trw999 - Many Thanks for that intensely comprehensive study of the Reilly clan as related to E M. Unfortunately, it does not leave one with a feeling of having gained a definitive history of the true nature of the E M Reilly brand, whether gun making or gun selling firm.
Admittedly, if I were a betting man my hand would be forced to play it out as the latter. And if that were indeed the case then I am in a real quandary as to the makers of my soon to be pair of E M Reilly .500BPE doubles. One I have in hand and the other is en route.
All facets of the one I have are striking in the workmanship/craftsmanship exhibited, and for what its worth, photos of the soon-to-be-mine rifle likewise show exemplary work.
The dates of manufacture by serial # given by Brown puts the guns' completion in the mid to late 1870's. Who in the trade would have been capable of such work done "under the radar", so to speak? I ask this not out of incredulity but merely as a "fact finding" question.
Now, we know many of W J Jeffery's beautiful double rifles from the same period were crafted by Harry and/or his son Daniel Leonard. That they were capable of such fine work is known fact.
If E M Reilly was in fact a gun broker/vendor, and not a maker, who could the maker in actuality have been? Please, if anyone can shed some factual knowledge or an educated guess I would greatly appreciate hearing what you have to put forth.
And to narrow the candidates down let's only concern ourselves with the manufacture of rifles, single or double, during the 1870's. OK, it may be a self-serving request, but I think the specificity of these types of weapons is crucial to the question.
Many Thanks to any and all who can contribute.
