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Arsenal and the Martini-Henry.

I've added this to the Reilly history:

As an aside, the history of Reilly building Martini-Henry rifles/actions is instructive. He first advertised a "Henry-Martini" in 1871 (it was adopted for trial in summer 1871). There is one Reilly Martini-Henry with a SN dated to Jan 1872 (SN 17314). There are many extant Reilly-made Martini-Henry's afterwards, in a half-dozen calibers, none with serial numbers. It seems that at the time Arsenal, if one wanted to build a M-H rifle, would insist on sending over the parts. Reilly, it appears, did not serial number assembled guns.

The first and only serial number Reilly in my database is 17314...dated per the chart to January 1872:
http://britishmilitariaforums.yuku.com/topic/8720/E-M-Reilly-Martini#.VrgJC3hQoqY



1st advertisement for a "Henri-Martini" - 1871 "Black's Cornwell Guide".


First ad for a "Martini-Henry" - 25 December 1871, "The Graphic":


I did some research into the topic about three years ago. I've never found another serial numbered Reilly M-H after that first one. But there are a lot around...one in caliber .75 - a real elephant gun:

Here is an example:
https://www.gunsamerica.com/999425841/Martini-E-M-Reilly-577-45.htm


Greener and others made a lot of Martini-Henry guns. Did they serial number these guns? Reilly SN'd a lot of his Enfields (those built for the yeomanry militia might be excepted) but I early on read that the Arsenal became really b**chy with the M-H (and one must wonder if this were the reason the Henry rifling patent was extended from another 14 years). Observations/comments much appreciated. Thanks.



Last edited by Argo44; 07/10/20 10:02 PM.
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