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===========identified gun list - Cont==============

1897: 34641 - 34880. - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240. .. .XX; *20. 34723
. . . . .XX. Early May closure of 16 New Oxford Street
34680 - E.M. Reilly & Co., (address not mentioned). 12 bore. Shotgun SxS. BLE
34689 - E.M. Reilly & Co., 16, New Oxford Street, London. (Sleeved) 12 bore. Shotgun SxS. BLE. 28” brls, 6 lbs 1 oz.
34680 - E.M. Reilly & Co., (address not mentioned). 12 bore. Shotgun SxS. Top lever, BLE.
34691 - E.M. Reilly & Co., (address not mentioned). 12 bore. Shotgun SxS. Top lever, SLE
34715 - E.M. Reilly & Co., 16, New Oxford Street, London. 12ga. Shotgun SxS. Hammerless S-L, ejector.
34723- E.M Reilly & Co., 16, New Oxford Street, London. 12ga. Shotgun SxS. Top lever, Hammer gun. Last SN with 16, New Oxford Street, London.
34865 - E.M. Reilly & Co., 277, Oxford Street, London. 12 bore. Shotgun SxS. Top lever, BLE.

1898: 34881 - 35030. - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
35012 - E.M. Reilly & Co., (address not mentioned). 10 bore BPE SxS rifle. U-L, Hammer gun. Doll’s head, elevated rib.

1899: 35031 - 35140. - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
. .++Jan 1899 - Death of Mary Ann Reilly.
35058 - E.M. Reilly & Co., 277, Oxford Street, London. 12 bore SxS shotgun. Top lever, BLE
35079 - E.M. Reilly & Co., 277, Oxford Street, London. 12 bore SxS Shotgun. Top lever, SLE. brls proofed pre-1896; Southgate pat 12314; Southgate ejector trip pat 8239)
35094 - E.M. Reilly & Co., (1939 replacement brls). 20 bore. SLE.
35097 - E.M. Reilly & Co., (stock and action only). 28 ga, Shotgun SxS. BLE.

1900: 35141 - 35240. - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75. .**14. 35186
35165 - E.M. Reilly & Co., (rebarreled). 12 ga. Shotgun SxS. SLE. 30" steel barrels
35186- E.M. Reilly & Co., 277, Oxford Street, London. 12 bore. Shotgun SxS. BLE. Steel barrels. Post 1898 trade label. London 1896-1904 proof marks

1901: 35241 - 35325. - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
35247 - E.M. Reilly & Co., (address not mentioned). 12 bore. Shotgun SxS. Top-lever, hammerless Side-Lock.
35251 - E.M. Reilly & Co., (address not mentioned). 12 bore. Shotgun SxS. (frame/barrels)
35292 - E.M. Reilly & Co., (rebarreled by Robert Dollimore in NZ). 12 ga. Shotgun SxS. Push forward U/L.

1902: 35326 - 35385. - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
35367 - E.M. Reilly & Co., (address not mentioned). 12 ga. Shotgun SxS. BLE. Steel Barrels.

1903: 35386 - 35393. - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08. .XXI; *21. 35386
. . XXI. Feb '03 - 277 Oxford Street closes
35386- E.M. Reilly & Co., (address not mentioned). .410 SxS Shotgun. Top lever, Hammer gun.

1904: 35394 - 35435. - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40. .XXII; *22. 35394; ##6
. . . . .##4 - Proof change
. . . . .XXII. May '04 - 295 Oxford Street opens
35594- E.M. Reilly & Co., 295, Oxford Street, London. .297/.250 Single barrel rook rifle; central hammer, S-L, ejector. 26" brls. (First SN with 295 Oxford.).
35398 - E.M. Reilly & Co. 295, Oxford Street, London. 12 bore SxS shotgun BLE, treble grip.
35400 - E.M. Reilly & Co. 295, Oxford Street, London. 12 bore SxS shotgun (case label).
35407 - E.M. Reilly & Co., (28” sleeved barrels). 12 bore SxS Shotgun. Top Lever, BLE
35422 - E.M. Reilly & Co., (action/stock/forearm only). 12 bore SxS shotgun., BLE. #1 of pair
35423 - E.M. Reilly & Co., 295, Oxford Street, London. 12 ga. Shotgun SxS. BLE. #2 of pair

1905: 35436 - 35475. - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
35453 - E.M. Reilly & Co., (address not known). 12 ga. Shotgun SxS. BLE. Single trigger. #1 of pair (non-extant)
35454 - E.M. Reilly & Co., (sleeved, no address). 12 ga. Shotgun SxS. BLE. Single trigger. #2 of pair
35458 - E.M. Reilly & Co., (address not mentioned). 12 bore. Shotgun SxS. Boxlock.
35472 - E.M. Reilly & Co., (sleeved, no address). 12 ga. Shotgun SxS. Boxlock.

1906: 35476 - 35515. - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
35493 - E.M. Reilly & Co., (barrels by Elderkin & Son. ). 16 ga. Shotgun SxS.
35494 - E.M. Reilly & Co., (address not mentioned). .450/.400 Cordite express SxS rifle. BLE. 26” brls.

1907: 35516 - 35555. - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40. .**15. 35554
35527 - E.M. Reilly & Co., 295, Oxford Street, London. 12 ga, Shotgun SxS. Top lever, sidelock.
35535 - E.M. Reilly & Co., 295, Oxford Street, London. 12 ga, Shotgun SxS. Top lever, BLE. #1 of pair (non-extant)
35536 - E.M. Reilly & Co., 295, Oxford Street, London. 12 ga, Shotgun SxS. Top lever, BLE. #2 of pair
35543 - E.M. Reilly & Co., 295, Oxford Street, London. 12 ga, Shotgun SxS. Top lever, BLE. #1 of pair
35544 - E.M. Reilly & Co., 295, Oxford Street, London. 12 ga, Shotgun SxS. Top lever, BLE. #2 of pair (non-extant)
35551 - E.M. Reilly & Co., 295, Oxford Street, London. .300. Rifle Single barrel. Rook rifle. Sidelever.
35554- E.M. Reilly & Co., 295, Oxford Street, London. .500/.465 Nitro Express SxS BL rifle.

1908: 35556 - 35575. - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
..1832 (Outlier) - E.M. Reilly & Co., (address unknown). 12 gauge SxS big bore rifle. 26" barrels, pistol grip. See 35554 above. #1 of pair (non-extant)
..1833 (Outlier) - E.M. Reilly & Co., (rebarrelled by John Harper). 12 gauge SxS Shotgun. BLE. Repurposed from a big bore rifle. 26" barrels, pistol grip. See 35554 above. #2 of pair
35570 - E.M. Reilly & Co., (26 3/4” sleeved nitro barrels). 12 bore, SxS Shotgun. Sidelock ejector. 6lbs12oz
35574 - E.M. Reilly & Co., (address not mentioned). 12 bore. SxS Shotgun.

1909: 35576 - 35589. - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
35583 - E.M. Reilly & Co., 295, Oxford Street, London. 12 ga, Shotgun SxS. Top lever, BLE

1910: 35590 - 35599. - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
35594?- E.M. Reilly & Co., (address not mentioned). 12 ga. Shotgun SxS. SLNE. 30" Brls. (advertised as 35394)

1911: 35600 - 35685. - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .85. .**16. 35614; *23. 35678
35614 - E.M. Reilly & Co. 295 Oxford Street, London. 12 bore SxS Shotgun; self-cocking, Side-lock, ejector built by Holloway H8113 (1911)
35673 - E.M. Reilly & Co., Oxford Street, London. 12 bore. Shotgun SxS. Sidelock. #1 of pair.
35674 - E.M. Reilly & Co., Oxford Street, London. 12 bore. Shotgun SxS. Sidelock. #2 of pair.
35678- E.M. Reilly & Co., (address not mentioned). 12 bore Shotgun SxS. Boxlock. (Last extant Reilly)

1912: 35686 - 35700. - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15. . XXIII;XXIV.
. . . . .XXIII. 06 Jun ’12: Bankruptcy declared 06 June; vacated 295 Oxford Street
. . . . .XXIV. Aug ’12: 13 High Street, Marylebone opened

1913-1918: None known. - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0. .XXIV
. . . . .XXIV. Jul ’18: 13 High Street, Marylebone closed

Post August 1922 -c1950: 128000 - 150000. - . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20,000?. .XXV; *24. 128466; *25. 150570.
. . . . .XXV. 18 Aug '22 - 1950? - Riggs production at 107, Bishopsgate, London
128466 - E.M. Reilly & Co., (nfi). 12 bore SxS Shotgun, 29" barrels. nfi
131065 - E.M. Reilly & Co., London. 12 bore SxS Shotgun. BLNE. 30” barrels. 2.5” chambers
133805 - E.M. Reilly & Co., (no barrel). 12 bore SxS Shotgun BLE (Action, stock, forearm)
134183 - E.M. Reilly & Co., London. 16 ga. SxS shotgun. BLNE
134481 - E.M. Reilly & Co., London. 12 ga. SxS shotgun. BLNE. 30” steel brls. 2.5” chambers
136238 - E.M. Reilly & Co., Ltd, London. 12 ga. SxS shotgun. BLNE. 28” steel brls. 2.5” chambers
136527 - E.M. Reilly & Co., Ltd, London. 12 ga. SxS shotgun. BLNE. 30” steel brls.
136535 - E.M. Reilly (address not mentioned). 12 ga. Shotgun SxS. BLE.
136720 - E.M. Reilly & Co., London. 12 ga SxS Shotgun. hammer gun, extractor
138279 - E.M. Reilly (address not mentioned). 20 bore Shotgun SxS. BLE
139564 - E.M. Reilly & Co., London. 12 bore SxS Shotgun, hammer-gun
139614 - E.M. Reilly & Co., London. 12 bore SxS Shotgun, BLE
139801 - E.M. Reilly (address not mentioned). 12 bore Shotgun SxS. Hammer gun
140415 - E.M. Reilly, London. 16 bore shotgun SxS. 30" steel barrels
140451 - E.M. Reilly, London. 16 bore Shotgun SxS. (Charles Riggs, post 1917)
140717 - E.M. Reilly, London. 12 bore Shotgun SxS. BLNE.
144939 - E.M. Reilly, London, 12 bore Shotgun SxS. BLNE. 28" barrels.
144941 - E.M. Reilly, London, 12 bore Shotgun SxS. BLE, 28" barrels
146242 - E.M. Reilly & Co. Ltd., London; 12bore. Top lever hammer gun. Pistol grip stock.
147613 - E.M. Reilly & Co., London; 12 bore, SxS shotgun, top lever. Ejector.
150570 - E.M. Reilly & Co., London. 12ga. Shotgun SxS. Boxlock non-ejector. (Brm proofs)


]===================Evolution of Reilly Serial Numbers======================

Possible evolution of Reilly's serial number series for clarity using the date-marker extant guns:



===================Footnotes to identified gun list======================

The process of dating the guns was difficult but with a methodology that was refined as the research developed, basically as follows:
1. Identify known chronological markers – usually dates of the change of addresses on ribs but occasionally dated SN’d gun.
2. Identify the first and last serial number associated with these known chronological dates and make a reasonable estimation of how many gun serial numbers should be alloted to each year, factoring in other data.
3. Sanity check the conclusions by looking at various guns to see if their parameters fit the postulation.

Marker Footnotes

Chronological date markers:
. . I. 1828, Jul - 1st advertisement for guns made at Holborn Bars: Reilly was NOT mentioned in an 1825 list of London gun-makers. Reilly was never a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers. The first ad in the London newspapers specifically for Reilly made guns so far found is in 1830. However, a July 1828 ad makes it clear that he was selling guns made by him. For this reason 1828 is listed as the start date for Reilly gun manufacture.
. . II. 1835, Late Aug – Move to 316, High Holborn: Per newspaper advertisements in late August Reilly moved to 316 High Holborn. Example: “Joseph Charles Reilly will be removing at the end of this month, to the spacious premises, 316, High Holborn…” (“London Morning Chronicle,” 24 Aug 18). For a year after the move from Holborn Bars, the phrase “Removed from Holborn Bars” appeared in his advertisements.
. . III. 1840, August - Company name changed to just "Reilly in ads.
. . IV. 1847, 27 Mar – J.C. Reilly moved from High Holborn to 502 New Oxford Street on 27 Mar 1847. “The lease of these premises will expire at Lady-day next, and he is RE-MOVING to another Establishment in New Oxford-street, the Elizabethan Buildings. (“Morning Post,” 20 Mar 1847). This is confirmed by a follow-on ad “Premises in Holborn having expired at Lady-day last, he has REMOVED to 502, NEW OXFORD STREET…” (“Morning Advertiser,” 31 Mar 1847)
. . V. 1847, Apr-Dec - “Removed from Holborn” in ads. “Reilly, Gun-maker, New Oxford-street – REMOVED FROM HOLBORN,” (“Illustrated London News,” 03 Apr 1847); By late November 1847 the phrase was no longer used. This is an important item for dating guns using the trade label as a confirmation.
. . VI. 1856, Aug – First Reilly advertisement for a Lefaucheaux-style center-break gun. Reilly began working on a break-action gun in 1855, probably as a result of Lang’s exhibit in Paris. His first advertisements for a Lefaucheaux style break-action gun appeared in August 1856 and he is recognized as one of the pioneers of the genre.
. . VII. 1857, Sep - JC Reilly retires. He announced in newspaper ads, “JOSEPH CHARLES REILLY is retiring in favor of his son Edward.” (“London Daily News, 02 Sep 1857). End of 7000 series SN’s.
. . VIII. 1858, Early Aug - 315 Oxford St. (Oxford Street) opened, almost certainly as a result of surging demand for Reilly breech-loaders. The first ad for 315 appeared in “The Field,” 07 Aug 1858. “REILLY, 502, New Oxford-street; and the Shooting Galleries, No. 315, near the Regent-circus.”
. . IX. 1858, Early Aug – Company name changes to “Reilly & Co, Gun Maker.” Apparently when 315 Oxford Street opened, Reilly changed the name to “Reilly & Co.” Several newspaper ads use this name. Reilly later wrote that he took on some new partners at this time (unknown). The company likely established the new workshop because of skyrocketing demand for Reilly center-break guns as mentioned in “the Field” article in Oct 1858.
. . X. 1859, Mar – Company Name changes to "E.M. Reilly & Co, Gun Makers." This name first appeared in ads in March 1859. (“E.M. Reilly & Co., New Oxford Street,” 05 Mar 1859). Although “Reilly & Co.,” continued to be used for awhile in other ads.
. . XI. 1860, Aug – Company Name changes to E.M. Reilly & Co., Gun Manufacturer (singular)
. . XII. 1860, Dec – SN 11716 - Plaque on .577 Enfield rifle with E.M. Reilly & Co., New Oxford Street, London, on the barrel shows it was presented as a prize Christmas 1860. It was probably serial numbered several weeks before.
. . XIII. 1861, early Apr – Reilly trade labels changed definitively using “Gun Manufacturers” (pl) for the first time confirmed by both advertisements and by the 1861 census. This is important for using trade labels to help date a gun (see separate chart).
. . XIV. 1862, Aug – SN 12532 – Documented Sep ’62 London exposition gun bought by Prince of Wales. This gun was discussed in a Bradshaw guide to the exposition September 1862 and was likely numbered 8 weeks earlier. It has the Prince of Wales feathers on it.
. . XV. 1868, Mid Feb - 2 rue Scribe, Paris opened. First mentioned of rue Scribe was in an advertisement in “The Field,” 09 Feb 1868.
. . XVI. 1871, Oct - SN 17574 - Plaque on a .500 double rifle given as a gift to his brother by Leonard Jerome (American grandfather of Winston Churchill), probably after their return from a "millionaires's uint guided by Buffalo Bill Cody in summer 1871.
. . XVII. 1881, Nov – Oxford Street renumbered: 502 to 16; 315 to 277. This renumbering date is verified by numerous “before and after” advertisments from the period.
. . XVIII. 1885, 01 Aug – rue Scribe, Paris closed. Advertisements in the Bell’s Life in late July 1885 continued to list rue Scribe, Paris. Identical advertisements first week of August 1885 had no Paris address.
. . XIX. 1891, Feb – SN 32760 – Plaque on gun – “presented on 26 Mar 1891”. The gun is a boxlock presented by sons to a father. I was no doubt ordered and serial numbered a couple of months before presentation.
. . XX. 1897, Early May - closure of 16 New Oxford Street. Idential advertisments in “Sporting Gazette” show 16 present on 01 May 97 and no longer there on 08 May 97. Reilly had been at 16 (formerly 502) New Oxford Street for 50 years. However, by 1897 new gun sales had declined to 240. It was economically impossible to keep two workshops open making such a low volume of guns.
. . XXI. 1903, Feb - 277 Oxford St. closes. The last ad for 277 Oxford St. appeared in “The Field” on 14 Feb 1903. An article in the same issue indicated “the Field” editor had shortly before visited Reilly’s shop to inspect an air-gun. Reilly disappeared from print after these advertisements and did not surface again for 14 months. He apparently sold the building and moved on.
. . XXII. 1904, May - 295 Oxford St. opens, The first advertisements for 295 Oxford Str. Appeared in the 21 May 1904 edition of “The Field.” Reilly labels at this time used the old labels with 277 crossed out and 295 stamped above it.
. . XXIII. 1912, 06 Jun - Bankruptcy declared 06 June; vacated 295 Oxford Street. This was announced in the London Gazette on Monday 08 June 1912. 295 shortly after was taken over by a high-class London woman’s tailor.
. . XXIV. 1912, Aug - 13 High Street, Marylebone opened. After the closure of 295 Bert Reilly opened a small gun repair/sales shop in Marylebone as “E.M. Reilly & Co.” The shop was tiny. No guns with this address on ribs have been found; no advertisements for it exist. It was listed in London 1913 post office and telephone directories.
. . XXIV. 1918, Jul - 13 High Street, Marylebone closed. E.M. Reilly & Co. was listed in the 1918 post office and telephone directories; The shop was not so listed in 1919.
. . XXV. 1922, 18 Aug - Riggs production. Per newspaper advertisements Charles Riggs bought the Reilly name in August 1922. The first ad appeared in the 18 Aug 1922 edition of the “Essex Newsman.” The name/address on the ribs was "EM Reilly & Co., London." Riggs' had historical connections to BSA - however, some believe his guns were built by Osborn/Midland. The serial numbers became 6 digits apparently beginning around 128000. In addition to 6 digit serial numbers most "Riggs-Reilly's" had "Prince of Wales" stocks.


Gun SN’s matched to Chronological Dates:
. . . . . -- *1. . . . .88 – Feb ‘29 . .- 001 is chosen as the number of Reilly first gun. 1st extant SN'd gun is 88 a pair of .50 cal hexagonal Damascus barreled dueler percussion pistols. Addresses on barrels are "J.C. Reilly, Holborn Bars, London." The owner, a private UK citizen, wrote that his great-great-great grandfather bought them in London in 1829. Date Marker footnote I.
. . . . . -- *2. . . 1024 – Oct ‘35 . .- Reilly moved to 316 High Holborn in late Aug ’35 (see X footnote above). The 1st extant SN’d gun with High Holborn address is SN 1024. It is am 8mm pocket pistol hammergun with a steel barrel, marked “Reilly, 316, High Holborn, London.” Reily later made and sold dozens of these small pocket pistols. Date Marker footnote II.
. . . . . -- *3. . . 1292 – Feb ‘37 - Last serial numbered Reilly-made hand-gun. It is a 120 bore, steel barrel, percussion miniature pocket pistol marked “Reilly, London.” No other serial numbered Reilly nand-guns have been found though he sold hundreds of them over the next 75 years.
. . . . . -- *4. . . 7021 – Jan ‘46 – In 1846 JC Reilly appears to have split his numbering systems. He kept a series starting at SN 7000 for himself, while the main-line serial numbers continued, possibly overseen by now 30 year old EM. 7021 is the 1st extant JC Reilly gun in the new JC Reilly 7000 series. It is a 20bore single barrel muzzle loadiing percussion shotgun, a “boy’s gun.” It has the 316 High Holborn address on the barrel. Date Marker footnote III & IV.
. . . . . . . . . . -- *4a. . 7023 – Jan ‘46 – As confirmation of 7021, 7023 is an 11 bore, SxS percussion shotgun with J.C. Reilly, 316, High Holborn, London, on the rib
. . . . . --*5. . . 3329 – Jan ‘47 – Upon the move from High Holborn to 502 New Oxford Street the mainline Reilly serial numbers were jumped up 5,000 numbers from about 3350 to 8350 (see footnote III above). The last extant main-line SN’d gun at High Holborn is 3329, a 10 ga/.58 cal SxS percussion shotgun with Joseph Charles Reilly, 316, High Holburn, London.on the rib.
. . . . . -- *6. . . 8378 – May ‘47 – Once installed at 502 New Oxford Street (27 Mar 1847, date marker III above) the mainline Reilly serial numbers were jumped up 5000 numbers from 3350 to 8350. 8378 is 1st extant mainline SN’d gun with New Oxford St. address; It is a 10 bore SxS perussion Shotgun with J.C. Reilly, 502, New Oxford Street,London, on the rib. "Removed from Holborn" is on the trade lable. Date marker footnote IV.
. . . . . . . . . . --*6a. . 8463 – Nov ‘47 – As confirmation of the above, SN 8463 labeled in late Nov 1847) is a 390 cal SxS percussion 5 groove rifle with “Reilly, New Oxford Street, London;” on the rib. Like 8378, 8463 has a trade label with "J.C. Reilly, removed from Holborn." Date marker footnote IV.
. . . . . -- *7. . . 7201 – Sep ‘47 – The first JC 7000 series with New Oxford St. address is 7201. It is a .577 cal. Single barrel percussion rifle. The trade lable includes "J.C. Reilly, removed from Holborn."
. . . . . -- *8. . 10054 – Sep ‘56 - This is the first SN’d extant Reilly center-break gun made on the Lefaucheaux principle. It is a 15 bore, SxS pin-fire, single bite, forward U-L, break-action gun with Reilly, 502, New Oxford Street, London. On the rib. See Date Marker footnote VI) (Note: This is possibly the oldest extant UK-made center-break gun.). Date Marker footnote VI.
. . . . . -- *9. . . 8186 – Aug ‘57 – Last JC 7000 series extant gun. It is a .650 ca. Minie ball, single-barrel percussion rifle with “Reilly, New Oxford Street, London.” On the rib. It is alo marked “Veni, Vidi, Vici” (I came, I saw, I conquered), Ceasar’s quote which JC Reilly began to engrave on his 7000 series guns in 1855. Date Marker footnote VII.
. . . . . -- *10. .10782 – Jul ‘58 - - Reilly, New Oxford Street, London. .(not “Reilly & Co.”): 577 cal; Rifle; single barrel, breech loader, hammer gun.31" brls. Frederic Prince patent. Date Marker footnote VIII and IX.
. . . . . . . . . . -- *10a. 10811 – Oct ‘58 - 1st extant SN gun with "Reilly & Co." on rib. Also first Reilly SN’d gun with the Oxford Steet adress. The gun is a .25 bore, single barrel Prince Patent breech-loader hammer gun. See Date Marker footnote VIII and IX.
. . . . . -- *11. .11227 – Sep ‘59 - 1st gun with “E.M. Reilly & Co” on the rib. It is a .577 cal. Enfield 3-band rifle. Date Marker footnote X.
. . . . . -- *12. .11716 – Dec ’60 - Plaque on rifle - presented as a prize Christmas 1860; It is a .577 Enfield rifle. muzzle loader, volunteer rifle with E.M. Reilly & Co., New Oxford Street, London; on the barrel. It likely was number 3-4 week before presentation. Date Marker footnote XI.
. . . . . -- *13. .12532 – Aug ‘62 – Documented Sep ’62 London exposition gun bought by Prince of Wales. It is a 12 bore SxS, percussion shotgun guilded/gold washed and commented on in the 16 Sep 1862 Bradshaw guide to the fair. The Prince of Wales feather emblem is on the gun. Date Marker footnote XII.
. . . . . -- *14. .13326 – May ’64 – In early Marc ’64 Reilly announced that he had manufacturing rights to the Green Bros. .577 cal. single barrel patent breech loaders in the London press. Per newspaper advertisements he made a number of these guns in May ’64 for the then upcoming trials for a UK interim breech-loader (ultimately won by Snider). 13326 is Pat use #16 with “E.M. Reilly & Co., 502, New Oxford Street, London” on the barrel, certainly made in May 1864.
. . . . . . . . . . -- *14a. 13333 – May ’64 – Green Bros Pat use #23 with “E.M. Reilly & Co., 502, New Oxford Street, London;” on the rib. The guns have consequative Reilly SN’s and Green Bros. pat use numbers.
. . . . . -- *15. .14983 - Mar ‘68 – 1st gun with rue Scribe, Paris address; It is an 8 bore SxS, C-F, U-L hammer gun shotgun with “E.M. Reilly & Co., New Oxford Street, London & 2, rue Scribe, Paris” on the rib. The hammers are unusual. Date Marker footnote XIII.
. . . . . -- *16. .17574 - Oct ‘71 – Rifle presented as a gift with an 1871 plaque, probably fall ‘71. Date Marker footnote XIV
. . . . . -- *17. .23536 – Nov ‘81 - 1st use of renumbered addresses 277, 16 on a gun. This is a 12 ga SxS BLNE shotgun with steel parrels (A&D patent use#3814 with “E.M. Reilly & Co., 277, Oxford Street, London” on the rib. Date Marker footnote XV.
. . . . . -- *18. .27358 – Jul ‘85 – Last extant Reilly with rue Scribe on the rib. 12 bore SXS side-lock, top-lever, extractor shoggu with “E.M. Reilly & Co., Oxford Street, London & rue Scribe, Paris” 0n the rib. It has Perkes Pat action use#603 and the Scott Gas Check Pat use#1614. Date Marker footnote XVI
. . . . . -- *19. .32760 – Feb ‘91 – Plaque on gun – “presented on 26 Mar 1891” as a birthday present to a father from his sons. It is a 12 bore SxS top-lever, BLE rifle and was probably ordered six weeks prior to presentation. Date Marker footnote XVII.
. . . . . -- *20. .34723 – Apr ’97 – Last extant Reilly with 16 New Oxford Street address. 12 ga top-lever, hammer-gun SxS shotgun with “E.M Reilly & Co., 16, New Oxford Street, London.” On the rib. See Date Marker footnote XVIII.
. . . . . -- *21. .35386 – Jan ’03 – Believed to be the last extant SN’d gun numbered at 277 Oxford St (address not mentioned in ad). .410 SxS Shotgun. Top lever, Hammer gun. Date Marker footnote XIX
. . . . . -- *22. .35394 – May ‘04 - First SN from 295 Oxford St. .297/.250 Single barrel rook rifle; central hammer, S-L, ejector. 26" brls. with “E.M. Reilly & Co. 295, Oxford Street, London” on the barrel. Date Marker footnote XX.
. . . . . -- *23. .35678 – Dec ‘11 - Last extant Reilly, a 12 bore SxS top-lever boxlock shotgun (address unknown). Date Marker footnote XXI
. . . . . -- *24. 128466 – Sep 1922 - 1st known extant Riggs marked SN’d “Reilly,” a 12 bore SxS boxlock shotgun with “E.M. Reilly & Co., London,” on the rib. Dae Marker footnote XXIV.
. . . . . -- *25. 150570 – 1950? - Lastt known extant Riggs marked SN’d “Reilly.” It is a 12 gauge BLNE SxS shotgun with “E.M. Reilly & Co., London,” on the rib.




Verification Checks: - Checking individual guns to see if they match the dating hypothesis:
. . . . . **1. .7201 – Sep ‘47 – The first JC 7000 series with New Oxford St. address is 7201. It is a .577 cal. Single barrel percussion rifle. The trade lable includes "J.C. Reilly, removed from Holborn."
. . . . . **2. – 1856 production numbers : After his triumph at Paris in 1855 - "all guns were sold and many orders booked." The increase in production by 100 guns for 1856 reflects this.
. . . . . **3. 10655 – Mar ’58 - Early 1858 Reilly pinfire on the Lefaucheux principle numbered shortly before the April “the Field” trials; No one in UK could have made that gun for Reilly other than Lang or possibly Blanch; "The Field" mentioned that fall that Reilly along with Blanch and Lang were "overdone with orders" for breech loaders, likely the reason that in Aug 1858 he opened "the Manufactory" at "Arsenal House," 315 Oxford Street - to satisfy this demand.
. . . . . **4. 10738 – Jun ‘58 - Reilly began making under license Prince Patent breech loaders soon after the Patent was taken out in 1855. Reilly may have been behind a March 1858 letter signed by 12 London gunmakers urging Arsenal to reconsider the Prince. 10738 was serial numbered in summer 1858 - 1st extant Prince Patent gun.
. . . . . **5. 14115 – Mar ‘68 - E.M. Reilly & Co., (address not mentioned). Shotgun SxS; center-fire, U-L, non-rebounding hammer gun; wedgefast forearm; First extant center-break, center-fire shotgun. (In 1866 two patents were issued for centerfire primer shells for shotguns making C-F shotguns practical).
. . . . . **6. 20459 – Jul ‘76 – In summer 1875 UK proofmarks changed to include “not for ball” for a choked shotgun, as a result of Greener’s Spring ’75 demonstration of the concept. Reilly first adversed a choked shotgun in May ’75. The first confirmed by photos extant Reilly shotgun with the new markings is 20459, a 16 ga. Shotgun SxS. S-L, hammer gun, marked “E.M. Reilly & Co., Oxford Street, London & rue Scribe, Paris” on the rib.
. . . . . **7. 20623 – Dec ’76 - Purdey patent 1104 use #4928, the last Reilly with a Pat 1104 use #. The Purdey patent expired 01 May 1877. (There are later guns with what appears to be the Purdey double-bite system but the Patent use numbers is not mentioned or displayed in photographs)
. . . . . **8. 21839 – Dec ‘78 – Last Reilly with Scott spindle pat 2752, use# 8699; pat expired 25 Oct ‘79. This gun from late Dec '78-early Jan '79 does not have the Purdey Patent 1104 use number.
. . . . . **9. 22482 – Jan ‘80 - 1st extant Reilly box-lock; Reilly advertised boxlocks in May 1875 but did not really push the genre until 1880. Really did write a blurb on his company in 1885 claiming that beginning in 1880 he strongly promoted boxlocks.
. . . . . **10. 23536 – Nov ‘81 - The address numbers for Oxford Street were rationalized in November 1881 - before that time there were 7 houses on Oxford Street numbered "315." 502 New Oxford Street became "16" - "315" became "277." 23536 according to the chart would have been numbered in Nov '81.
. . . . . **11. 23574 – Dec ‘81 - For the 1882 season Hurlingham rules weight limit for pigeon guns was fixed at 8 lbs. This pigeon gun built in late 1881 for the new upcoming season weighs 8 lbs.
. . . . . **12. 23574 – Dec ‘81 - 1st Reilly gun with a Whitworth Steel barrels. Reilly began to advertise Whitworth barrels in early Jan 1882.
. . . . . **13. 1882 production numbers : In January 1882 Reilly noted in an advertisement that he was selling ready-made guns. At the same time he began for the first time to strongly promote boxlocks patented in 1875 per an article in the UK press. Reilly production jumped from an afterage of 650 a year (for the previous 15 years) to over 1000 a year with no expansion of manufacuring faciities. This likely indicated a change in his business model and his using boxlocks bought in the white from Birmingham and finished in London, as did the entire London trade.
. . . . . **14. 24534 – Nov ‘82 - For the 1883 season Hurlingham rules weight limit for pigeon guns was changed to 7 lbs 8 oz. This pigeon gun built in late 1882 for the new rules weighs 7 lbs 8 oz.
. . . . . **15. 35186 - Jun ’00 - Dated on the chart as 1900; iThis gun has a post-1898 trade label and London 1896-1904 proof marks
. . . . . **16. 35554 – Dec 1907 - Reilly double rifle chambered for .500/.465 with 295 Oxford St. address on the barrels. The chart dates it as late 1907. This cartridge was introduced by Holland & Holland in spring 1907.
. . . . . **17. 35614 – 1911 - Reilly SxS shotgun built by G&S Holloway with H8113 SN on barrel. The Holloway SN is documented as 1911. Reilly apparently sold off most of his guns in late 1911 due to catastrophic losses at 40% mark-down, which explains the high number of guns sold in 1911. (This gun is so different in styling from other Reilly’s that there may be a questions about its authenticity.)


##1 - ##6 - London proofmarks (Diggory Hadoke's chart)


Patents
These patent numbers have been found on Reilly's and can be used to help date them - caution however; many guns were modified and updated so presence of a patent by itself does not definitively establish a manufacture date:
1855: Bore size stamp required by law (Note: Reilly may have been one of the few gun makers in London, Greener and Manton being two others, who routinely put bore size stamps on his guns before the regulation)
1858, 24 Sep - Westley Richards 2149, dolls head, top bolted, top lever
1859, 07 Sep - Jones patent 2020 - underlever (aka double-grip or screw-grip)(lapsed 1862, 19 Sep)
1860, May - J.D. Dougall "Lockfast" action patent 1128
1860, 15 Nov - Henry patent 2802 - 7 groove shallow rifling. Extended for 4 years on 15 November 1874.
1861 - Daw patent 203 - centerfire from a Pottet's French patent, broken by Eley in 1865 - (introduction of center-fire concept)
1862 - Needham patent 1544, rotating single-bolt snap-action side-lever
1863, 01 May - J. Purdey patent no. 1104 - "double bite" under action bolt (see below re Scott Spindle)
J.Purdey patent no. 424 - retractable firing pins.
1863, 10 Sep - Greener patent 2231 - pinfire snap underlever - see 1873
Needham side-lever
1865 - Eley breaks Pottet’s French patent on centerfire shells.
1865, 25 Oct - Scott patent 2752 - spindle. (top lever)(purdey-scott incest for 14 years)
1865 - Needham patent xxxx - safety, firing pins and hammers to half cock
1865 - Whitworth "fluid compressed steel" patent
1866 - Webley patent 3022 - snap action underlever
1866 - Pape patent xxxxx - choke tubes
1866 - Hodges patent xxxx - action
1866, March - Center-fire primer cap shotgun shell design by American Berdan
1866, Oct 13 - Center-fire primer cap shotgun shell design by Edward Mounier Boxer.
1867, 05 Nov - Pape patent 70463 - wing thumb lever w/single bite
1867, 09 Feb - Stanton patent 367 - rebounding hammers
1868, 20 Jan - Parson's Patent 201 - chopper lump (Damascus) barrels
1869, 30 Dec - Stanton patent 3774 - rebounding hammer modification
1870 - Lang patent xxxxx- top lever sliding bolt action
1870 - Thomas Patent top lever "double grip" bolting system
1871 - T. Murcott hammerless system
1872, 12 Feb: H Walker patent 455- top-lever barrel bolting and safety for drop-down actions
1872 - Anson patent 3791 - fore-end fasteners
1873 - Deeley & Edge patent 1422 - fore-end fastener
1873, 05 Apr - WM Scott patent 1268 - retractable firing pins
1873 - Scott patent 615 - "key" fore-end fastener
1873 - Greener cross-bolt treble wedge fast locking system
1874 - Needham patent xxxx - separate barrel ejector system (Needham later bought by Greener)
1874, 12 Jun - WM Scott - “Quadruple Grip” action
1874, 04 Dec - Henry rifling patent extended for 4 years to 29 Nov 1978.
1875, 11 May - Anson & Deeley patent 1152 and/or 1756 - Boxlock hammerless action.
1875, 25 May - WM Scott patent 1902 - Triplex top lever grip.
1875 - "Not for ball" added to proof marks based on the Greener choke boring invention. NOTE: If a shotgun were not choked after 1875, it would not have the “Not for Ball” markings - many, possibly most shotguns were NOT choked until the 1880’s.
1875, 15 Sep - Scott patent 3223 - crystal cocking indicator (back action)
1875, 15 May - Scott patent 1902 - top extension
1876 - Thomas Woodword patent 651 - hammerless push-forward under-lever snap action.
1876 - Anson's patent No.4513. Safety aka "Dickie Bird Safety."
1876 - Scott patent 615 - fore-end lever catch
1878, 23 Feb - W.C. Scott & sons patent 761 - aka Triplex Action, coil spring back action hammerless lock; incorporates the Crystal Cocking Indicator.
1878 - Mills patent 4980 - 3rd bite
1878 - Perks cocking rod patent 1968 - over-center ejector patent (better known as Southgate or Holland system)
1879 - Ellis & Scott action, patent No 2816
1879 - Needham & Hinton patent 706 - intercepting sears on back action (bought by Scott)
1879 - Whitworth fluid compressed steel patent extended for 5 years
1880, 16 Nov - Beesley patent 31 - Sidelock hammerless action marketed by Purdey
1882, 8 Feb - Scott patent 617 - gas check
1882 - Pat 4089 - Anson intercepter sear patent (see Scott)
1883, 11 Apr - Anson & Deeley patent, Boxlock hammerless improvement
1884, 3 Nov - Deeley patent 14526 - ejector
1886, 13 Dec - Deeley patent 4289 - ejector system
1886 - Perkes patent 10679 - ejector
1887 - "Not for Ball" dropped; "Choke" added to London proof mark
1889 - Southgate patent 12314 - Beesley ejector London and intercepter sear (see Perkes)
1889 - A&D "boxlock" patent extended?
1893 - Southgate patent 8239 - ejector trip (Holland & Holland)(see Perkes)
1896 - "Nitro Proof" and "1 1/4 oz Max" added to London proof mark
1904 - "NP" topped by arm and sword symbol - (definitive nitro proof) added to London proof mark

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