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35614 - built by G&S HOLLOWAY in 1911 - changing the chronology and history 1907-1912

Mark Crudgington just worked on a Reilly 12 bore, SN 35614, with E.M. Reilly, 295 Oxford Street, London on the rib. Mark notes that it was built by G&S Holloway per a number near the lump H8113. The 8*** serial number shows it was built by Holloway in 1911. It has post 1904 London Proof marks and was Holloway's "model 1750" that sold retail for £17 -5-0. That is bad engraving for a Reilly and one must assume the barrels are Birmingham proofed. This is not your typical Reilly.







This will influence the dating chart and the history in two ways:

1) This is only the second serial numbered Reilly found so far with marks on it indicating it was made by another firm and finished by Reilly. The first is 10614 (1858) with S.Breeden's name on the action and Brum proofs. I've speculated that after the closure of 277 Oxford Street in February 1903 there is no way Reilly could have kept his gunsmiths at work with the amount of guns he was building per year. He must have been selling guns built in the white by others.

2) Reilly sold 50 more guns in 1911 and 1912 leading up to bankruptcy than previously reckoned. Per this advertisement Reilly was selling off his stock of guns at a 40% discount in September 1911, perhaps getting ready for bankruptcy.

16 Sep 1911, The Field



Thanks a bunch for the help Mark