I purchased the Reilly side-lever 16 gauge. The above explanation of competing bids might explain why Gavin started the sale of the Reilly at 1,600 rather that a hundred or so below the estimated minimum per most of the rest of the auction. I'll still ask him. A lot of guns didn't sell and there were what seemed to be bargains.
Explanation why I bought the Reilly: I only keep a few doubles in the house; I'm not a collector; all are shot regularly; I gave away my 16 bore Saint-Etienne Gerest Berthon to my Dau-in-law and needed a 16. I'd decided on a side-lever and was looking for 30" steel barrels. This Reilly met everything I wanted and it was a Reilly to match my 12 bore (and I've done a lot of research on Reilly's so it's appropriate). The specs were very interesting:
30" Whitworth steel barrels, 2 3/4" chambers, true cylinder & 1/2. Broad file-cut rib; dolls head extension; built on a Scott Climax action; side lever, backlocks, crystal indicators, Perkes patent ejectors, nitro re-proof. Side clips to the fences. It's heavy for a 16 bore, 6 lbs 9 oz. Gavin said it was built to "pigeon specs" (but I've never heard of a 16 ga pigeon gun). The LOP is only 14" but I'll be adding a 3/4" old style pad. The stock looks "plain" and may need some refinishing.
SN 27553 per my chart on the Reilly line would have been dated Autumn 1885. The interesting thing is that like 27854 and 27570 it has "Paris" on one barrel. I've opted to keep the last rue Scribe gun as SN 27340 around end of July 1885 for reasons that can be read on the Reilly Chronology line.
The interesting thing is that the specifications for 27533 are almost identical to Terry Buffum's 27854 sold a couple of years ago except Terry's was a 12 bore. I let the price Terry's sold for sort of guide me in this auction but really I just plain wanted the gun.
Terry's gun. #2 of a pair
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27854http://www.amoskeagauction.com/110/133.phpserial #27854, 12 ga., 30" barrels with bright excellent bores choked full and full. This shotgun is built on a W. & C. Scott crystal indicator action with side clips and with each lock being engraved "E.M. REILLY & CO. / LONDON". The markings on the tops of the barrel are difficult to read but appear to be the E.M. Reilly & Company name and London address on the left barrel and a Paris address on the right barrel. The shotgun was part of a set and is numbered "2" in gold on dolls head rib extension and engraved on interior forend metal. The barrels are Birmingham nitro proofed for 2 3/4" shells with 1 1/16 oz. loads. The minimum wall thickness is generally .0245 with one small area that gets to .023. The action and locks show near full coverage tight English scroll engraving with a nice round flower panel on top of action. The barrels retain about 95% evenly thinning restored blue finish overall. The action and locks show an even gray patina and remain very smooth and free of pitting. The checkered straight grip walnut buttstock and splinter forend rate very good plus as refinished long ago. The gun features a 14 5/8" length of pull over checkered butt and shows drops of 1 1/2" and 2 3/8". The gun locks up tight and points beautifully. A neat crystal indicator sidelever Reilly Ejectorgun. (17147-176) {C&R} [Terry Buffum Collection] (1500/2500) SOLD FOR $2,300.00
Is it possible to have a pair, one 16 ga, one 12 ga, ...one with a "1" the other with a "2"?.... because 27553 and 27840 sure look identical, even down to the description of the engraving on 17840.
