doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com E.M. Reilly; History; Chronology; Serial Numbers

=========== Pause 5 - Review of principle points 1828-1861 ============

The history is now up to 1861; a decade of very rapid change is ahead. Here are the principle points made over the last 45 chapters. If anyone has comments or objections to any of this, could we please discuss this further now.

And as always if anyone has evidence that Reilly was "merely a retailer" during this period 1820-1860, please post it so it can be debated. Thanks.

----------------------------- CHRONOLOGICAL -------------------------------

-- 1814 – Aug 1835 - Address: - 12 Middle Row, High Holborn.
-- 1814 – Jun 1912 - Name: - Joseph Charles Reilly or J.C. Reilly
-- c1814-1828 - Gun Sales: - Reilly selling and engraving used guns taken in trade for jewelry.
-- c1828 - Gun making: - Reilly began making his own guns in addition to dealing in quality used guns.
-- c1831 - Gun making: - Making and selling guns in the white to country dealers
-- c1835 - Gun making: - Possibly making and selling guns in the white to other London gunmakers.
-- 1828-1837 - Gun making: - He was a pistol maker as well as a long-gun maker
-- Aug 1835 - Address: - moved to 316 High Holborn.
-- 1835 - 1847 - Label: - "Joseph Charles Reilly, Gun Maker, 316 High Holborn, Near Chancery Lane"
-- 1835 – 47 - Address: Facilities: - He had a short indoor range at 316.
-- 1837 - SN's- Gun Sales- He quit numbering pistols but continued to assemble and engrave them

-- [c1840 - Gun Making: Air guns: - Making air guns in the 1840's. E.M. was billed as the expert,
-- Aug 1840 - Co. organization: - E.M. may have become a full partner in the firm in 1840 at the age of 23.
-- Aug 1840 - Name Change: - From "J.C. Reilly" to "Reilly" in advertisements
-- 1837-1847 - Gun making: - He was boring his own barrels as early as 1837.
-- Mar 1847 - Address: - moved to 502 New Oxford Street.
-- Mar 1847 - Dec 1847 - Label: : A New label was used for a few months: Resembles the 316 Label
-- Dec 1847 - 1856 - Label: - A label was created Dec 1847 which continued to 1856. Sketch of 502, Reilly, Gun Maker.
-- Dec 1847 - Aug 1858- Name Change: - "Reilly, Gun Maker"
-- Apr 1847 - SN’s: - Mainline serial numbers jumped up 5000 numbers from about 3350 to 8350 with the move in 1847.
-- Jan 1846 - Sep 1857 - SN’s: - J.C. kept SN's for himself as early as January 1846..called the "7000" series ending in 1857 with his retirement

-- 1851-1890 - Address: Facilities: - 300 yard outdoor shooting/testing range.
-- 1851 - Showcase: - EM represented the company at the Crystal Palace exposition.
-- 1850-1857 - Co. organization: J.C. and E.M., always worked from the same building and used the same trade/case labels.
-- 1850’s - Gun making: The company made custom guns and munitions for famous hunters and military heroes.
-- 1857 - Co. organization: J.C. retired - he died in 1864.
-- 1855 - Showcase: - EM represented the company at the Paris World's Fair.
-- 1855 - Gun making: Pinfires: Reilly began to developed pinfires.
-- 1856 - Gun making: Pinfires: Reilly began advertising and selling pinfires:Four Reilly pinfires from 1856-58 exist: 10054, 10128, 10355, and 10655. 10054 might be the earliest UK made pin-fire center-break gun in existence.
-- 1855 - Label: "Reilly, gun makers, 502 New Oxford Street, fusels a Bascule; Improved Breech Loaders," Sketch of 502 and 1851,55 medals.
-- [1850’s - Gun Making: Percussion Military rifles: - Reilly built military muzzle loading rifles including Enfield Rifle-Musket, General Jacob’s Rifle.
-- 1855-1865 - Gun Making: Breech loader rifles: He also built breech loading rifles including Prince Patent and Terry’s Patent

-- Aug 1858 - Address: - opened 315 Oxford Street manufactory "The Armoury"
-- 1858-1867 - Facilities: - 315 Oxford Street had a 50 yard indoor shooting gallery “on the premises”
-- Aug 1858 – Feb 1859 - Name Changes: - “Reilly & Co., Gun Makers
-- Feb 1859 - Aug 1860 - Name Changes: - “E.M Reilly & Co., Gun Makers
-- Aug 1860 – Apr 1861 - Name Changes: - “E.M. Reilly & Co., Gun Manufacturer
-- post March 1861 - Name Changes: - “E.M. Reilly & Co., Gun Manufacturers
-- Aug 1858 - Label: - 315 Oxford Street, The Manfactury – “Reilly, Gun Makers”
— Feb 1859 - Label: - 502 New Oxford Street, “E.M. Reilly & Co., Gun Makers”
— Feb 1859 - Label: - 315 Oxford Street, Armoury House – “E.M. Reilly & Co., Gun Makers”
— Apr 1861 - Label: – 502 New Oxford Street, “E.M. Reilly & Co. Gun Manufacturers”
-- 1859 - Gun sales: - Reilly sold guns and equipment kits to Yoemanry Militia and Gun Clubs both retail and wholesale, few made by him.
-- 1861 - Gun making; - He claimed to be making every part of every gun and invited viewers
-- 1850-1890's - Gun making: - He made his own guns & guns under license from other makers using their patents

-- 1828-1912 - Gun making: Stocks: - French Walnut; pistol grip for rifles and big bore fowlers; straight grip for shotguns
-- 1828-1912: Gun making: Engraving:
. . . . .1820-1830’s – Vine & scroll
. . . . .1840-1850’s – Large English scroll
. . . . .1860-1870’s – Intricate rose & scroll
. . . . .1870-1900’s – Fine rose & scroll
. . . . .1840’s-1860’s – some wildlife
-- 1828-1912 - Gun making Barrels: - London proofed; 30” for center-break shotgUns 24”-28” for break-action rifles.
. . . . .1836-1847 - barrels bored by Reilly.
. . . . .1820-1865 – Damascus, Plain English Stub Twist
. . . . .1865-1912 – Damascus Crolle patterns and variations.
. . . . .1880-1912 – Marketing steel Whitworth barrels
-- 1837-1912 - Gun sales: - Reilly engraved and sold all types of handguns but did not serial number them.
-- 1828-1912 - SN’s: - Reilly only serial numbered guns he built.
-- 1850-1912 - Gun sales: - He engraved and marketed guns he finished in the white; he retailed other makers guns of all types - none serial numbered.
-- 1858-1900 - Gun sales: Accessories: Ammo: - Reilly began marketing his own pinfire cartridges late 1858 and continued to do so for 50 years.
-- 1859-1865 - Gun sales: Accessories: Blades: - Reilly made cutlery and bayonettes for a decade

-- 1860-1900 - Co. Organization: - Some Reilly shop foremen have been identified.

----------------------------- TOPICAL -------------------------------

Address
-- 1814–Aug 1835 - Address: - 12 Middle Row, High Holborn.
-- Aug 1835 - Address: - moved to 316 High Holborn.
-- Mar 1847 - Address: - moved to 502 New Oxford Street.
-- Aug 1858 - Address: - opened 315 Oxford Street manufactory "The Armoury"

Facilities
-- 1835–1847 - Address: Facilities: - He had a short indoor range at 316.
-- 1851-1890 - Address: Facilities: - 300 yard outdoor shooting/testing range.
-- 1858-1867 - Facilities: - 315 Oxford Street had a 50 yard indoor shooting gallery “on the premises”

Name Changes
-- 1814 – Dec 1847 - Name: - Joseph Charles Reilly or J.C. Reilly
-- Aug 1840 - Name Change: - From "J.C. Reilly" to "Reilly" in advertisements
-- Dec 1847 - Aug 1858 - Name Change: - "Reilly, Gun Maker"
-- Aug 1858 – Feb 1859 - Name Changes: - “Reilly & Co., Gun Makers
-- Feb 1859 - Aug 1860 - Name Changes: - “E.M Reilly & Co., Gun Makers
-- Aug 1860 – Apr 1861 - Name Changes: - “E.M. Reilly & Co., Gun Manufacturer
-- post-March 1861 - Name Changes: - “E.M. Reilly & Co., Gun Manufacturers

Labels
-- 1835-1847 - Label: - "Joseph Charles Reilly, Gun Maker, 316 High Holborn, Near Chancery Lane"
-- Mar 1847 - Label: - New label was used for a few months: Resembles the 316 Label
-- Dec 1847 - Label: - New label Dec 1847; "Reilly, Gun Maker", 502 New Oxford Street; Sketch of 502,
-- Jun 1856 - Label: "Reilly, Gun Maker," 502 New Oxford Street, "Fusils a Bascule"; "Improved Breech Loaders," Sketch of 502 and 1851,1855 medals.
-- Aug 1858 - Label: - 315 Oxford Street, The Manufactury – “Reilly, Gun Makers”, "Fusil a Bascule", Shooting gallery
— Feb 1859 - Label: - 502 New Oxford Street, “E.M. Reilly & Co., Gun Makers”, Sketch of 502 and medals remain.
— Feb 1859 - Label: - 315 Oxford Street, Armoury House – “E.M. Reilly & Co., Gun Makers”
— Apr 1861 - Label: – 502 New Oxford Street, “E.M. Reilly & Co. Gun Manufacturers”; building sketch dropped; Reilly basic format label for the next 35 years.

SN’s
-- 1828-1912 - SN’s: - Reilly only serial numbered guns he built.
-- c1837 - SN's: - Pistols no longer serial numberedbut continued to assemble and engrave them
-- Apr 1847 - SN’s: - Mainline serial numbers jumped up 5000 numbers from about 3350 to 8350 with the move in 1847.
-- Jan 1846 - Sep 1857 - SN’s: - J.C. kept SN's for himself as early as January 1846,called the "7000" series 7000-8200 ending in 1857 with his retirement

Gun Making
-- c1828- Gun making: - Reilly began making his own guns in addition to dealing in quality used guns.
-- c1831- Gun making: - Making and selling guns in the white to country dealers
-- c1835- Gun making: - Possibly making and selling guns in the white to other London gunmakers.
-- 1828-1837 - Gun making: - He was a pistol maker as well as a long-gun maker
-- c1837 - SN's- Gun Making- He quit numbering pistols but continued to assemble and engrave them
-- c1840- Gun Making: Air guns: - Making air guns in the 1840's. E.M. was billed as the expert,
-- 1837-1847 - Gun making: - He was boring his own barrels as early as 1837.
-- 1850’s - Gun making: The company made custom guns and munitions for famous hunters and military heroes
-- 1855 - Gun making: Pinfires: Reilly began to developed pinfires.
-- 1856 - Gun making: Pinfires: Reilly began advertising and selling pinfires:Four Reilly pinfires from 1856-58 exist: 10054, 10128, 10355, and 10655. 10054 might be the earliest UK made pin-fire center-break gun in existence.
-- 1850’s - Gun Making: Percussion Military rifles: - Reilly built military muzzle loading rifles including Enfield Rifle-Musket and General Jacob’s Rifle.
-- 1855-1865 - Gun Making: Breech loader rifles: He also built breech loading rifles including Prince Patent and Terry’s Patent
-- 1861 - Gun making; - He claimed to be making every part of every gun and invited viewers
-- 1850-1912 - Gun making: - He made his own guns & guns under license from other makers using their patents
-- 1828-1912 - Gun making: Stocks: - French Walnut; pistol grip for rifles and big bore fowlers; straight grip for shotguns
-- 1828-1812: Gun making: Engraving:
. . . . .1820-1830’s – Vine & scroll
. . . . .1840-1850’s – Large English scroll
. . . . .1860-1870’s – Intricate rose & scroll
. . . . .1870-1900’s – Fine rose & scroll
. . . . .1840’s-1860’s – some engravings of dogs and wildlife
-- 1836-1912 - Gun making: Barrels: - London proofed; 30” for shotgUns 24”-28” for rifles.
. . . . .1836-1847 - Barrels bored by Reilly.
. . . . .1820-1865[ – Damascus, Plain English Stub Twist
. . . . .1865-1912 – Damascus Crolle patterns and variations.
. . . . .1880-1912 – Marketing steel Whitworth barrels

Gun Sales:
-- c1814-1912 - Gun Sales: - Reilly selling and engraving used guns taken in trade for jewelry.
-- c1837 - SN's-Gun Sales - He quit numbering pistols but continued to assemble and engrave them.
-- 1837-1912 - Gun sales: - Reilly engraved and sold all types of handguns but did not serial number them.
-- 1850-1912 - Gun sales: - He engraved and marketed guns he finished in the white; he retailed other makers guns of all types - none serial numbered.

========== Pause 5 - Review of principle points 1828-1861 ===========