I did a little research on who was buying these guns; shooting was a well-to-do sport (commented on previously on this board).
(UK currency up to 1971:
-- 4 farthing = 1 penny (d);
-- 12d = 1 shilling (s)
-- 20s = 1 pound ()
-- 1/1s = 1 guinea (g)
1885:
-- Average annual wage for workers in England - 42/12s a year
-- Average annual wage overall for England - 56
-- Average annual wage for workers in UK total - 42/14s
From Reilly advertisements:
1834 - Double gun fowler with case - 10-20g
1855 - Double gun fowler with case - 10-25g
1885 - Double gun fowler with case - 20-50g
This does not count the cost of ammunition, or the annual hunting license. This might explain why young officers going abroad bought .577 caliber rifles (in order to use issue ammunition). The cost of trying to seem "respectable" or a "gentleman" at the time, with boot blacking, tea, hats, suits, horses, dogs, etc., and the required hobbies gambling and guns, was enormous. Small wonder that UK was run by a very small group of people (who all knew each other it seems). Whatever, a gun was a major outlay of cash for even well regarded "gentlemen."
