doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Reilly SN 5512 Muzzle Loader - Advice needed

My 16 bore muzzle-loader J.C. Reilly SN 5512 arrived today. It's 1847 with both the 316 High Holborn and 502 New Oxford Street addresses on the rib as pointed out in the Reilly line.




The barrel exteriors are not nearly so pitted as the photos make it appear. The action is very crisp, the hammers snap like mouse-traps. This is going to be my only "project gun" so I'll be asking some questions.

-- I want to recondition the stock. The wood looks really interesting. The checkering is almost worn off. I'll redo the finish following the internet but how do you redo the checkering?
-- For starters, how do I check out the bores of a muzzleloader? I've beamed a military rifle light down them....they look decent. But how to know? How do you clean a muzzle loader to start with? I want to shoot this gun but 170 year old barrels need examination. Who do you recommend?
-- And....can I rebrown these barrels myself or do they need to be sent out and checked out? To whom?

I can point you to the correct chap to re-cut your flat top checkering. You may be surprised what a cleaning will do for it. Raw linseed oil can do wonders. Beyond a bore light or scope the breech plugs need to be removed to get a good view of the bore condition. Blackpowder is water soluble so the best way to clean the bores ends up being a good scrubbing with soap and water followed by oiling the bores. I would not attempt to re-brown your barrels yourself without lots of practice on scrap tubes. It takes a fair bit of trail and error to get the browning process down correctly. Drop me a note for more info on both the stock refresh and the barrel browning. I just cleaned up a nearly black stock full of oxidized oil and dirt with pretty much zero abrasive paper. The gun now has a nice old rich glow to it and wood looks great. Most likely the best route for your gun as trying to make it look new would look "off". Best regards,
Steve

Nice looking gun....

Its quite sad that after 170 years it has crossed paths with a shade tree gunsmurfer.

I bet ol'Reilly is rolling over in his grave about now.

the only smurf posting on this thread is you Smurfette.

A made in China borescope costs peanuts these days. Plugs into your cell phone.
Like magic for examining a muzzle loader bore.
Can be ordered from eBay or Amazon.

Stevie pie pOooo

My reply was not to you nor did it have anything to do with you.

But since you chimed in...

He could send it you a gun farmer like you.

You have nothing to contribute to this board as usual frAnk.....just another no nothing blow hard is what you are.

Says the gun farming smurf...



Rumor is the more work you do for members of this forum the less your credibility as a gunsmith becomes.

You are the only Smurf here Smurfette.....

You trashed another thread Stevie...

You're like a little punk kid Stevie