Product Details
J.C. REILLY, LONDON
A GOOD 12-BORE PERCUSSION DOUBLE-BARRELLED SPORTING-GUN, serial no 5580,
for between 1835-47, with browned heavy twist 30in. barrels, the raised top-rib signed 'JOSEPH CHARLES REILLY, 316 HIGH HOLBORN, LONDON', bead fore-sight, engraved shell to rib-end, engraved plugs, fully engraved top-tang, rounded border and scroll engraved isolated bar-action locks with semi-dipped tails and signed forwards of the engraved dolphin-headed hammers 'REILLY', walnut half-stock with finely engraved iron furniture and complete with its original brass mounted ebony ramrod, overall length 46 1/2in., weight approximately 7 3/4lbs.
Other Notes:
Joseph Charles Reilly was born in 1786 in Granard, Co Longford, Ireland. At some time he moved to London where, in about 1814, he married Martha (b.1787 in London). In 1815 they had a daughter, Elinor, and in 1816 a son, Edward Michael. No other children have been recorded. In 1816 he opened a business as a jeweller at 12 Middle Row, Holborn and, as was common with jewellers in those days, he also part-exchanged, bought and sold guns. In about 1832 his son, Edward, joined the business and in 1835 it moved to 316 High Holborn. J C Reilly guns were sometimes engraved "Holborn Bars" but whether this address was the earlier 12 Middle Row or 316 High Holborn is not known. In the 1841 census Joseph and his family were recorded at "Holborn (above the Bars)", both Joseph and Edward describing themselves as gun makers. In 1847 father and son moved to 502 New Oxford Street but whilst Joseph described himself as a gun maker Edward described himself as an air gun maker. Air guns by both have been seen, they were very fashionable at the time, but Edward obviously chose to specialise in them and they may have run a separate business from the same address. In 1850 he published a "Treatise on Air Guns", but he had wider interests and later developed a wholesale export market for military volunteer rifles.
In the 1851 census Joseph was recorded living at 502 Oxford Street with one servant, his wife had died and he was a widower. If Edward was living at home he was not in residence on the night of the census and no record of him has been found. Joseph and Edward Reilly are known to have bought completed guns from both the Birmingham and London gun trade makers. How many guns, if any at all, were actually made or even finished by them is not known. Nevertheless, the Reillys together with Joseph Lang and John Blanch were the best known promoters of centre-fire guns after the 1851 Great Exhibition. These were very different to manufacture compared with muzzle-loaders, and very different to use, and therefore a huge novelty in a traditional business. In 1859 Joseph appears to have retired because the business trading as J C Reilly was re-named Reilly & Co. (which apparently traded as such until 1899) and they moved to 315 Oxford Street (later named "Armoury House"). These premises were formerly Joseph Manton's and were next door to James Purdey. The business of E.M. Reilly remained at 502 New Oxford Street but in 1860 it was re-named E.M. Reilly & Co. In the 1861 census Joseph was recorded living at Barn End, Cranfield, Bedfordshire with a housekeeper, his occupation was not stated. He died in 1864.
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Estimate £800-1,200