I've written this letter to Holland & Holland. We'll see what comes of it:

Sirs. I have written a new history of Reilly of London and created a date chart to permit dating of his serial numbered guns over 90 years from 1827-1912. It was published in Diggory Hadoke's on-line magazine "Vintage Gun Journal last summer and can be read in its entirety on this lone: https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=436538&page=44

In continuing research I got interested in certain patents and wondered whether the patent use numbers on various guns could be dated. As an example, I've created a graph of use numbers for Scott Patent 761-78, the "Scott Climax Action." The use numbers look pretty logical up to about 1886.

I've noted five H&H shotguns using the action posted below. I'm wondering if you have data on when these guns were serial numbered (I assume when they were ordered) and when the 761 patent was paid for (and who paid for it). (And I realize this is asking a lot...but thought I'd try - Purdey is unable to access their records for Patent 1104-63).

Use # 150 - H&H SN 6096 (H&H dated the gun to Lord Mandeville, possibly 1880)
Use # 832 - H&H SN 6777 made for a "Dalgleish"
Use #1190 - H&H SN ? allegedly from 1882 sold to a W. Place/Burnley (Check out the theoretical time line - almost dead on)
Use #1400 - H&H SN 7616 made for a Mr. Straker
Use #1401 - H&H SN 7381 made for Dr. Salix (no completion date)(Toby restored)
Use #1651 - H&H SN 7610 (replacement barrels)

You can see some conversation about this on this line: https://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=566741#Post566741

I realize this is a Quixotic request..patents were sold in blocks; each patent holder had his own system, as chaotic as the gun making business in the 1880's was in its entirety in London. But somehow the first 7 or 8 years of that Scott patent 761 look fairly logical.

Many thanks, Gene Williams

Last edited by Argo44; 03/09/20 07:50 PM.
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