======= *94 Charles Riggs era, August 1922-1950? TEXT =======

*94 Charles Riggs era, August 1922-1950?:

In August 1922 The Reilly name was bought by a sporting goods dealer named Charles Riggs (most Reilly history summaries put the date of purchase as 1917; this is belied by the dates of newspaper advertising). Riggs apparently decided he could use the name to promote his premium line of guns (possibly built by Osborne/Midland or perhaps Holloway - based on similarity of engraving).
. . . . .attached - 1st ads:
. . . . . . . . . .18 Aug 1922, “Essex Newsman”*94a
“Guns: Reilly and Co., Famous Gunmakers 100 years in Oxford Street, ask you to send for List, 107 Bishopsgate, London. C11."
. . . . . . . . . .30 Sep 1922, “Essex Newsman”*94b
"Guns: Best English Make, £4 to £40 to suit your pocket. Send for full illustrated list. E.M. Reilly & Co., Ltd., 107 Bishopsgate, London. C11. Estd 100 years in Oxford Street".

Riggs Started off in Broad Street Station, London marketing BSA products with his name on them in the early 1900's.*94c In 1912 he moved to 107, Bishopsgate where he continued to market all sorts of BSA goods including the motorcycles” *94d, *94e, *94f (known colloquially to 1960’s riders as “Bastard Stopped Again"). He expanded into other sporting goods such as tennis and golf and continued selling guns. His catalogs include all sorts of BSA firearms and usually advertisements for .303 SMLE Enfields and the like.

He originally had his own “Riggs” brand of sporting guns (built in Birmingham):
. . . . .Advertisement for a “Riggs Gun” *94g
. . . . .Case and Label for a “Riggs gun.”*94h

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

Per internet chatter (unconfirmed), he marketed his own ammunition under the name "the Bishop" made by Eley up to at least 1914.

He also wrote a book in 1915 “Practical Points of Musketry.”*94i He had been a member of the Essex Yoemanry Militia for many years and for 20 years beginning in 1911 sponsored an annual reunion of the Essex Yoemanry.*94j He brokered the sale of 1,500 Martini-Henry's to local militia groups early in WWI.

The Riggs' 1922-23 catalog has the following introduction for his “Reilly” brand:*94k

. . . . .“The WORLD FAMED HOUSE OF E.M. REILLY & Co., late of Oxford Street, London, W. is now amalgamated with the house of CHARLES RIGGS & Co. Ltd of 107 Bishopsgate, London: Ecr, thus making one of the strongest combinations ever known in the Gun Making and Sports Goods business….

. . . . .”The 'House of Reilly' is too well known in gun circles to need any comments here having been established nearly 100 years and its reputation for craftsmanship and value is a household word. All our guns in future will be named “E.M. Reilly & Co., London” thus adding another 25% to the value should you ever desire to sell it.”

Riggs-Reilly guns usually have "E.M. Reilly & Co., London" on the ribs; Sometimes "E.M. Reilly & Co., Ltd." As a further identifier, a lot of the Rigg's-Reilly's have "Prince of Wales" half pistol grip stocks, something the original Reilly firm almost never made. They were proofed in Birmingham. Riggs'-Reilly named guns have six-digit serial numbers and appear to begin at around 128000. The earliest Riggs serial number so far identified is 128466). A Riggs "Reilly" with a serial number in the 150000's is known to exist.

Examples of extant Riggs-Reillys:
. . . . .SN 128466 - E.M. Reilly & Co., London. 12 bore SxS Shotgun, 29" barrels. Nfi. 1st extant Riggs-Reilly*94l
. . . . .SN 131065 - E.M. Reilly & Co., London. 12 bore SxS Shotgun. BLNE. 30” barrels. 2.5” chambers*94m
. . . . .SN 150570 - E.M. Reilly & Co., London. 12ga. Shotgun SxS. Boxlock non-ejector. (Brm proofs) Last extant Riggs-Reilly*94n

Riggs stopped specifically mentioning the Reilly name in advertisements by January 1923 but continued to label his guns as "E.M. Reilly & Co., London." Per serial numbers he appears to have sold well in excess of 20,000 'Reilly" guns over the course of some 20-25 years.

Riggs was quite a self-promoting character and comes across in advertisements and articles as something of an annoying, pretentious, status-climbing, individual with a large ego and a huge amount of hubris and energy. There are pictures of him medalled like a royal prince claiming marksmanship trophies that the historical record doesn't support.*94o He billed himself as a yeomanry sergeant early on*94p but had promoted himself to Lieutenant later on in life.*94q He very well could have rubbed the gun establishment the wrong way.

Comment: Reading Rigg's letters to the London Press etc., can be grating (such as this 1914 letter about his son having "the time his life" on the western front in WWI).*94r The man would have made millions in the USA with his energy and without the class chip on his shoulder. In UK the way he presented himself and his business might have resonated with the BSA motorcycle crowd, which were his customers also, but likely was deadly to the upper classes; he made a lot of money - helped soccer clubs, contributed money to a down and out boxer, etc. - but apparently not a lot of friends in the close-knit gun making fraternity.

The Riggs guns, all 22,000 + of them, are not ugly...but are now regarded as "journeyman guns," made in Birmingham "for the trade" of medium quality. Who negotiated the sale of the Reilly name is unknown. Whether a Reilly was involved in the design of the Riggs-Reilly's is not known.
. . . . .But what a come-down in advertising: from weekly ads in "The Field" and almost daily advertisements in the major London newspapers, the major travel guides of the country and the most important sporting events of the year, to Rigg's tiny advertisements in the "Essex Newsman," the "Chelmsford Chronicle" and the Bracon, Wales County papers

Riggs allegedly remained in business until 1966 (not confirmed – although eyewitnesses remember walking into the sporting goods store in the early 1960’s and seeing only a few BSA air-guns).

======= *94 Charles Riggs era, August 1922-1950? END TEXT =======

Last edited by Argo44; 06/05/22 11:12 AM.
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