Builder has just purchased this Reilly SxS 28 gauge shotgun, hammer gun, side-lever, SN
25449 (per my chart dated to Autumn 1883. Address on the ribs "
E.M. Reilly & Co., 16 late 502 New Oxford Street, London & rue Scribe, Paris." Here is the description:
-- 26" Damascus barrels
-- 6lbs. 1/2 oz.
-- Modern dimensions (Builder explains that it fits him, which is in the ball park of 1 1/2 x 2 1/2".
-- Feels like a very solid gun.
-- 9" of evenly tapered choke with .005" restriction on both barrels.
-- The bores are .560 up to the beginning of the choke.
-- The chambers are 2 3/4".
-- Minimum wall thickness is over .035" and near the end of the chambers it is over .130". So lots of thickness all over hence the heavy barrels.
-- It came with a pad but Builder has the original steel butt plate.
Here are some pictures with commentary.
The short barrels are unusual on a Reilly, even a small gauge one. There are 26" barrels on Reilly Double rifles. This may be a "sample gun" similar to the .410 #25851 posted previously. In my database there is not another existing Reilly 28 gauge shotgun with original barrels. One owned previously by Terry Buffum #26517 had replacement 28" Damascus barrels; there is one for sale #25741 on the internet but it has such a confounding assortment of odd things about it that I don't trust its provenance.
I rarely if ever have seen a pistol grip on a Reilly shotgun stock....he used them on rifles.
Side-lever.
Barrel flats and Action flats: (No "not for ball"...and it should be there for an 1883 shotgun)
Forearm with 1872
Anson patent use number 7757 and stock
Proof marks...."30" would indicate 30 bore in preliminary proofs which should be .538" - it is now .560"
Address on Rib. The Address of New Oxford Street Building changed in November 1881. However, Reilly continued to use 502 on some guns and advertisements for another couple of years. I've never seen both addresses on the same rib, however.
Labels. Reilly continued to use 502 New Oxford Street on his labels after November 1881 when the numbers changed. I cannot find 16 New Oxford Street labels until rue Scribe disappeared from his labels in July-Aug 1885. The medals won in the 1867 Paris Exposition were reappearing on labels and advertisements about this time. It's interesting that the case was originally labeled for #25074 - scratched out and replaced with 25449...wonder if 25074 was also a 28 gauge?
Neat gun and unique.
Things make me wonder if it were originally a rifle.
1) No "not for ball" proof stamp which it should have in 1883.
2) pistol grip stock;
3) weight of barrel - The barrels weigh 2 lbs 14 oz. + plus that .135 thickness at the breech.
4) 26" barrels
5) 2 3/4" chambers (which likely were enlarged and the gun not reproofed).
6) 30 bore stamp.
7) weight of the gun.
But, on the other hand
1) the label clearly states 2 drams of powder for 5/8 oz of shot...unless that were for the original 25074 gun.
2) choke bores and original serial numbers. - no evidence of reproof.
3) No evidence of top sights.
4) A cartridge in 30 bore..... .538 caliber would be pretty big unless it were a pistol cartridge and this was originally a "Rook Rifle."
