is known to have made hammer guns and boxlocks most of which were probably made in Birmingham and finished at the shop in London. Its boxlocks ranged from very basic to genuine bests.

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I've been doing some internet research on Reilly. There is dispute as to whether the E.M. Reilly Company were manufacturers or retailers only. They were active and lasted in one form or another for almost 60 years, from the early 1840's well into the 1890's. They exhibited their Guns, Shotguns and Rifles in numerous Exhibitions, and seemed to specialize in double barreled weapons. Notably for large game .."Elephants, Tigers and Bison." They were early proponents of the breech loader, and sponsored a competition in which they equaled the best muzzle loaders of the day.
Their earliest shop was at 502 New Oxford Street in London.

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1848-1860: EDWARD MICHAEL REILLY (b.1816, son of J.C. Reilly q.v.) , gunmaker, worked with father 1841; air gun maker 502 Oxford Street,
1861-1868: EDWARD M. REILLY & CO., s.a. 1861-1869;
1870-1874: 502 and 315 Oxford Street,1870-1874;
1875-1882: 502 Oxford Street only 1875-1882;
1883-1898: 10 New Oxford Street 1883-1898;
1899: succeeded to business of REILLY & CO., q.v. 1899;
277 Oxford Street (315 renumbered 1881), t.a. E.M. REILLY CO., 1901-1902………

British Gunmakers, Nigel Brown Volume One - London. Your beautiful cased Reilly brought 2,800 GBP exclusive of Buyer's Premium at Holt's December, 1977 Main Sale. You gun was made between 1883-1898 as he was at the New Oxford Street address during those years.

"In 1859 J C Reilly became Reilly & Co and moved to 315 Oxford Street (later named "Armoury House"), Joseph Manton's old premises and next door to James Purdey. E M Reilly stayed at 502 New Oxford Street. In 1860 Edward M Reilly became Edward M Reilly & Co.

From 1870 to 1874 E M Reilly & Co traded from both 502 New Oxford Street and 315 Oxford Street, and in 1869 Edward started trading as E M Reilly et Cie at 2 Rue Scribe, Paris; reportedly, this shop closed in 1872.

From 1875 to 1882 E M Reilly traded only from 502 Oxford Street leaving J C Reilly on his own at 315 Oxford Street. In 1881 315 Oxford Street was re-numbered 277 Oxford Street (James Purdey ocupied 314-315 Oxford Street which, possibly because of sub-division and re-arrangement of the shopfronts/building, he called 314 1/2, it became 287-289).

The re-numbering of Oxford Street included No. 502 New Oxford Street which was re-numbered to 16 New Oxford Street.

At some time between 1884 and 1898 E M Reilly opened another shop in Paris, this time at 29 Rue du Faubourg, St Honore. When it closed is not known. In 1898, on the death of his father, Edward inherited his father's business and closed at 16 New Oxford Street.”

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Volume 3 of Nigel Brown's BRITISH GUNMAKERS - (courtesy of Lagopus.)

REILLY EDWARD MICHAEL/& Co/REILLY JOSEPH CHARLES. E.M. Reilly was the son of Joseph and took over the business in 1899 having been separated in business on his own account since 1848. Since it looks as though Edward may have continued his father’s numbering system at least initially, I have therefore tabulated both their records together. E.M Reilly was last recorded as such in 1917 but Charles Riggs & Co., who set up in 1909, started advertising himself as Charles Riggs & Co. (incorporating E.M. Reilly & co., Est. 100 years) c.1942 and from the look of the last Reilly gun noted he may well have been using the name a little before that. Reilly put out a large number of guns as can be seen from the Nos. noted - not all of which are listed. There was a Paris branch in the Rue Scribe certainly in the 1870’s and 1880’s.

Followed by a list of guns with numbers and dates starting with c.1840 No. 254, a percussion pistol, and ending in 1936/7 with number 150570.



Last edited by Argo44; 10/12/18 11:18 AM.

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I made a resolution to post nothing more about Reilly except for the extensive historical justification for the above short history. But here is are period pictures of Reilly's London buildings.
-- 16 (502) Oxford Street about 1885....(identified from a picture of the Tottenham (Flying Horse) Pub then located at 2 or 6 Oxford Street.) and a modern view of same.
-- 277 (316) Oxford Street about 1890 and a modern view of same with the "Marker building" of 1 Harwood Pl, Mayfair which still exists.
-- 295 Oxford Street about 1885, 18 years before the Reilly's moved in (with the Harwood "marker building") and modern pictures from google about 2005.

For those who wonder where were the Reilly finishing facilities, look at the size of 16 and 277...those buildings were huge. Also the fronts of each seem similar - no awnings, greco-bank style entrances; solidity, success. And check out the clientele on Oxford Street at the time - no flip flops, athletic shorts, tee shirts; just the stylish upwardly mobile.

================================ 16 Oxford Street ================================
Original building as pictured on Reilly labels 1848-1859; At some point before 1880 the building was modernized.


Picture of the Flying Horse (later Tottenham) Pub located at 2 or 6 Oxford Street about 1885. Arrow points to 16 Oxford Street. Note window pattern is the same as the modern building below. The "eyebrow" building (now a McDonalds) and the two buildings that seem to step down toward Reilly's 16 Oxford Street are still there. The Flying horse in the small two story building (without awning) in the picture was torn down and the new ornate Empire style building built where the pub is now.


Google photo of the area. 16 Oxford street is the arrow



================================ 277 Oxford Street ================================

277 Oxford Street about 1890


Google view of the area today with 277, the shooting gallery and the "marker building" at 1 Harwood, which permits confirming the location.



================================ 295 Oxford Street ================================

Here is 295 Oxford Street in 1885, about 18 years before Reilly moved into the building in 1903 while 277, further down the street towards Regents (Oxford) Circus was being rebuilt. The "marker building 1 Harwood is identified.



Google views of 295 Oxford from about 2005 with the Harwood building as a marker.




Last edited by Argo44; 09/10/18 10:18 PM.

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