doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 8 Bore Reilly - Are the Case Colors Original?

Well at least one of the above posters has spent a lifetime in the UK trade. He may have a clue.

Just a few of the things that catch my eye, CC on top of pitting, wrong finish on the under lever and fore end iron, fore end iron looks very worn most likely from pitting, the position of the under lever is too far to the right and likely has been re-joined, damascus finish is all wrong for a British gun and is either a copper wash or needs much more build up of the brown. My guess is that in hand you will see many more issues.


Does it makes a difference if it has been restored? Why yes it does. It helps to know what you are buying when you try to establish a value. Restored guns are fine if the work is done correctly but the market values them quite differently than original condition guns.

That's not quite fair. Most of us have a clue but lack the experience for insight.
We've looked at hundreds of guns through the years and have seen case
coloring from the sublime to the ridiculous and can remember what they looked like.
The secound picture down tells it all. The colors are bunched in the middle of the action,are dark with no character and when I first saw it I could only think of the word splotchy.
Reilly's quality was way above this.

I think it is not OE finish and think it has been tarted up in hopes of a low knowledge buyer.

Reilly is a BV3 brand name. The gun looks to me like it is one step above a farmer's gun in Original Quality graded; so, OQ8. Current Condition looks like between "Shootable but needs some repairs and refinishing" CC6 and "Marginally shootable, significent repairs required soon or poor restoration," CC8.

BV3-OQ8-CC8 = $430
BV3-OQ8-CC8 = $180

What think you all about the value?

DDA

I don't think your evaluation has any value.

The gun is listed by a seller in England doesn't the gun have to pass some kind of proof other than someone looking at an Internet picture with the underliever not closed all the way and declaring the gun junk ?

The gun being an 8 gauge will bring a premium over the same gun in 12 or 10 gauge.

The 8 bore price is "POA." It is being sold by:
E.J. Churchill Shooting
Ground, Park Lane,
Lane End,
High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP14 3NS.

I sent them an e-mail requesting additional information. I've heard nothing back. (I asked for additional info on the name on the rib, pics of the flats, etc.). The Churchill name is storied - one presumes because of this that the shop is reputable (but then so are a number of Camel Salesmen, Carpet Shops and Used Car Dealerships I know).

As for the evaluation, Rocketman is the expert. The gun is plain. But frankly if I could get it for $400 + cost of asking SKB to import it for me, the check would be in the mail barring something really bad turning up. For instance it's interesting that there is no full picture of the gun - wonder if the barrels are lopped off?

I agree with everything except the OQ and the value. Very good quality with not much embellishment when new. The fact that it is an 8 ga. ups the value a whole bunch. I would say 3-4K USD even in the current sad condition. If it was well used but sound and original the value would be 2-3 times my above estimate. If the gun was a 12 bore I would agree with you DDA.
Steve

The lever not being fully closed "May" be a result of the Re-Case-Hardening.
You can believe it or not as You see fit, but parts DO MOVE when they go through the Critical Temperature in heat treating.

"IF" the part does not go through the Critical temp, it has just been colored at the expense of original hardness & not Re-Hardened.

My guess is that the hook has had work done to it due to the large gap at the front of the through lump.


You are of course 100% correct that it could be due to the re-hardening as well.

not closing it all the way for the photos.

The underlever looks fully centered in the photos of the top of the gun. jOe may be right.