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======== *49 1863-1872: Reilly Builds Military Rifles: TEXT ========

*49 1863-1872: Attempts to Win a Military Contract; Reilly Builds Military Rifles:

As mentioned above from at least the 1850's the Reilly's thought about trying to win a lucrative military contract from the British government. Reilly’s possible financial involvement with Prince and his building Prince Patent breech loading rifles, his making Terry Patent breech loading rifle (Chap *31 – p.78), Gen. Jacob’s SxS percussion rifle and various Enfields (Chap *30 – p.78) and Enfield rifling variations (Chap *46 – p.85) have been discussed.

The next five posts somewhat out of choronological order will deal with Reilly building five military Rifles: the Green Brothers Patent Breech Loader, Snider-Enfields, Reilly-Comblain breech loaders, Martini-Henry’s and a M-H variant the Swinburn and Reilly's own 1869 patent for an exploding bullet that he attempted to sell to Arsenal.

Reilly never obtained a major contract (as far as the present day evidence goes). He did build (or in the case of Martini-Henry "assemble"), privately sell and engrave all sorts of British military rifles - Enfields, Snider's, Martini's and later Lee-Speeds; He hawked these guns to the Yoemanry Volunteer Militia and to rifle clubs 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.

====== *49 1863-1872: Reilly Builds Military Rifles: END TEXT ======

== *50 – 1863-1868: Reilly and the Green Brothers Patent Breech Loader: TEXT ==

*50 – 1863-1868: Reilly and the Green Brothers Patent Breech Loader:

This is not meant to be an exhaustive review of the Green Bros. Patent 2002 Jun 1862 breech loader. But since it is integral to Reilly in the 1860’s it is gone into in some detail. The conclusions are, Reilly built about 350 serial numbered Reilly Green Bros. rifles from 1864-1868 in his London workshops, all proofed in London. After 1868 production was likely transferred to Birmingham where another 3,000 may have been made over the course of a few years (depending on whether the patent use numbers remained consecutive; Reilly's pat use #'s seem more chronologically accurate than most). Reilly also made Green Bros. rifles for the trade. C1870 the patent was made by other trade makers with a decline in quality, the last patent use number found being in the 5000’s.

The Green Brothers, CJ and J. were known in the 1850’s as innovative gun makers in London. For several years they were in partership with Prince (dissolved in 1859). In 1860 they took out a provisional patent on a breech-loading rifle. The idea was pretty ingenious. Attach a second breech loading chamger to the back of an Enfield and use a bolt actuated plunger to push the charge and bullet into the original chamber, then use the ordinary hammer and usual cap. The gun could be converted back into a muzzle loader simply by unscrewing the action and replacing the barrel plug. (This sounds remarkably like the action advertised by “The Field” and displayed at Reilly’s shop in summer 1861).*50a In June 1862 the Green Bros received patent nr. 2002 for the invention.

As mentioned previously Reilly had some sort of relationship with the Greens and Prince, possibly a financial stake since Reilly did not sign the March 1858 open letter in favor of Prince’s rifle. This relationship with the Greens must have continued to develop in some way and in April 1863 Reilly announced in a newspaper advertisement that he had obtained “sole manfacturing rights” to the gun.*50b Reilly’s early involvement in making breech-loaders and in bringing others’ inventions to market might have persuaded the Greens to follow this track.

Reilly started experienting with the action by modifying an old Reilly-made 1853 Enfield, SN 12002 (dated 1861), which still exists and carries patent use #1 (see below). This rifle was .577 caliber and retained the Enfield 39” barrels, weighing in at 9 lbs 2 oz.

Reilly clearly wanted to market the rifle to Arsenal and to other militaries perhaps something which grew out of his experience with the Terry Patent and Prince Patent breech-loaders. In this he was prescient, In early 1864 the Prussians with Austrian allies attacked the Danes over the question of Schleswig. The early performance of the Dreyse needle gun (adopted by the Prussians in 1848 and well known to UK gunmakrs) was impressive and panicked Europe’s armies into a frantic search for a similar gun.

By March 1864, while the Scheswig War was still raging, Reilly had the Green Bros Patent breech-loader ready for testing per newspaper advertisents.*50c He began production in late April, early May 1864, The production guns had 24” steel barrels and weighed in at a handy 7 lbs 4 oz. A series of press artices that spring and summer touted the gun.*50d This happened to be concurrent with the decision by Arsenal to field a request to the UK gun makers to submit an interim breech-loading rifle for testing, to be used by the army until a completely new purpose-built breech-loader could be designed. (The fact that British diplomacy hopelessly bungled the Danish question added force to the recommendations; a combination of Prussia, Austria and France on the continent was more than England could handle).

In the 1865-66 Arsenal trials Reilly’s Green Bros Patent rifle performed well. However, ultimately the Snider action (American) was adopted in 1866. Like the Geen Bros rifle the Snider action could be screwed onto an 1853 Enfield barrel and used with the original stock. It was simpler, cheaper and it could use the new “Boxer” cartridge with an integral primer doing away with the percussion cap.The Green Bros rifle could not be adapted to use the metallic cartridge. Nevertheless Reilly continued to advertise the Green Bros Patent and to make the guns as “sole manufacturer” in London up to at least 1868.

From patent use numbers it appears that Reilly made about 350 Green Bros rifles at his shops in London from May 1864 to Jun 1868. The guns, which were built at both 502 New Oxford Street and 315 Oxford Street, may have been made in “batches.” For instance Reilly SN 13326-13333 match patent use #'s #16 - #23; i.e. they were consecutively numbered rifles. SNs 14763-15047 (1867-68) with pat use #’s 177 - 325 would indicate that Reilly made 147 Green Bros rifles out of 300 guns serial numbered during the period September 1867 - February 1868, nearly 50% of his total production.

All extent Reilly Green Bros. rifles with a Reilly serial number were proofed in London. Following are seven existing Reilly-made Green Bros. Patent breech-loading rifles with Reilly serial numbers proofed in London and made by Reilly:

*12002 (original 1861) - E.M. Reilly & Co., (address not mentioned). .577 cal. Rifle; single barrel, Enfield, London proof, breech loader, hammer gun, Green Bros patent; Pat use #1, Reilly manufacture (originally type 3 Enfield) *50e

13326 (spring 1864) - E.M. Reilly & Co., 502, New Oxford Street, London; .577 cal. Rifle; single barrel, London proof, breech loader, hammer gun, Green Bros patent; Pat use #16, Reilly manufacture*50f

13333 (spring 1864)- E.M. Reilly & Co., 502, New Oxford Street, London; .577 cal. Rifle; single barrel, London proof, breech loader, hammer gun, Green Bros patent; Pat use #23, Reilly manufacture*50g

xxxxx (fall 1865?) – E.M. Reilly & Co., New Oxford Street, London. .577 cal. Single barrel rifle, London proof, breech loader, , hammer gun, Green Bros patent; Pat use #109, Reilly manufacture (from a Japanese site) *50h

13884 (summer 1865) - E.M. Reilly & Co., Oxford Street, London; .577 single barrel, London proof, breech loader rifle. Green Bros Patent - use #159, Reilly manufacture*50i

14763 (Sept 1867) - E.M. Reilly & Co., Oxford Street, London. .577 cal. Single barrel, London proof, breech-loader rifle. Green Bros Patent - Pat use #177. Reilly manufacture.*50j

15047 (February 1868) - E.M. Reilly & Co., New Oxford Street, London. .577 Rifle. Single barrel, London proof, breech-loader rifle. Green Bros Patent - Pat use #325. Reilly manufacture.*50k

The last Reilly advertisement as “sole manufacturer” for the Green Bros. Patent was in 1868,*50l although in 1869 Reilly was still specifically mentioning Green Bros Patent guns in his advertisements.*50m (Green was replaced by the Reilly-Comblain in the “sole manufacturer” bragging rights category in his ads). Apparently sometime in 1868 Reilly transferred manufacture of Green Bros. rifles to Birmingham (where all his Reilly-Comblain’s were later made). The last Reilly with a Green Bros. patent use number is #3116, date indeterminate (warning: this number may not represent a chronological progression of the patent use numbers). (The reason the rifle remained relevant into the 1870's might be due to the fact it could be used as a muzzle loader (advertised by Reilly late on); a shooter could use regulation soft cartridges and ball in the gun from either end.)

NSN – E.M. Reilly & Co., Oxford Street, London. .577 cal. Single barrel, breech-loader rifle. Green Bros Patent - Pat use #3116. Reilly contract in Birmingham? *50n

There is one known Green Bros rifle with Belgian proofs (no Reilly name)(Royal Armouries).*50o

In addition there are two Green Brothers breech loaders made by other London gun makers which in view of the fact that Reilly was “sole manufacture” of the patent, had to be made by Reilly for the trade. Alternatively in view of the Reilly rifle with pat use #3116 with no serial number, it is possible that Reilly gave-up being “sole manufacturer” in 1868 and subsequent rifles including his own were made in Birmingham:

Xxxxx – Issac Hollis & Sons. .577 cal. Single barrel, proof not mentioined, breech-loader rifle. Green Bros Patent - Pat use #554. Reilly contract in Birmingham?, probably a chronologically accurate pat #.*50p

Xxxxx – Wilkinson, London. .577 cal. Single barrel, Brum proof, breech-loader rifle. Green Bros Patent - Pat use #2858. Reilly contract in Birmingham?*50q

Finally, there is one Green Bros. rifle with no Reilly provenance, made in Birmingham, Pat use #5008, the last pat use # found. The gun is a sad shadow of the guns Reilly had produced with a stock that looks like a fence post and poor fittings and engraving.

Xxxxx – Green Bros Patent Central Fire. .577 cal. Single barrel, Brum proof, breech-loader rifle. Green Bros Patent - Pat use #5008.*50r

Note as usual: Without being able to date the above guns by serial number, none of the analysis would be possible.

= *50 – 1863-1868: Reilly and the Green Brothers Patent Breech Loader: END TEXT =

= *50 – 1863-1868: Reilly - Green Brothers Patent Breech Loader: FOOTNOTES =

*50 Reilly and the Green Brothers Patent Breech Loader:

. . . . .*50a action advertised by “The Field” and displayed at Reilly’s shop in summer 1861.
. . . . . . . . . .16 May 1861, “The Field”


. . . . .*50b In April 1863 Reilly announced in the UK Press that he now owned manufacturing rights to the Green Bros rifle
. . . . . . . . . .1st ad announcement 23 Apr 1863


. . . . .*50c March 1864, while the Scheswig War was still raging, Reilly had the Green Bros Patent breech-loader ready for testing per newspaper advertisents.
. . . . . . . . . .London Daily News, 17 Mar 1864

. . . . . . . . . .1865 advertisements:


. . . . .*50d A series of press artices that spring and summer touted the gun.

(1). Volunteer Services Gazette, of 12 March 1864:




(2). 04 April 1864, London Daily News:


(3). 28 Jul 1864, Morning Post - a report on the beginning of breech loading trials...and first mention of the Snider, which wound up beating out the Green Bros and Reilly for the contract as UK's interim breech loader:


= *50 – 1863-1868: the Green Brothers Breech Loader: FOOTNOTE CONT BELOW =

== *50 – 1863-1868: Reilly/Green Brothers Breech Loader: FOOTNOTE CONT ==

. . . . .*50e 12002 (original 1861) - E.M. Reilly & Co., (address not mentioned). .577 cal. Rifle; single barrel, Enfield, London proof, breech loader, hammer gun, Green Bros patent; Pat use #1, Reilly manufacture (originally type 3 Enfield)
https://collections.royalarmouries.org/object/rac-object-9371.html

. . . . .*50f 13326 (May 1864) - E.M. Reilly & Co., 502, New Oxford Street, London; .577 cal. Rifle; single barrel, London proof, breech loader, hammer gun, Green Bros patent; Pat use #16, Reilly manufacture
https://collections.royalarmouries.org/object/rac-object-9851.html

. . . . .*50g 13333 (May 1864)- E.M. Reilly & Co., 502, New Oxford Street, London; .577 cal. Rifle; single barrel, London proof, breech loader, hammer gun, Green Bros patent; Pat use #23, Reilly manufacture


. . . . .*50h xxxxx (fall 1865?) – E.M. Reilly & Co., New Oxford Street, London. .577 cal. Single barrel rifle, London proof, breech loader, , hammer gun, Green Bros patent; Pat use #109, Reilly manufacture (from a Japanese site)


. . . . .*50i 13884 (summer 1865) - E.M. Reilly & Co., Oxford Street, London; .577 single barrel, London proof, breech loader rifle. Green Bros Patent - use #159, Reilly manufacture



. . . . .*50j 14763 (Sept 1867) - E.M. Reilly & Co., Oxford Street, London. .577 cal. Single barrel, London proof, breech-loader rifle. Green Bros Patent - Pat use #177. Reilly manufacture.


. . . . .*50k 15047 (February 1868) - E.M. Reilly & Co., New Oxford Street, London. .577 Rifle. Single barrel, London proof, breech-loader rifle. Green Bros Patent - Pat use #325. Reilly manufacture.



. . . . .*50l The last Reilly advertisement as “sole manufacturer” for the Green Bros. Patent was in 1868,
. . . . . . . . . .01 July 1868, “Hart’s Army List”


. . . . .*50m although in 1869 Reilly was still specifically mentioning Green Bros Patent guns in his advertisements.
. . . . . . . . . .01 April 1869, “Hart’s Army List”


. . . . .*50n NSN – E.M. Reilly & Co., Oxford Street, London. .577 cal. Single barrel, breech-loader rifle. Green Bros Patent - Pat use #3116. Reilly contract in Birmingham?


== *50 – 1863-1868: Reilly - Green Brothers Breech Loader: FOOTNOTE CONT ==

== *50 – 1863-1868: Reilly - Green Brothers Breech Loader: FOOTNOTE CONT ==

. . . . .*50o There is one known Green Bros rifle with Belgian proofs from Liège (no Reilly name)(Royal Armouries).
https://collections.royalarmouries.org/object/rac-object-9719.html

. . . . .*50p Xxxxx – Issac Hollis & Sons. .577 cal. Single barrel, proof not mentioned, breech-loader rifle. Green Bros Patent - Pat use #554. Reilly contract in Birmingham?, probably a chronologically accurate pat #.



. . . . .*50q Xxxxx – Wilkinson, London. .577 cal. Single barrel, Brum proof, breech-loader rifle. Green Bros Patent - Pat use #2858. Reilly contract in Birmingham?




. . . . .*50r Xxxxx – Green Bros Patent Central Fire. .577 cal. Single barrel, Brum proof, breech-loader rifle. Green Bros Patent - Pat use #5008




== *50 – 1863-1868: Reilly - Green Brothers Breech Loader: END FOOTNOTES ==

======= *51 Reilly Builds Snider-Enfields TEXT =======

*51 Reilly Builds (Civilian) Snider-Enfields:

Arsenal had been bombarded with proposals to adopt a breech-loading military rifle ever since the adoption of the percussion Enfield rifle in 1853. It was well known that the Prussians were using the Dyese needle gun (since 1848),*5a but a hide-bound bureaucracy was wedded to the percussion gun. It was thought that breech loaders would only lead to inordinate waste of ammunition by the troops. In early 1864, however, the Dyese rifle proved its worth on the battlefield*51b in the Schleswig war between the Prussians/Austrians and the Danes.

In July 1864 the British conducted a series of committee meetings on adopting an interim-measure breech-loader. Trials were held that September and ultimately the Snider action was selected.*51c By Fall 1865 Enfield Arsenal had constructed 10 “model guns” for use by gunmakers in making the actions. The Snider was ready for trials in spring 1866 and was formally adopted in September. The cartridges with integral primer redesigned by Col. Boxer were a key component of the new system.*51d

It had its first combat use in Napier’s expedition from India to Ethiopia (Absyssinia) to rescue some European hostages in 1867-1868 where it performed admirably.*51e (Note: Reilly pin-fire shotguns were carried by some on this expedition to supply meat to the troops.*51f)

Hundreds of thousands of percussion Enfields were converted to the Snider action. Arsenal modified only Enfields made 1859 or later. By late 1868 these had all been modified and new-made Sniders began coming out of Enfield and BSA by 1869; they had steel barrels rather than iron, the first in UK army history. The Snider was supplanted in 1874 when the Martini-Henry was adopted. However, it continued in use for 60 years. Sniders were entered in marksmanship contests up to 1920 in Canada and pre-war in Britain.

Reilly did not advertise specifically making or marketing Sniders until March 1867,*51g although it can be safely assumed that he was selling the guns as soon as, if not before, they were formally adopted. This is evident when he supplied a mixture of breech-loaders including a Snider, a Chassepot needle gun, and other breech-loading rifles for a lecture given to a Militia gathering in December 1866.*51h

Reilly converted a lot of percussion Enfields to Snider actions and advertised his ability to do the work.*51i This includes transforming Enfields built by other makers. This makes it difficult to know what were the actual characteristics of a true Reilly-built "new" Snider as opposed to those Enfields he upgraded to a Snider action. Reilly apparently sometimes stamped his own serial number on the guns he modified since he sort of (re)built them, meaning that some Reilly’s, ostensibly serial numbered after the Snider was adopted, were made before 1866 by other makers and have Birmingham proof marks and other non-Reilly characteristics:

. . . . .SN 16036 (1868) - E.M. Reilly & Co., New Oxford Street, London. .577 original Hollis-made Enfield converted to a Snider breech-loading rifle, sporterized, by Reilly; The Reilly SN is stamped on the trigger guard tang and on the barrel. However, there is a faint stamp “Isaac Hollis & Co” (or Sons) on the barrel which has been over-stamped with “E.M.R. 16036.”*51j

However, Reilly also made and serial numbered “new” Sniders in and of themselves, a number of which are extant including large bore big-game rifles. These were civilian guns made before Arsenal began turning them out for the military; Reilly was not given a part of Arsenal contact to make military Sniders. Believe Reilly’s first extant specifically built civilian Snider is SN 15021 (early 1868). The last known Snider constructed by Reilly is SN 33419 (1896).

How these Reilly-built Sniders are marked is not clear:
-- Most Reilly rifles have “Snider” stamped on the guns somewhere,*51k sometimes along with other patents (such as Newmarks). Some have the "arrow with GR" stamp which is allegedly "crown property proofed" perhaps meaning the bolt and action were obtained from arsenal. However, literature is not clear on to whom Reilly paid royalties or how much these were. There are no patent use #'s. Presumably this would have been to Arsenal since Jacob Snider had died before receiving a penny of compensation for his invention.
-- Nor is it clear where stamps are to be found or what stamps were required. Reilly Snider barrels have London proofs but there are exceptions as mentioned above. They vary from gun to gun (or they are not included in current day auction advertisements). Note: Government Sniders allegedly were the first UK military gun serial numbered. SN stamps are found on the bolt, barrel, sight, and lever but are often not the same numbers or are simply missing. (These questions will be left for the thousands of Snider action enthusiasts to correct or solve).*51l

Following are a few significant (time-wise) Reilly-Sniders from a historical stand-point:

. . . . . -- SN 10021 (1856) – E.M. Reilly & Co, New Oxford Street, London (*re-labeled "E.M" after conversion) .577 enfield 3 band, converted to Snider c.1866. The first extant Reilly-made 1853 Enfield rifle and paradoxically the earliest Reilly made Enfield converted to a Snider action. The name “E.M. Reilly & Co.“ was likely added when the conversion was completed.*51m

. . . . . -- SN 15021 (early 1868) - the first extant Reilly made specifically as a Snider-Enfield: E.M. Reilly & Co., New Oxford Street, London. .577 Snider Enfield Volunteer 3 band rifle. German silver rearsight cover stamped "Snider": No Photo-1997 auction.*51n

. . . . . -– SN 15239 (late summer 1868) - E.M. Reilly & Co. New Oxford St., London. .577. single barrel Snider Enfield. 15239 - E.M. Reilly & Co., New Oxford Street., London. .577. Rifle, Snider-Enfield 2-band; Brum proof.**51o

. . . . . -– SN 16607 (1870) - E.M. Reilly & Co., (address not mentioned). .577. Rifle; Single barrel. Snider Enfleld breech-loader. [/color]*51p

. . . . . -- SN 18514 (early 1874) - E.M. Reilly & Co., (address not mentioned); 8 bore. Single barrel rifle; Snider Patent & Newmark's Patent*51q

. . . . . -- SN 33419 (1894): E.M. Reilly & Co., 277, Oxford Street, London. .450 BPE SxS rifle. Snider patent action. U-L, hammer gun. Anson forearm Pat use #2829*51r

======= *51 Reilly Builds Snider-Enfields END TEXT =======

======= *51 Reilly Builds Snider-Enfields FOOTNOTES =======

*51–Reilly Builds Snider-Enfields:

. . . . .*51a – Dyese Needle Gun w/Prussian troops:


. . . . .*51b – Schleswig War:


. . . . .*51c – Snider action design:


. . . . .*51d– Boxer cartridge:


. . . . .*51e – Napier’s expedition from India to Ethiopia - Absyssinia campaign:


. . . . .*51f – Reilly pin-fire shotguns carried on the Absyssinia campaign:


. . . . .*51g – 1st Reilly advertisement specifically mentioning Sniders Mar 1867:
. . . . . . . . . .01 Mar 1867, “Hart’s Army List”


. . . . .*51h – Militia lecture on beech-loading rifles:
. . . . . . . . . .15 Dec 66, “Volunteer Services Gazette”


. . . . .*51i – Reilly converts percussion Enfield to Sniders:
. . . . . . . . . .01 Jul 1868, “Volunteer Services Gazette”


. . . . .*51j – 16036 (1868) - E.M. Reilly & Co., New Oxford Street, London. .577 original Hollis Enfield converted to Snider by Reilly:


======= *51 Reilly Builds Snider-Enfields FOOTNOTES CONT BELOW =======

======= *51 Reilly Builds Snider-Enfields FOOTNOTES CONT=======

. . . . .*51k -- Snider” name stamped on Reilly guns:


. . . . .*51l – Location of Government Snider SN’s:


. . . . .*51m -- SN 10021 (1856) – Earliest Reilly made P53 Enfield and the earliest Reilly Enfield later converted to Snider. The name “E.M. Reilly & Co., “ was likely added when the conversion was completed:


. . . . .*51n -- SN 1502115021 (early 1868) is the first extant Reilly made specifically as a Snider-Enfield: German silver rearsight cover stamped "Snider": No Photo-1997 auction.

. . . . .*51o – SN 15239 (late summer 1868) - E.M. Reilly & Co. New Oxford St., London. .577. single barrel Snider Enfield.


. . . . .*51p -- SN 16607 - E.M. Reilly (no address). .577. Rifle; Single barrel. Snider Enfleld.


. . . . .*51q -- SN 18514 - E.M. Reilly & Co., (address not mentioned); 8 bore. Single barrel rifle; Snider Patent & Newmark's Patent


. . . . .*51r -- SN 33419 - E.M. Reilly & Co., 277, Oxford Street, London. 12 bore SxS rifle. Snider patent action. U-L, hammer gun. Anson forearm Pat use #2822. (Arrow with GR = crown property)



======= *51 Reilly Builds Snider-Enfields END FOOTNOTES =======

Here is EM Reilly SN 34559:

It's a 16 bore boxlock, extractor, 2 1/2" chambers, 26 1/2" Damascus tubes, the rib bearing the mark of WJ Jeffery, 9 Golden Square, Regent St. London.

Merci M. Woodreaux. The Reilly dates to late summer 1896. It was rebarrelled by Jeffery, interestingly in Damascus. It's been added to the list on p. 57. There are now 543 Reillys whose type and caliber are known and another 50 with photos published but whose SN was not, 1.5% of the total he made and a good sample. Very attractive and handy looking little gun.