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*51 Reilly Builds (Civilian) Snider-Enfields:

Arsenal had been bombarded with proposals to adopt a breech-loading military rifle ever since the adoption of the percussion Enfield rifle in 1853. It was well known that the Prussians were using the Dyese needle gun (since 1848),*5a but a hide-bound bureaucracy was wedded to the percussion gun. It was thought that breech loaders would only lead to inordinate waste of ammunition by the troops. In early 1864, however, the Dyese rifle proved its worth on the battlefield*51b in the Schleswig war between the Prussians/Austrians and the Danes.

In July 1864 the British conducted a series of committee meetings on adopting an interim-measure breech-loader. Trials were held that September and ultimately the Snider action was selected.*51c By Fall 1865 Enfield Arsenal had constructed 10 “model guns” for use by gunmakers in making the actions. The Snider was ready for trials in spring 1866 and was formally adopted in September. The cartridges with integral primer redesigned by Col. Boxer were a key component of the new system.*51d

It had its first combat use in Napier’s expedition from India to Ethiopia (Absyssinia) to rescue some European hostages in 1867-1868 where it performed admirably.*51e (Note: Reilly pin-fire shotguns were carried by some on this expedition to supply meat to the troops.*51f)

Hundreds of thousands of percussion Enfields were converted to the Snider action. Arsenal modified only Enfields made 1859 or later. By late 1868 these had all been modified and new-made Sniders began coming out of Enfield and BSA by 1869; they had steel barrels rather than iron, the first in UK army history. The Snider was supplanted in 1874 when the Martini-Henry was adopted. However, it continued in use for 60 years. Sniders were entered in marksmanship contests up to 1920 in Canada and pre-war in Britain.

Reilly did not advertise specifically making or marketing Sniders until March 1867,*51g although it can be safely assumed that he was selling the guns as soon as, if not before, they were formally adopted. This is evident when he supplied a mixture of breech-loaders including a Snider, a Chassepot needle gun, and other breech-loading rifles for a lecture given to a Militia gathering in December 1866.*51h

Reilly converted a lot of percussion Enfields to Snider actions and advertised his ability to do the work.*51i This includes transforming Enfields built by other makers. This makes it difficult to know what were the actual characteristics of a true Reilly-built "new" Snider as opposed to those Enfields he upgraded to a Snider action. Reilly apparently sometimes stamped his own serial number on the guns he modified since he sort of (re)built them, meaning that some Reilly’s, ostensibly serial numbered after the Snider was adopted, were made before 1866 by other makers and have Birmingham proof marks and other non-Reilly characteristics:

. . . . .SN 16036 (1868) - E.M. Reilly & Co., New Oxford Street, London. .577 original Hollis-made Enfield converted to a Snider breech-loading rifle, sporterized, by Reilly; The Reilly SN is stamped on the trigger guard tang and on the barrel. However, there is a faint stamp “Isaac Hollis & Co” (or Sons) on the barrel which has been over-stamped with “E.M.R. 16036.”*51j

However, Reilly also made and serial numbered “new” Sniders in and of themselves, a number of which are extant including large bore big-game rifles. These were civilian guns made before Arsenal began turning them out for the military; Reilly was not given a part of Arsenal contact to make military Sniders. Believe Reilly’s first extant specifically built civilian Snider is SN 15021 (early 1868). The last known Snider constructed by Reilly is SN 33419 (1896).

How these Reilly-built Sniders are marked is not clear:
-- Most Reilly rifles have “Snider” stamped on the guns somewhere,*51k sometimes along with other patents (such as Newmarks). Some have the "arrow with GR" stamp which is allegedly "crown property proofed" perhaps meaning the bolt and action were obtained from arsenal. However, literature is not clear on to whom Reilly paid royalties or how much these were. There are no patent use #'s. Presumably this would have been to Arsenal since Jacob Snider had died before receiving a penny of compensation for his invention.
-- Nor is it clear where stamps are to be found or what stamps were required. Reilly Snider barrels have London proofs but there are exceptions as mentioned above. They vary from gun to gun (or they are not included in current day auction advertisements). Note: Government Sniders allegedly were the first UK military gun serial numbered. SN stamps are found on the bolt, barrel, sight, and lever but are often not the same numbers or are simply missing. (These questions will be left for the thousands of Snider action enthusiasts to correct or solve).*51l

Following are a few significant (time-wise) Reilly-Sniders from a historical stand-point:

. . . . . -- SN 10021 (1856) – E.M. Reilly & Co, New Oxford Street, London (*re-labeled "E.M" after conversion) .577 enfield 3 band, converted to Snider c.1866. The first extant Reilly-made 1853 Enfield rifle and paradoxically the earliest Reilly made Enfield converted to a Snider action. The name “E.M. Reilly & Co.“ was likely added when the conversion was completed.*51m

. . . . . -- SN 15021 (early 1868) - the first extant Reilly made specifically as a Snider-Enfield: E.M. Reilly & Co., New Oxford Street, London. .577 Snider Enfield Volunteer 3 band rifle. German silver rearsight cover stamped "Snider": No Photo-1997 auction.*51n

. . . . . -– SN 15239 (late summer 1868) - E.M. Reilly & Co. New Oxford St., London. .577. single barrel Snider Enfield. 15239 - E.M. Reilly & Co., New Oxford Street., London. .577. Rifle, Snider-Enfield 2-band; Brum proof.**51o

. . . . . -– SN 16607 (1870) - E.M. Reilly & Co., (address not mentioned). .577. Rifle; Single barrel. Snider Enfleld breech-loader. [/color]*51p

. . . . . -- SN 18514 (early 1874) - E.M. Reilly & Co., (address not mentioned); 8 bore. Single barrel rifle; Snider Patent & Newmark's Patent*51q

. . . . . -- SN 33419 (1894): E.M. Reilly & Co., 277, Oxford Street, London. .450 BPE SxS rifle. Snider patent action. U-L, hammer gun. Anson forearm Pat use #2829*51r

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Last edited by Argo44; 06/05/22 09:20 AM.
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