doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Auction alert - E. M. Reilly 4 bore SxS...

Wow.

Someone likely got a really great deal on a project with great potential and character.




Cheers
Tinker

Good grief, guys. I posted the price way back in the thread. $5170 including buyer's premium. The back end of the gun appears to be in extrememly fine condition, maybe unused since the conversion. Look at the wood to metal fit! I couldn't get excited enough to keep up with the bidding because of the scant breech walls which indicated a rebore from eight gauge. Of course, a real preservationist may reconvert to eight gauge rifle by sleeving and have quite a machine. I love those stalking safeties and Jones lock.

Eightbore-


I'd figured that's just where you stepped off the bidding.
Didn't know (myself) that the bidding stopped there.






Looking at the photos, I'd been thinking that this gun had been handled (some time ago) by 'one of those guys' who has screwy skin PH levels.
You know - the guys who leave rusty fingerprints on EVERYTHING they touch...
The forend wood looks like it'd been soaked in water though - hard to say exactly what happened.






I own a two-barrel set where the gun barrels are 12-bore and the rifle barrels are 16-bore.

Looking at the standing breech, the 'witness marks' on the metal of THIS gun appear to show a fair bit of use with two different diameters of case-head.
Re-bore? I'd thought re-bore from rifle first before I saw the barrel length, my next thought was re-barrel - there's always the possibility that we're seeing 'what's left' of a two-barrel set.
The existing barrels (could be re-bore but I doubt it - lots of meat at the muzzles!)
have classic pin-fire period 'flash marks' engraved at the breech tops.
They also have little filler wedges dovetailed in where the firing pins would protrude.



I think this particular set of barrels may just be original confituration.
Hard to say without the metal in the hands though!




Also missing from my head-scratching is a view into the case.
The lid-label is neat and all, but I really would like to see how the innards are configured and how they've worn over the years (and the years 'yonder...)





Cheers
Tinker

I think I see a couple shells & a cleaning brush peeping over the rim of the case. Has anyone ever bought from this company?

Just Wondering......George

Tinker, there was available a view of the case. It is water soaked on both ends and pretty disrupted inside. The part holding the stock section is dry. The muzzles could be almost as original with the breeches bored to four gauge. I still don't like the thin breech walls. George, the auctioneer told me that there were six or seven four gauge shells and some other stuff in the case. I had asked if it was truly a four bore, not an eight. He then told me about the shells.

Bill: I'm looking at a couple of my 8 bore English guns: A J. Braddell and a J. Beattie and the breech walls on them are no thicker that what is shown on the E.M. Reilly. These guns were built for black powder, hence low pressures. Perhaps it was originally built in 4 bore.

Best Regards, George

E.M. Reilly 4 bore arriving today. Where should I send the barrels for removal of rust and refinishing ?
All advise will be appreciated.

Best Regards, George

Well the old girl arrived this afternoon well packaged. Condition is as I expected. The surface rust on the barrels, I believe, can be removed without losing much metal. The action is like new (a little rust on the edges of the buttplate). Unexpectedly the bores are bright with no pits. As was stated it appears the case had contact with water on both ends as did the barrels. I am taking her to Jim Kelly at Darlington Gun Works tomorrow, (I just can't stand to see her in such sad shape), for estimates. I would like to hear from the board, especially from those who posted on this thread, as to possible experts for restoration. I know it won't come cheap!

Best Regards, George

I am glad to hear your 4 arrived safely. Do you have an overall weight for the gun and the weight and length of the barrels? Here is a chart from Frank Findlow's DGJ article Some Thoughts on 12 Bores". Eventhough it is not about 4 bores per se, I thought you might find the pressure table interesting. It looks like a very rewarding project, I envy you.

That's great news - congratulations.

Besides having the bbls cleaned up, what else are you going to have done to it? It sounds like that's all it needs.

I can recommend someone in the US to restore the case.

OWD