E M Reilly & Co, 16 New Oxford Street, London.
12 bore Bar-action hammergun
no. 34585

Year of manufacture: 1896

   
   
   

Click on these images for more detail.

Heritage Guns' Comment

E M Reilly & Co are often thought of as merely a retailer of guns made in the trade but recent research by a historian from the USA has shown that they were a gunmaker in the truest sense of the word, producing a formidable range of firearms from their ‘manufactory’ in and around the then mainly residential area of London’s Oxford Street.
This hammergun represents a fine example of the sporting hammerguns that were sold in substantial numbers during the period 1865 to the turn of the century and displays many of the features of the hammergun’s later development such as the low hammers, below line of site when cocked.
The Stanton rebounding locks are of high quality and the replacement steel barrels (fitted in 1952) are in great condition and exhibit very good measurements.
The forend is thought to be original but the highly figured stock is a replacement, we would suggest that the barrels and stock were replaced at the same time as the action and forend were re-colour-hardened. This coupled with the sensitive restoration makes it a very pretty, safe and highly 'shootable' gun for either game or clays.
Presented in its Maker's trunk style leather case with some accessories.

        WE REGRET THAT THIS GUN IS NOW SOLD. IF YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR A SIMILAR GUN, PLEASE CONTACT US.   

On Consignment in USA with MacNab Fine Firearms

The action is of traditional design and features:
Double triggers;
Stanton rebounding bar-action locks; Low level hammers;
Finely carved percussion fences; Broad strikers;
Top lever opening, operating a 'Purdey’ type bolt via Greener style leverwork;
Passive ‘Dolls Head’ top rib extension;
Extended top strap;
Anson pushrod forend catch
and much renewed hardening colour.
Gun weight 6lb 11oz     
Engraving style
Foliate scroll.
Trigger pulls measure approximately: Front trigger 3 ½ lbs Rear trigger 4 lbs

The replacement steel barrels are 30" in length, chambered for 2 ¾  " (70mm) cartridges and are of brazed 'dovetail' lump construction with soft soldered ribs.
Top rib is of the smooth, concave, game type.
London reproof for 70mm nitro powder cartridges in 2013.

Approximate barrel measurements at date of publication:

 
Nominal Proof Size
Bore Diameter 9" from Breech
Minimum Wall Thickness
Choke Constriction
Right Barrel
18.5mm (0.728")
0.728"
0.029"
0.009" (IC)
Left Barrel
18.5mm (0.728")
0.729"
0.027"
0.030" (IM)

Replacement Straight Hand Stock and Splinter Forend are crafted from highly figured walnut and the forend is thought to be original. The stock is lightly cast-off for a right-handed shot and features a vacant white metal oval and is finished with a chequered ¾” ebonite extension.
The forend has one inlet repair to its edge and an engraved steel forend tip.
Highly Figured Walnut

The 20 lines per inch chequering has been freshened to its normal sidelock design.
The stock is finished with a traditional linseed oil based preparation as used on best guns by one of the top English makers. This finish uses no grain fillers to achieve its deep, smooth lustre, only many hours of alternate build and flatting off of the surface.

Approximate stock measurements at date of publication:

Pull to Heel
Pull to Bump
Pull to Centre
Pull to Toe
14 1/8"
14 1/4"
14 3/16"
14 5/8"
Drop at Comb
Drop at Face
Drop at Heel
1 1/2"
1 3/4"
2 1/8"
Cast at Comb
Cast at Heel
Negligible
1/8" approx.

For the purposes of these measurements, 'Drop at Face' is the 'drop' measurement taken on a line perpendicular to the
line joining the trigger and centre of the butt at approximately 8" from the trigger (front trigger on a double trigger gun).

Patents Exhibited include:
Stanton's rebounding lock patent no. 367 of 1867;
‘Purdey Bolt’ patent no 1104 of 1863;

Anson's forend fastener patent no. 3791 of 1872.