Bob, take a look at the two lines I posted on Patent use numbers. I was warned by very knowledgeable posters that they are not chronological and cannot be relied on for dating guns.
https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubb...8253#Post568253
https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubb...8132#Post568132

The patent was taken out 15 Sep 1875 and would have expired 15 Sep 1889. I doubt that after that date there will be patent use numbers (implying payment of royalties). So your gun is certainly pre - Sep 1889.

I compiled dated guns, built graphs of the patent use numbers... Absolutely confusing. Don't change the date on your gun to earlier than Sep 89....unless you can change the date on your gun to earlier. I can go into this now for hours - it'll drive you crazy. As for Reilly's and the patent use numbers on them that were published , see the list on p.44...I've put them all in brown.

Here's an example....these are Reillys from 1889 with recorded AD boxlock use numbers:
30363 - E.M. Reilly & Co., London. 12 ga. Shotgun SxS. BLE. Top lever, Anson & Deely patent use #6250. #1 of pair.
303xx? - E.M. Reilly & Co., 277 Oxford Street, London. 12ga, Shotgun SxS. BLE. Top lever. Anson & Deeley patent use #6265; A&D pat A&D ejector pat use #427 #2 of pair. (SN not mentioned - Norway gun)
30768 - E.M. Reilly & Co., 16 New Oxford St., London. 12 ga. Shotgun SxS. BLE A&D patent use #8245 (PAY’s gun)

Last edited by Argo44; 05/01/20 07:24 PM.
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