doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com E.M. Reilly; History; Chronology; Serial Numbers

Earliest Reilly Cape Gun 1846: This is SN 3329 probably late 1846. It has been posted before, was previously for sale on Bonhams's and is now for sale this March on Amoskeag. This is the last known J.C. Reilly with 316 High-Holborn address and with the main-line SN's before they were jumped up to 8250 in 1847.

(There was one later gun SN 3402 but it was refinished and re-engraved after 1868. E.M. Reilly & Co., Oxford St., London & rue Scribe, Paris. .58 cal. SxS rifle; 4 grove twist. Hammer gun, muzzle loader. (E.M. Reilly label on the original case).

It is being reposted here because it was originally identified as a SxS shotgun. In fact is a Cape Gun, the earliest Reilly cape gun found. This will necessitate a rewording of the paragraph on Reilly made cape guns:



https://live.amoskeagauction.com/lot-details/index/catalog/135/lot/101916/Cased-British-Percussion-Cape-Gun-by-Joseph-Charles-Reilly?url=%2Fsearch%3Fkey%3DReilly%26xclosed%3D0%26page%3D1

serial #3329, 15 bore & about .55 cal, 30” damascus barrels with bright very fine to near excellent bores showing some scattered mild oxidation and the left barrel with crisp 11-groove rifling. The barrels of this handsome gun retain perhaps 75% original contrasting brown and gray damascus twist patterns with some spotty loss toning to gray along the undersides due to contact with some old contaminant. The barrels are equipped with a rather wide solid rib engraved with Joseph Charles Reilly 316 High Holborn London address and the breech plug shows nice silvery case-hardened patina and double platinum line inlay. The undersides of the barrels bear period London proofs, the shotgun with 17 bore stamp though it measures closer to 15 bore (.677”). The lockplates and other iron fittings retain about 85-90% older period restored case-hardened colors that are reacquiring a nice smoky gray patina and are embellished with crisp detailed flowing foliate scrollwork throughout. The lockplates also feature nice dolphin head hammers and are engraved “REILLY” along the bottom edges below hammers. The trigger plate has a nice pineapple finial and there are sling swivels fitted behind triggerguard tang and at the front ramrod thimble. The checkered walnut stock rates very fine with a little older added oil finish and showing a few small missing slivers along the edges and other light dings to be expected. The checkering shows mild wear and the sides of the buttstock exhibit some fine grain figure. A brass-tipped hickory ramrod is present, the arm is sighted with a standing u-notch rear sight with single flip-up leaf and silver bead front, and the locks are crisp and seem to function well mechanically with in-time hammers. The included period oak case rates about very good plus showing refinished exterior, missing lock and lid escutcheons and a lengthy drying crack along bottom. The interior shows an older green baize relining that shows some pilling and wear. The case contains a large diamond point checkered powder flask (lid hardware is damaged and will require attention), three-piece rosewood rod with assorted attachments, nipple wrench, pick, rosewood-handled shot measure, small mainspring vise, a more modern brass powder measure, and an old leather sling. An attractive cased ensemble from a quality maker. (13B12436-11) {ANTIQUE} (1200/1800)

Dang.... they always show up when I'm low on cash
Very pretty gun! Thanks for sharing argo!

History changed as follows - subheading of this chapter: (It would be interesting to know who originated the Cape Gun concept and when were the first ones actually marketed in London):

VIII. 1860 – 1867 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81
. . .45. 1850’s-1895: Reilly Staff; Quality Young Employees
. . .46. 1861: Reilly Manufacturing and Sales
. . . . . . . .1861: Dougall “Lockfast” patent:
. . . . . . . .1861: “Double grip” - “Jones Underlever:
. . . . . . . .1859: Nuthall’s Patent:
. . . . . . . .1861: .451 Enfield target rifle
. . . . . . . .1861: .451 Enfield experimental rifling
. . . . . . . .1861: Capt. Scott's Patent Progressive Twist Rifling and bullet
. . . . . . . .1858: Cape Guns
. . . . . . . .1861: Bastin Lepage sliding action
. . .47. 1862: Reilly and the 1862 London Exposition
. . .48. 1863: Attempts to Curry Favor with the British Royal Family
. . .57. 1863-1865: Reilly’s Sporting Gun Business
. . .58. 1863-1873: Pin-Fire vs Center Fire
. . .59. 1866: Reilly and Purdey Kerfuffle

. . . . .1858: Cape Guns:*46i Reilly was one of the first to advertise “Cape Guns” (22 May 1958, “The Field”).*46i(1) The rifle barrel was usually on the left – rear trigger.



. . . . . . . .From these first advertisemets and from later comments on the Reilly exhibit at the London 1862 exhibition, the impression is left that “cape guns” were new to the UK in the late 1850’s, something which came out of a demand from South Africa. However, these guns appear to have been made in London for many years before Reilly ever advertised them. Reilly SN 3329, 1846, the last gun known to be serial numbered in the original Reilly series and to have J.C. Reilly, 316 High Holborn on the rib, is in fact a cape gun, 15 gauge and .558 cal (no doubt special order). *46i(2)



. . . . . . . .This said, there are no other known Reilly cape guns until the above mentioned advertisement appeared. The earliest extant serial numbered Reilly cape guns after this publicity are as follows - they all have broad flat top ribs, some are straight grip shotgun style; some have pistol grips rifle style:


. . . . . . . . . SN 11854 - mid 1861; E.M Reilly & Co., London; 12 ga/.600 cal percussion gun.

. . . . . . . . . SN 12207 - early 1862; E.M Reilly & Co., 17 ga/.45 cal percussion gun.

. . . . . . . . . SN 12214 - early 1862; E.M Reilly & Co., Oxford Street, London; 12 ga/.45 cal percussion gun.

. . . . . . . . . SN 12251 – 1862; E.M. Reilly & Co., Oxford Street, London; SxS Cape rifle .25 bore/.500 cal; percussion hammer gun.*46i(3).


. . . . . . . .Reilly continued to make cape guns until the end of the company. Here is an example of late model Reilly cape-guns with the standard 30" Damascus barrels:
. . . . . . . . . SN 34221/34222 - 1895; E.M. Reilly & Co., 16 New Oxford Street, Longon; SxS Cape rifle; 16 bore/.450. Top-lever, hammer-gun: (once owned by Terry Buffum).