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

Tinker & jOe: You're right & you're right. Craig Lovelace has been kind enough to provide me with a brief history on the E.M. Reilly Company and Terry Buffman is sending me a catalogue of Charles Riggs & Co. who bought Reilly in 1917. MORE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE FALLING INTO PLACE!

Best Regards, George

george, could you post or PM an email to contact you. I have a 8 bore E.M. Reilly back action hammer shotgun that is very similar to yours except the stalking safety. I have been able to date my gun to 1871-1876 and would be interested in sharing info to help both of us.

thanks

Bill

Gents, see this link -

https://www.ukdata.com/company-credit-reports/E-M-REILLY-_and-COMPANY-GUN-MANUFACTURES-LIMITED.html

..which would imply that the UK company records and no doubt entitlement to the name are held by a firm of accountants here in the UK. They may even be commercially available for purchase

With Reilly guns, you can often date them from the addresses on the top rib. My 12 bore hammer has the address in both London and Paris (2 Rue Scribe), which I believe dated it to 1870/1871 along with other indicators such as the hammers and the wedge foreend.

I recommend a small subscription to the Internet Gun Club which has full histories of many makers and is fascinating.

Also see this interesting article - http://www.gunsandammo.com/content/em-reilly-and-friends

Hello Bill: My E-Mail Address is palmettotreasure@aol.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

CBL1: Thanks for the info. I will try to seek them out.

Best Regards, George

George, here is a bench mark value for your 4 bore.A double 4 bore hammer gun, by F.Gates,Derby, 4 inch chambers, 36 inch damascus barrels,both cylinder bored, Birmingham Black powder re- proof. Jones underlever, length of pull 14 3/4, weight 17 1/2 pounds; in canvas case was sold at Bonhams,London,29 July 2009, lot130, for 16,800 pounds!

Thanks Roy! It looks like I might have gotten a pretty good deal after all. I'm going to have Jim take all the measurements and I'll post them. As an aside, I wonder what an original Winchester 4 bore high brass loaded with #4 coppered shot would be worth?

Best Regards, George

George - as a benchmark, 4 historical Eley four-bore cartridges went for £148 at a recent Holts sale. So basically nearly $65 a pop.

I have shot clays with an 8ga.

Long crossers with a 4 bore would be a grand thing.

Well done on your purchase!!

CBL1: Thanks again for the info. I wonder when Winchester stopped making 4 bore cartridges?

Mike: Thanks, I let you know when it's done & ready to light two off.

Best Regards, George

For those who might be interested: I spoke with Jim Kelly today and the barrels to the Reilly are now "in the white" and he has sent them to the engraver to be touched up. I forgot to ask him to measure & weigh the gun but I will as soon as the barrels return. It seem that another recently sold at auction for about $40,000, perhaps without the rust.

To OWD: Could you e-mail the name & address of that someone to restore the case. The leak in the roof didn't do it much good either.

Best Regards, George