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Attractive Reilly .320 Martini-Henry action rifle - marketed by Reilly, not made

A couple of pages ago (and in the history), I made the comment that I've only found one serial number Martini Henry and that was at the dawn of the Martini Henry age. Here is an attractive example forwarded by Terry Buffum:
https://gen2.joesalter.com/category/prod...nd-Co-Published

Braendlin-Tranter Martini Rifle by E.M. Reilley & Co. (Published)
Serial #15134, .320 CF, 26 1/4 solid rib barrel with an excellent, bright bore. This is an exquisitely finished rifle built on a small frame Martini action with large safety lever on the right side. The barrel retains about 90-92% of the original blue with some silvering at the muzzle, and some thin streaks of gray-brown along the axis. There is a retailer marking on the matted rib: E.M. REILLEY & Co., 502 NEW OXFORD St., LONDON just ahead of the platinum wire inlaid, double folding-leaf rear sight, and (Crown) / WT Tranter Co. marking on the left side of the barrel breech. The frame has beautiful, decorative stippling on the sides, and crisp Braendlin Armoury Co. crossed pennants roundel, E.M. Reilley & Co. riband, and Martini Patent markings in engraved insets. The frame has retained about 95-97% of the original bright blue with some tiny scratches, and small areas of flaking along the top edges. Additionally, muted original color case-hardening can still be seen on the engraved lever and safety. The darkly figured walnut forend with intact carved horn tip, and buttstock have some small handling marks scattered about the excellent, makers refinish. The checkering points are sharp, and the original engraved buttplate (slightly proud of the wood) has some mild surface oxidation at the heel. The action lock-up is tight and crisp. This very rifle is illustrated and described on pp.228-229 in British Single Shot Rifles - Rook, Rabbit & Miniature Rifles - Later Types & Hammerless Models Vol. 8 by Winfer & Rowe (2009). This is a fantastic small frame Martini sporting rifle, illustrated in the standard reference book on British single shot rifles, and rates excellent overall. Antique

A few comments:
-- The "Serial Number" is in fact the Martini patent use number
-- Tranter and Francis Augustus Braedlin made the rifle (not sure who did what) - It's possible with that Reilly stocked the gun as Terry pointed out. Engraving does not look Reilly-ish.
-- There is a Birmingham proof mark on the action.

Anyway very attractive gun, just not made by Reilly:







Notice that the engraving is identical to BrentD's Martini from the post on Martini's on p.48! -- and if the advertisement is correct, Braedlin did BrentD's gun as well.


Now this is something worthy of investigation. Braedlin allegedly was Belgian origin. He was involved with breech loaders and had a gun in the "Martini" trials of late 1860's. And later with Comblain guns the patent for which was secured in UK by Reilly....So what's he doing building Martini's? Sherlock, you are needed.








Last edited by Argo44; 10/06/20 09:05 PM.
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