doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com E.M. Reilly; History; Chronology; Serial Numbers

Just a reminder of the ferment of UK gun making in the early 1860's is this Reilly Enfield percussion 2 band rifle-musket SN 11418 numbered in early 1860 and converted to a Snider after 1866. Arsenal did not convert Enfields made after 1859 for the military. Reilly did of course for sporting use but this one would have made the cut anyway. There is a chapter on Snider's in the history above, p. 94 which is as good a short history of the Snider as one can find:
. .IX: Reilly, Arsenal and the British Army: 93
. . . . .51. 1866-1890’s: Reilly Builds (Civilian) Snider-Enfields

https://www.lot-art.com/auction-lot...illy-London-57/415-volunteer_snider-03.7



(The "engraving" must be pitting).

This will only change the history a bit but is so interesting it's worth a post. This is a JC Reilly air gun from 316 High Holborn...early 1840-ish - the name changed to "Reilly" in August 1840. But it is not an "air cane." It is a full blown rifle of the type carried by Lewis & Clark and tried out by various armies never before seen with a Reilly name on it. (The use of our history and calling JC a "gunmaker" is gratifying):
https://www.invaluable.com/auction-...queryID=a03d12085c5238bb644fb3493b28a628



Desirable Game Scene Engraved Girardoni System Repeating Stock Reservoir Sporting Air Rifle with Case Inscribed "F. Baring" and Air Pump This Girardoni pattern repeating air rifle is signed "Herzberg am Harz" on the lock, indicating the lock was made by an unknown German gunmaker. The screw-off buttstock air reservoir is signed "REILLY 316 HOLBORN LONDON IMPROVED" around the threaded joint section in reference to London gunmaker Joseph Charles Reilly listed as active at that address between c. 1837-1847. The Girardoni (sometimes spelled "Girandoni") is easily the most famous early air rifle or windbuchse largely thanks to the fact that for many years it has been associated with Lewis & Clark and their famous Corps of Discovery Expedition. It is widely believed that they either had a Girardoni or a very similar design by Isaiah Lukens of Philadelphia. The Girardoni was designed by Bartolomeo Girardoni around 1779 and is also significant as one of the first widely used repeating martial arms, with a magazine tube on the right side of the barrel for use with lead balls and a breech block that is able to be pressed sideways against spring pressure for loading/repeating capability. They were notably used by Austrian sharpshooters from 1787-1815. Because the air tanks took around 30 minutes of pumping by hand to bring to full pressure, the riflemen had assistants that repressurized the reservoirs initially and later also had more efficient wagon mounted pumps. "Wind guns" had several advantages over conventional firearms including that they were quieter, smokeless, quicker to reload, and relatively unaffected by rain. They also required less cleaning since they did not require corrosive black powder. This attractive example is chambered in approximately .40 caliber/10 mm and features an octagon barrel with eight-groove rifling, blade front sight, two leaf notch rear sight, high quality engraving with a game scene on the top of the gold finished frame and a star pattern motif on top of the breech, a walnut stock with carved patterns along the sides of the ramrod channel and checkering beneath the grip area, horn forend tip, and a shagreen wrapped metal buttstock air reservoir. Includes a period fitted wooden case with green felt lined interior, brass handle and plaque on the lid inscribed "F. Baring" and containing an air pump. Included consignor notes indicate the inscribed name on the case may belong to a Captain Francis Baring, Fusilier Guards, Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General, attached to the Light Division. More information on Girardoni air rifles can be found on pages 598-601 of the book "Blue Book of Airguns, Thirteenth Edition".

Added this to the history:

"There is one pure air-gun Rifle with JC Reilly’s name on it and the 316 High Holborn address probably marketed/made around 1840 which is not an air cane; it is Girardoni-style military rifle as carried by Lewis & Clark and used by various armies including the Austrian army snipers."