*92 June 1912: Bankruptcy

Per advertisements in September 1911 the company announced it was for sale or in need of new partners with cash. Its stock of guns was advertised at reduced prices for cash only.*92a

In December 1911 the company was changed to a limited liability company with George Watkinson Roberts - liquidator specialist, as one of the directors. Roberts was a bankruptcy lawyer. Reilly's continued advertising 295 for sale in Spring 1912 per newspaper advertisements. It appears Bert Reilly knew bankruptcy was coming and changed the company to protect his personal assets. He retained his separate homes after bankruptcy. It also appears that Reilly deliberately attempted to sell off as much stock as he could before bankruptcy was declared. Whether he also tried to move machinery and other items out of 295 is possible but not knowable.

Bankruptcy was declared on 06 June 1912 (publicized on 08 June 1912 in the London Monday morning papers).*92b

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

. . . . .—SN 35678 (1911?): The last extant gun with 295 on the rib is 35678, a 12 bore SxS BLE shotgun.*92c

Note: Per the 1911 census Bert Reilly no longer lived on the premises of his workshop at 295 Oxford Street, a first for a Reilly owner.*92d Reilly's had lived in their shops since at least 1835.

*93 1912-1918: 13 High Street, Marylebone

Bert Reilly opened a small gun repair shop, "E.M Reilly & Co., Gun Maker," at 13 High Street, Marylebone in 1912 after the bankruptcy.
. . . . .—Attached map of Marylebone*93a
. . . . .—Attached googe.map photo of 13 High Street.*93b

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

No advertisements can be found for the shop though per London postal address, telephone and business directories they identified themselves as "gunmakers."
. . . . .—attached 1912 Post Office Directory – Reilly, E.M. & CO., Gun & Rifle mfrs, still at 295*93c.
. . . . .—attached 1915 Street Directory – Reilly, E.M & Co. Gunmakers, 13 High St Mrlebne*93d
. . . . .—attached 1916 Street Directory – Reilly, E.M., Gun Maker 13 High St Mrlebne*93e

No guns with this address on the rib have been found. The date of its closure is not noted although it is listed in the London telephone directory in 1918 (but not in 1919).
. . . . .—attached 1918 Street directory – Reilly E.M., Gun Maker 13 High St. Mrlebne*93f
. . . . .—attached 1918 phone directory - Mayfair 406 Reilly E.M., Gun Maker, 13 High St Mrlebne*93g
. . . . .—attached 1919 directory – E.M. Reilly not found.*93h

(Note: IGC claims that 13 High Street was occupied by Reilly as early as December of 1911 while 295 was for sale; no footnotes or validation of this claim were published. It has not been verified. London directories and telephone directories do not seem to support this assertion. Since the newspaper report of the 06 Jun 1912 extraordinary meeting to decide on bankruptcy states it was held at 295 Oxford Street, this IGC detail has to be called into question.)


. . . . . XIII. CHARLES RIGGS ERA; 1922 – 1950:


*94 Charles Riggs era, August 1922-1950?:

In August 1922 The Reilly name was bought by a sporting goods dealer named Charles Riggs. Riggs apparently decided he could use the name to promote his premium line of guns made In Birmingham (possibly built by Osborne/Midland or perhaps Holloway - based on similarity of engraving).

Charles Riggs was born in 1874 in London, one of 8 children of John Riggs. In 1878 Epping Forest, Essex, northeast of central London was saved from the ax by Parliament in the Epping Forest Act. A number of “retreats” were located there which were popular day visits for Londoners. John Riggs in particular owned several such auberges or hotels and passed them on to members of his family. One of these, “Riggs Retreat,” was located in Buckhurst Hill, Essex.*94a It was a large establishment and could allegedly sit 400 visitors for afternoon tea at one time. It featured a balcony wrapped around a huge beech tree.*94b, *94c.

By the early 1890’s Riggs’ Retreat was being run by a young Charles Riggs, who looks to have had a knack for business. In the mid 1890’s Charles Riggs began advertising Riggs Retreat as an ideal stopping point for touring bicyclists and he himself apparently became an avid cyclist. The ads in “Cycling” continued virtually weekly from 1897-1907.*94d By the mid-1900’s tennis tournaments were also being held at “Riggs’ Retreat.” Riggs likely sold tennis and cycling equipment. Golf courses were located in close proximity to the retreat and he probably became involved with that sport as well. This no doubt was his introduction to the sporting goods industry.

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

Also in the mid-1900’s Riggs’ Retreat became a meeting point for the Essex Yoemanry Militia.*94e Riggs as host to the militia probably became interested in guns and in the unit in the early 1900’s and quite probably also began to sell firearms at Buckhurst Hill. By 1907 he was a corporal in the Essex Yoemanry and was one of the founding members of the “Yoemanry Rifle Club.” He is mentioned in rifle match results.*94f

Business for his sporting goods stores at “Riggs Retreat” must have been profitable for in November 1908 he opened a shop in central London “C.Riggs & Co.” at 11, Queen-Victoria Street, where he advertised BSA guns, rifles and ammunition. The advertisements mention that the company was also located at Buckhurst Hill, Essex.*94g

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

Around 1910 Riggs apparently sold “Riggs Retreat” (or possibly one of the other Epping Forest resorts similarly named). At that time he moved his London sporting goods shop to 3, The Arcade, Broad Street Station, Liverpool-Street. He marketed guns and rifles, selling mostly BSA products with his name on them.*94h. He is listed in the 1911 census as "Gun and Rifle Maker."

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

In 1912 he moved the company to 107, Bishopsgate billing himself as a sporting goods company. There he sold tennis and golf equipment, bicycles, soccer and cricket equipment, was involved in boxing, sold BSA motorcycles and sold guns and ammunition.*94i, *94j, *94k. His catalogs include all sorts of BSA firearms including advertisements for .303 SMLE Enfields and the like.*94l He allegedly marketed his own ammunition under the name "the Bishop" made by Eley up to at least 1914. He, also originally had his own “Riggs” brand of sporting guns and billed himself as a “gunmaker” even though his guns were built in Birmingham:
. . . . .Advertisement for a “Riggs Gun” *94m
. . . . .Case and Label for a “Riggs gun.”*94n

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

Charles Riggs was by this time a sergeant in the Essex Yoemanry Militia. He wrote a pamphlet in 1915 “Practical Points of Musketry.”*94o Beginning in 1911 Riggs sponsored an annual reunion of the Essex Yeomanry (His task no doubt made simpler by his past occupation as a hotel owner and caterer).*94p Among other businesses, he brokered the sale of 1,500 Martini-Henry's to local militia groups early in WWI.

Riggs bought the Reilly name in August 1922. (Most Reilly history summaries put the date of purchase as 1917; this is belied by the dates of newspaper advertising). How and why Riggs got interested in the Reilly name is unknown.
. . . . .attached - 1st ads:*94q
1. . . . . . . . . .1922 advertisement
2. . . . . . . . . .18 Aug 1922, “Essex Newsman”
“Guns: Reilly and Co., Famous Gunmakers 100 years in Oxford Street, ask you to send for List, 107 Bishopsgate, London. C11."
3. . . . . . . . . .30 Sep 1922, “Essex Newsman”
"Guns: Best English Make, £4 to £40 to suit your pocket. Send for full illustrated list. E.M. Reilly & Co., Ltd., 107 Bishopsgate, London. C11. Estd 100 years in Oxford Street".
4. . . . . . . . . .07 September 1922, “Wales Brecon”
"Guns: Best English Make, £4 to £40 to suit your pocket. Send for full illustrated list. E.M. Reilly & Co., Ltd., 107 Bishopsgate, London. C11. Estd 100 years in Oxford Street".[/I]
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

The Riggs' 1922-23 catalog highlights the adoption of the Reilly name with a glowing introduction:*94r

. . . . .“The WORLD FAMED HOUSE OF E.M. REILLY & Co., late of Oxford Street, London, W. is now amalgamated with the house of CHARLES RIGGS & Co. Ltd of 107 Bishopsgate, London: E.C., thus making one of the strongest combinations ever known in the Gun Making and Sports Goods business….

. . . . .”The 'House of Reilly' is too well known in gun circles to need any comments here having been established nearly 100 years and its reputation for craftsmanship and value is a household word. All our guns in future will be named “E.M. Reilly & Co., London” thus adding another 25% to the value should you ever desire to sell it.”


The Riggs catalog featured the Reilly name as the centerpiece of his quality gun line-up, ahead of the BSA Guns. Riggs stopped specifically mentioning the Reilly name in advertisements by January 1923 but continued to label his guns as "E.M. Reilly & Co., London."

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

Riggs continued to use the Reilly name on his Birmingham made guns for the next 25 years, selling over 24,000 guns (based on serial numbers). He died in 1950; “subscribers” who took over his shares in the company, per newspaper reporting pledged to continued to “carry on the business of manufacturers of and dealers in guns, rifles, pistols, revolvers.” Advertisements for Charles Riggs & Co, were still being placed in the Chelmsford newspaper in 1960. Riggs allegedly remained in business until 1966 (not confirmed; however, eyewitnesses remember walking into the sporting goods store in the early 1960’s and seeing only a few BSA air-guns).

Riggs-Reilly guns usually have "E.M. Reilly & Co., London" on the ribs; Sometimes "E.M. Reilly & Co., Ltd." As a further identifier, most of the Rigg's-Reilly's have "Prince of Wales" half pistol grip stocks, something the original Reilly firm almost never made. All the Riggs-Reilly’s were proofed in Birmingham. Riggs'-Reilly named guns have six-digit serial numbers and appear to begin at around 128000. (On occasion a Riggs-Reilly will have a 4 digit serial number). The earliest Riggs serial number so far identified is 128466). A Riggs "Reilly" with a serial number in the 150000's is known to exist.

Examples of extant Riggs-Reillys:*94s
. . . . .SN 128466 - E.M. Reilly & Co., London. 12 bore SxS Shotgun, 29" barrels. Nfi. 1st extant Riggs-Reilly
. . . . .SN 134481 - E.M. Reilly & Co., London. 12 ga. SxS shotgun. BLNE. 30” steel brls. 2.5” chambers
. . . . .SN 136720 - E.M. Reilly & Co., London. 12 ga SxS Shotgun. hammer gun, extractor
. . . . .SN 139564 - E.M. Reilly & Co., London. 12 bore SxS Shotgun, hammer-gun
. . . . .SN 139801 - E.M. Reilly (address not mentioned). 12 bore Shotgun SxS. Hammer gun
. . . . .SN 150570 - E.M. Reilly & Co., London. 12ga. Shotgun SxS. Boxlock non-ejector. (Brum proofs) Last extant Riggs-Reilly

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

Riggs was quite a self-promoting character and comes across in advertisements and articles as something of an annoying, pretentious, status-climbing, individual with a large ego and a huge amount of hubris and energy. There are pictures of him medaled like a royal prince claiming marksmanship trophies that the historical record doesn't support.*94t He billed himself as a yeomanry sergeant early on*94u but had promoted himself to Lieutenant later on in life.*94v He very well could have rubbed the gun establishment the wrong way.

. . . . .Charles Riggs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Prince Charles
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

Reading Rigg's letters to the London Press etc., can be grating (such as this 1914 letter about his son having "the time his life" on the western front in WWI).*94w The man would have made millions in the USA with his energy and without the class chip on his shoulder. In UK the way he presented himself and his business might have resonated with the BSA motorcycle crowd, which were his customers also, but likely was deadly to the upper classes; he made a lot of money - helped soccer clubs, contributed money to a down and out boxer, etc. - but apparently not a lot of friends in the close-knit gun making fraternity.

The Riggs guns are not ugly...but are now regarded as "journeyman guns," made in Birmingham "for the trade" of medium quality. Who negotiated the sale of the Reilly name is unknown. Whether a Reilly was involved in the design of the Riggs-Reilly's is not known.

What a come-down in advertising: from weekly ads in "The Field" and almost daily advertisements in the major London newspapers, the major travel guides of the country and the most important sporting events of the year, to Rigg's tiny advertisements in the "Essex Newsman," the "Chelmsford Chronicle" and the Bracon, Wales County papers.

Note: The legend that Reilly was a retailer only probably came out of the Riggs era. There is no mention of this claim until 1990's and by that time anyone who remembered the original Reilly company had passed away and memory had faded.


. . . . . CONCLUSION .


*95 Conclusion:

Over the course of 90 years the Reilly's sold all types of guns in various qualities using all types of actions. Reilly serial numbered about 33,000 guns from circa 1828 to 1912, all built in house. Though Reilly targeted relatively budget buyers, the guns that they made had an artistic elegance and balance, which is unmistakable. Reilly was one of the first to use highly figured French walnut for their stocks and their engraving, for the most part floral scroll work, was in a finely artistic style and consistently classy. Reilly's best guns were as good as those produced anywhere in England at the time.

Gene Herbert Williams, Sep 05, 2018; last updated March 10, 2024