doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com The pinfire game gun

Steve, I did some research on Eley's first pin-fire shells as part to the Reilly history (chapter VII; 42) on p. 94, with footnotes posted on p.84 of the Reilly line):

This is the first reference I found to Eley makingbreech loading shells: 02 Jan 1858, “The Field”. 1st known ad for Eley breech loading shells – although whether these were for shotguns is not clear.


First specific reference to pin-fire shotgun shells: 27 March 1858,”The Field”


Early Eley cartridges received bad reviews per letters to the Field. The author urged Lang, Reilly, or Blanch to import hulls from France
. . . . . . . . . .27 Nov 1858 “The Field”


EM Reilly complained about hide-bound practices of the UK cartridge establishment and the inability of UK ammunition makers to manufacture pin-fire shells.
. . . . . . . . . .26 Dec 1857, “The Field”


I believe Eley continued making pin-fire cartridges up until the 1900's.

The earliest case Reilly case label mentioning Eley and Schultz powers is 28189, (1886) - however, believe this label was added post 1904 after the move to 295 Oxford Street. The earliest confirmed label (with 277 as the address would be 33635 (1893) (this still seems early).