E. M. Reilly | Dogs and Doubles

Auction Alert: Charles Daly Diamond SxS, A.H. 20g Fox A & 12g HE…

June 6, 2014 by Gregg

Heritage Auctions in Dallas, TX, is having their 2014 June 8 Arms & Armor Signature Auction tomorrow. Here a few lots that caught my eye.

Lot 32401: A.H. Fox HE Grade Boxlock Ejector Double Barrel Shotgun: — Lot 32401: A.H. Fox HE Grade Boxlock Ejector Double Barrel Shotgun

Lot 32401: 12 gauge A.H. Fox HE Grade Boxlock Ejector Double Barrel Shotgun: Serial no. 29397. 12 gauge. 30-inch barrels with matted concave rib. Casehardened border engraved boxlock action. Watertable marked with: H. Finely checkered replacement straight stock of semi-figured contrasting walnut. Silver’s style recoil pad. Fox D-style checkering pattern with scalloped panels at head of stock and arrow head points at grip. Finely checkered replacement splinter fore-end with Fox D-style checkering with diamonds and waves. DATA: Barrel dimensions: Bore diameter: 0.744/0.744 inches. Chokes: 0.048/0.048 inches. (Extra Full/Extra Full) Chambers: 3 1/4 inches. Stock dimensions: Pull: 14 3/4 inches. Weight: 8 pounds, 9 ounces. Estimate: $3,000 – $4,000.

Condition: Excellent, as completely redone. Gun was converted to straight grip, stocked and reblued by Keith Kearcher. Barrels show 99% reblued finish. Action with 99% vivid Doug Turnbull case colors. Triggerguard has been lengthened, reblued and re-engraved. Replacement stock & fore-end show a few very small marks.

Lot 32402: A.H.Fox A Grade Lightweight Double Barrel Shotgun: Serial no. 201859, 20ga, 28-inch barrels with matted rib and marked: CHROMOX FLUID COMPRESSED STEEL/MADE BY A.H.FOX GUN Co. PHILA.PA.U.S.A. Floral-engraved receiver marked: ANSLEY H. FOX. Extractor. Checkered walnut stock and forearms. Whiteline butt pad. LOP is 14-inches. Estimate: $1,000 – $1,500.

Condition: Good to Very Good. Barrels retaining approximately 60-70% blue. Receiver with a gray-brown patina. Stock very good with handling wear and fine scratches. Pinned chip repairs at frame.

Lot 32425: 20 gauge Charles Daly Diamond Grade Boxlock Ejector Double Barrel Shotgun: Serial no. 10599. 20 gauge. 28-inch Kochlings Spezial Steel barrels. Matted concave rib marked Charles Daly Diamond Quality. Extended rib with square cross bolt. Barrels with wedges of fine foliate scroll. Casehardened scalloped boxlock action fully engraved with fine foliate scroll and a game scene on the underside. Watertable stamped: PRUSSIA. Ejectors. Sideclips. Auto safety. Intercepting safeties. Cocking indicators. Casehardened triggerguard with game scene. Finely checkered half pistolgrip stock of highly figured walnut. Vacant silver oval. Horn inlay at grip. Drop points and checkered panels at head of stock. Finely checkered splinter fore-end with Deeley-style release & horn tip. Later leather covered recoil pad. DATA: Barrel dimensions: Bore diameter: 0.629/0.628 inches. Chokes: 0.031/0.031 inches. (Extra Full). Chambers: 2 1/2 inches. Proof: German Nitro 20/20, 12/23. (Note: Out of proof due to enlarged bores, by 0.003 and 0.004 inches respectfully.) Stock dimensions: Pull: 14 3/8 inches. Drop at comb: 1 3/4 inches. Drop at heel: 2 3/4 inches. Cast-off: 3/16 inches. Weight: 5 pounds, 11 ounces. Estimate: $6,000 – $8,000.

Condition: Excellent, as partially refreshed. Barrels retain 99% reblued finish. Lower rib, under the fore-end with 4 plugged holes. Excellent bright bores. Action shows 90-95% dark case colors with thinning at front from carry-wear. Triggerguard with 80-90% case colors with wear at the lower tang. Stock shows a few light nicks, some dull areas & some areas of light recoated finish.

Lot 32428: Cased E. M. Reilly Bar-in-Wood Hammer Double Barrel Shotgun: Serial no. 22423. 12 gauge. 30-inch Damascus barrels with game rib marked: E. M. Reilly & Co., New Oxford St. London & Rue Scribe, Paris. Casehardened side-lever bar- in-wood action. Rebounding locks. Percussion fences. Finely checkered straight grip stock of figured walnut. Drop points. Horn buttplate. Finely checkered splinter fore-end with Anson release. DATA: Barrel Dimensions: Bore Diameters: 0.731/0.732. Choke: 0.011/0.014 inches (Improved Cylinder/Modified). The left choke is recessed. Chambers: 2 3/4 inches. Proof: Birmingham Nitro, .729/.729, 2 1/2, 3 tons. (Note: Not in proof due to lengthened chambers.) Stock Dimensions: Pull: 13 3/4 inches. Drop at comb: 1 1/4 inches. Drop at heel: 2 inches. Cast-off: 1/8 inches. Weight: 6 pounds, 9 ounces. Brown leather trunk case with green baize interior. Brass fittings. Maker’s period label. Replacement straps. Estimate: $3,000 – $4,000.

Condition: Fine, as partly refinished. Barrels with 94-96% rebrowned finish, excellent bright bores. Barrels show slight external unevenness from rebrowning. Action a nice polished silver gray finish. Reblued triggerguard shows 97-98% finish. Refinished stock with a few light marks, possible older restock. Recheckered stock and fore-end. Fore-end with some slight marring to checkering. Trunk case in very good condition with nicks and scrapes to the exterior. Interior shows some wear and fading.

This week’s top new guns, powered by Gunsinternational…

November 12, 2012November 12, 2012 by Gregg

Here are my top-picks of the shotguns that popped up this week on Gunsinternational.com. That Holland & Holland is exceptional and the A.h. Fox 12 gauge Super Fox looks nice, too.

Charles Daly Regent Diamond Double Barrel Shotgun

CHARLES DALY PRUSSIAN SXS REGENT DIAMOND 9MM CENTERFIRE SHOT: This is without a doubt the sexiest gun we have encountered. 22” barrels, double triggers, extractors, splinter forearm. Pistol grip. In maker’s crocodile case. 3lbs, 6oz. Price: $95,000.00.

HOLLAND & HOLLAND DOUBLE HAMMER RIFLE .450 CALIBER: .450- 3 1/4″ ctg, 26″ fluid steel barrels with sideclips and rebounding hammers. Back action locks with bolted safeties. Underlever opening, double triggers, and express sights. Checkered foend and pistol grip buttstock with Holland top tang extension. In fabulous original condition retaining nearly all of the casehardened finish and barrel blue. Mint bores. In it’s original oak and leather red baize lined case. This is really on of the nicest original rifles like this I have had. Price: $24,500

Fox CSMC DE 20 ga.: Fox CSMC DE 20 ga., 26″ barrels choked IC/IC. The action features deep relief engraving of woodcock and rough grouse and a setter on the bottom with two flushing woodcock. The remainder finished in a deep, stylized acanthus, and chiseled oak leaf fences. Weighs 5 lbs, 10 oz. Maker’s case! Superb condition. Price: $16,500.

BAKER 10 GAUGE WATERFOWL SHOTGUN WITH 32″ DAMASCUS BARRELS: Chambers are 3″. The minimum wall thickness is 75/1000! The weight of the gun is 10 LBS 1 OZ. Good bores. This gun was made for Montgomery Wards as a private label. Nice damascus pattern on barrels. Traces of case colors. Engraving is crisp with scroll engraving on the sideplates and a quail on the floor plate. Price: $900

Francotte or Guild: 4 GA Gauge double barrel, circa about 1910-1930. The barrels measure 39-1/2″ and approx 56-1/4″ overall. The stock measures 14-1/2″ from the trigger to the checkered butt. The barrels retain 95%+ blue and the frame shows 95%+ case hardening. Price: $53,000

H.J. Hussey Ltd. 12 Gauge 3″ Chamber Imperial Ejector Shotgun: 30 inch barrels choked Full and Full. The condition of the shotgun is excellent with appoximately 75% of bluing, and 80% of case color remaining. Length of pull to the front trigger is 13 and 7/8 inches. Price: $9,000

E. M. Reilly 12 ga hammer gun, side by side

E. M. Reilly 12 ga hammer gun: Beautiful 12 ga hammer gun by E. M. Reilly. Thumb lever opening. Beautiful 30″ damascus barrels choked Cylinder and Cylinder. Bore diameter is .725 with a wall thickness of .030″. In a nice leather case. Price: $8,900

A.H.Fox HE Grade: A.H. Fox HE Grade Super Fox 32″ bbls,3″ chambers,bores .742,chokes .047 & .047 extra full. Gun was shipped October 4,1924 per factory letter. Gun was listed as 23/4 inch chamber,however;references say many were sent back to factory and rechambered for the then new Winchester SuperX 3″ shells and bbls are stamped accordingly. With the 15″ LOP and 1 1/2X1 1/2 Monte Carlo stock.Price: $7,850.00

London auction alert – 4/18: an E.M. Reilly sidelock ejector…

April 11, 2012 by Gregg

On Gavin Gardiner’s April 18th Spring Fine Modern and Vintage Sporting Guns, I’ve saved the best for last. This E.M Reilly may just be the sleeper of the sale.

12 gauge E.M. Reilly double barrel shotgun at Gavin Gardiner's

Lot 180: E. M. Reilly & Co. 12-bore sidelock ejector, No. 33922
30-inch damascus barrels with 2 1/2-inch chambers, about improved cylinder and full choke boring, doll’s head extension, the frame, back action bar lock and top lever with bouquet and scroll engraving and retaining much original hardening colour, 14 3/4-inch well figured stock, 6lb. 9oz., nitro proof. Bores/walls: Rt: 734/26 & Lt: 736/26. Estimate: £1,800-2,400

Pros: Looks like it could be very original. Good bores, good walls, damascus bbls, excellent maker, nice weight.

Cons: Not sure of the quality of the gun – would have to see more pics. Wood & bbls could be refinished, same with toplever & triggerguard. Again, would have to see more pics.

This is the kind of double that makes me drool. It’s probably from around 1890 -1895 and it has that great vintage look. It looks like it has escape the British refinish mill, too.

Awesome SxS at the Southern: Reilly 4 gauge Double Barrel….

May 5, 2011 by Gregg

There were a lot of guns at the Southern SxS, probably over a thousand, and I think I saw most of them. Lots of nice guns, some great guns, but only one awesome gun. It was this E.M. Reilly 4 gauge side-by-side double barrel shotgun. In all original condition and with most of it’s original finish, it was spectacular.

E.M Reilly 4 gauge Double Barrel Shotgun

Way back when dark clouds of ducks used to fill the sky and game laws didn’t exist, really big bore double barrels were the gun of choice for waterfowlers. All along the east coast, eight gauges, four gauges, and even twos were used to kill large number of ducks, or to bring down geese or even swans at long ranges.

Reilly 4 bore bring $4700…

January 3, 2010 by Gregg

On January 1, the E.M Reilly 4 bore side-by-side hammer shotgun I posted the other day hammered down for $4,700. With the premium, that comes to $5,170.

I talked to the purchaser. He didn’t inspect the gun before he bid, so he’s a very brave guy. He said he has been looking for a double-barrel 4 bore shotgun for a long time. I guess they’re quite are. The buyer plans to clean the gun up as best he can. He’ll report back when he’s through.

There’s an interesting thread about the gun here. One of the posters pointed out that this Reilly was converted from a breechloading pinfire to a breechloading centerfire. Check out that thread for the details.

You can see some excellent pics of how pinfires work here.