John rigby 500 - 450 express rifle

Some documents suggest the firm was established in 1735. However, since the first John Rigby was born in 1758 in Dublin and entered the gunmaking trade there in 1775, Rigby today claims that as its founding date. (If John Rigby took over another gunmaking house, he would have inherited its founding date, in which case 1735 could be valid.) The surviving business ledgers date from 1781 and show that by then John Rigby was making, under his own name, shotguns, rifles, muskets, spring guns, carbines, blunderbusses and pistols to clients' specifications and a wide range of prices.

Rigby was nearly bankrupted during the Irish Rebellion of 1798 when the government seized the arms on his premises - those belonging to the firm and to its clients - presumably to keep them out of the reach of rebels. However, by 1810 (if not sooner) John Rigby had rebuilt his business and, in addition to sporting guns, was making, updating and repairing thousands of guns for Ireland's police, military, postal and customs services.  After the founding John Rigby's death, in 1818, his sons William and John Jason Rigby operated the business as W. & J. Rigby from c. 1820 to 1865, a period that spanned flintlock, percussion, pinfire and needlefire ignition and marked the start of the modern metallic cartridge era. Rigby was a leader in barrel-making and rifling technology and, at the time, it was also recognised for its high grade duelling pistols. (Irish gentlemen especially had a fondness for calling each other out over perceived slights to their honour.). The third John Rigby, born in 1829 in Dublin and educated in science at Trinity college, took over in 1858 when William, his father, died. It was this John Rigby who brought the firm to international prominence. In 1865, capitalizing on the awards his family's guns had earned at the Great Exhibition in London in 1851 and at the Paris Exhibition of 1855, in 1865 John Rigby opened a store at 72 St James's Street in London's West End. Sometime in the 1890s, Rigby sold his Dublin operations to Trulock & Harris (keeping, however, his customers in Ireland) and became a bona fide member of the small circle of elite gunmakers who catered for London society.

Like his grandfather, the third John Rigby was a top target shot and developed the Rigby Target Rifle for competition use. He won several Wimbledon Cups (the premier long-range rifle championship in the United Kingdom) and, for 28 years, he helped form the Irish national shooting team. Rigby also won the Abercorn Cup and the first Gordon Bennett Cup, and was Irish Champion three times. Between circa 1860 and 1875, the Rigby .451-calibre muzzleloader was the match rifle of choice throughout the United Kingdom. 

Among professional and sporting hunters in India and Africa, Rigby became known as the 'aristocrat of bolt-action rifles’.  Rigby developed a successful medium-heavy game round known as the .350 Rigby, and its rimmed counterpart for double rifles, the .350 No. 2. Rigby also invented the .416 Rigby cartridge. Although Rigby has been credited with inventing or promoting the 7x57 as the ".275 Rigby" cartridge by some modern gun writers, this is untrue. There was no such cartridge name at the time, and it is a modern misunderstanding of Rigby marketing of the period, who called their rifles "Rigby-Mausers." Throughout the British Empire the 7x57 cartridge was commonly known as the .275 (or .276) and there was no association with Rigby themselves, who never marketed any proprietary cartridge called by that name nor stamped a rifle with that chambering. Despite this, the .275 Rigby name has caught on and special brass headstamps and customs rifles marked ".275 Rigby" have become desirable, despite having no historical basis. (Rigby did sell repackaged German-made 7x57 ammunition under their own name in the early 20th century, but it was marked .275 Bore, as were their rifles.) 

At John Rigby's request, in 1900 Mauser began to develop a stretched version of its G98 action for larger cartridges. This became known as the Magnum Mauser and has served as the foundation for countless bolt-action big-game rifles ever since. The larger action was originally meant for Rigby's interim 400/350 round, but in 1911 the company introduced the 416 Rigby cartridge for rifles built on the Magnum Mauser action. This was the first magazine rifle that could perform on a par with the powerful Nitro-Express double rifles, for one-third to one-fifth of their prices.

John Rigby was well versed in Nitro Express cartridges as well. In 1898, with the help of the Curtis's & Harvey Gunpowder Company, he had introduced the first of them: the Rigby .450 NE. In 1899, however, the colonial government of India began to restrict .450-calibre rifles and ammunition, which forced British gunmakers to develop a flood of variations to avoid the India ban. The most popular of these proved to be the .470 Nitro Express, and John Rigby & Co. adopted this as its 'standard' heavy double-rifle load.

In addition to the pioneering Nitro Express cartridge, Rigby was also noted for the unique vertical-bolt or rising-bite action, used only on its best-grade double rifles and shotguns. Based on the Rigby-Bissell Patent of 1879, this is a complex and massively strong locking system with a post that rises vertically out of the break-off into a U-shaped loop extending rearward from the top rib of the barrels, as a third fastener. Between 1879 and 1933, Rigby built approximately one thousand rising-bite guns and rifles in many different bores. Today, these are coveted by shooters and collectors. 

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Joseph Charles Reilly was born in Ireland in 1786.  He hailed from a well-to-do family and aspired to become a lawyer. In the mid-1800's he went to London and around this time numbered his first Reilly built gun which may have been 001, though many gun makers started their books with  a higher number. The oldest known extant Reilly is SN 162. His guns during this period often displayed the address “Holborn Bars.” The serial numbered guns included pistols, rifles and shotguns.  JC Reilly adopted a business model which did not change during the life of the firm: i.e. provide a quality hand-made product for a moderate price and deliver it rapidly. With this model he undercut more expensive and better known makers and made his profit on volume.  Reilly dealt in used guns taken in trade and sold guns under license. However he did not serial number the guns he did not build and he numbered his guns consecutively for 90 years, with certain exceptions around the time of the move to New Oxford Street in 1847. 

Reilly had extensive finishing facilities in his large London buildings and may have stockpiled actions and barrel blanks imported in the white from Birmingham to allow him to meet orders faster than his competitors.  

By 1833 all references to “jeweller” or "silver-plate" vanished from his advertisements and from that time forward he identified himself solely as “Gun-Maker.” (The first advertisement so far found with "Gun-Maker" appeared in 1831).  In August 1835 J.C. Reilly with E.M. as an apprentice moved to 316 High Holborn. The first serial numbered extant gun with the High Holborn address is SN 1024. By circa 1837 pistols were no longer numbered in the Reilly chronological numbering system; His serial numbered guns seemed to be limited to bespoke long-guns made to order.

In August 1840 the firm’s advertising style changed from J.C. Reilly to just “Reilly” which may mark the advent of 23-year-old E.M. as a full partner in the company. The style on the gun’s ribs continued to be “J.C. Reilly" or "Joseph Charles Reilly.” Case/Trade labels were styled like an embossed business card with "Joseph Charles Reilly," "Gun Maker," and the High Holborn address.  Reilly's gold-washed exhibition 12-bore percussion gun.  J.C. Reilly, during this period, also became known for his air cane guns. Young E.M. was billed as the expert and was so mentioned In advertisements, identified as “Reilly Junr." In 1847 or early 1848 E.M. wrote a widely disseminated pamphlet on air guns (mostly an advertising brochure highlighting the company's ability to produce all sorts of air-guns and parts) which is cited to this day. The pamphlet title page noted the author was "Reilly junr," and used the 502 New Oxford Street address and included "removed from Holborn."  

 In late March 1847 Reilly moved to 502 New Oxford Street, a large building In the "Elizabethan" area. The last extant guns with High Holborn on the ribs are 3392 and 3402. At this point the main serial number chronology for Reilly long-guns jumped up 5000 numbers to begin anew at around 8400 probably with production supervised by E.M. Reilly.  The name on the ribs was styled “Reilly.” (And with this move, Reilly demonstrated another trait of his business acumen, i.e. "Location." He always chose prestigious, high-traffic locations for his stores.)

 The first extant SN’d gun with "Reilly," and 502 New Oxford Street on the rib is SN 8463; the label notes the firm had “removed from Holborn." (There is a SN 8578 with J.C. Reilly, 502 New Oxford Street on the rib with an apparently original case label with Joseph Charles Reilly, the Oxford St. address and "removed from Holborn," possibly one of the last such guns in the new 8400 series.)  

Soon after the move, the trade label changed to "Reilly, Gun Maker," and was shaped with scalloped corners and featured a sketch of the estimated 20,000 sq foot building at 502 New Oxford Street. 

 Note: From 1847 to 1859 long guns and hand guns can be found with “Edward M.” Or “Edward Michael” on their ribs; however, if they do not have a Reilly chronology SN, these were not built by Reilly - they were only engraved and marketed.

 Around the time of this move and the change in the main serial number chronology, J.C. Reilly appears to have kept a series of numbers for himself beginning around SN 7000 and ending around 8100 when he retired in 1857. J.C. Reilly often (but not always) put his full name or initials on the ribs of these serial numbers per his 27+ year tradition but with the 502 New Oxford Street address; yet the trade/case labels with "Reilly" as the firm's name and the advertisements/publicity remained the same for both number series.  

 J.C. Reilly appears to have kept a series of numbers for himself beginning around SN 7000 and ending around 8100 when he retired in 1857.

The first extant SN’d gun in the J.C. “7000” series is 7201 (a SN 7021 exists but with the High Holborn address possibly indicating the Reillys split their numbering system a bit before the move to 502 New Oxford Street); the last (no doubt made in 1857) is 8052. 

 There is one outlier, S.N 3514, with "Reilly" and the New Oxford Street address on the rib, apparently made (per the trade label in the case) after 1855, a number which harkens back to High Holborn, illustrating the sometime quirkiness of J.C. Reilly.  Reilly exhibited at the 1851 Crystal Palace International Exposition (as Edward M. Reilly) were he was much taken by the Casimir Lefaucheaux breech-loading pinfire guns. 

A pair of Reilly pistols circa 1828, S.N. 176. Only one earlier Riley is known to exist.  Reilly, Lang and Blanch became the major advocates for this new type of gun in England. Advertisements show that Reilly had a 300 yard shooting range near his London establishment located off Wood Land, Shepard's Bush.  

 Reilly also exhibited at the 1855 Paris Universelle Exposition, where he received much acclaim and "many orders were booked." The exhibit was in the name of E.M Reilly; however, advertisements make clear that though E.M. won the medals, the firm was still "Reilly, Gun Maker." Reilly case labels changed after 1855 to illustrate the 1851 and 1855 medals and to highlight “Fusils a Bascule” (French for breech-loading guns) and other breech loaders such as Prince Patent guns which he marketed and promoted.

 In September 1857 J.C. Reilly retired to his country estate at Bourn End, Cranfield, Bedfordshire, where he died a wealthy man in January 1864; his last guns in the "7000" series were engraved with Caesar's words "Veni, Vidi, Vici" possibly as the swan song story of his life. "Formerly Gun-Maker, London" is chiseled on his tombstone.

 In January 1859 with new partners (unknown) E.M. opened a branch store in a large building at 315 Oxford Street, early on also referred to as "the Armoury House" (Salvation Army hall was located behind the building), which had a 50 yard shooting gallery.  

 The company may have used "Reilly & Co." for a short while in Spring-Summer 1859. However, by October 1859 the company’s name had changed to E.M. Reilly & Co, a name which continued in use until bankruptcy in 1918 and beyond when the name was bought by Charles Riggs. His labels changed to reflect the new name, "E.M. Reilly, Gun Maker." The first extant serial numbered gun with E.M. Reilly on the rib is SN 11227.  

 A year later In circa August 1860 the company's description on labels and in advertisements changed from “Gun Maker” to “Gun Manufacturers” and at that time the sketch of 502 New Oxford Street was dropped from his case labels. The basic format for the new label remained consistent for the next 30+ years with variations (additions of medals, branch addresses, occasionally mention of royalty, etc.) (There were a few outlier labels).

 In 1862 Reilly showed at the London International exposition and won a medal for an exhibit which included a gold-washed 12 bore shotgun which may still exist (SN 12532).  

 Reilly showed at the London International exposition and won a medal for an exhibit which included a gold-washed 12 bore 

From at least the 1840’s the Reilly’s tried mightily to win a lucrative military contract from the British government. J.C. Reilly exhibited brass mortars in 1845. 

 E.M. Reilly promoted the Prince patent breech loader in the late 1850’s. He worked with the Green brothers to win a contract for their patent breech loader, to which he had manufacturing rights, in the early 1860’s (competing against the Snider which won out). 

 He put forward the Comblain breech loader from Belgium, to which he gained patent rights in England, in 1868-70 (competing against trial guns such as the Martini and the Henry, a combination of which was adopted). And, he patented an explosive bullet in 1869, a sort of early M-79 idea. However, he never obtained a contract.  

 Reilly did sell and engrave British military guns - Enfields, Snider's, Martini's and later Lee-Speeds; He hawked these guns to the Yeomanry Volunteer Militia at wholesale prices, versions of them to Military personnel going abroad and to big-game hunters for 50 years. But, unless he built them himself he did not serial number these guns.

 Next Month, Gene Williams continues his examination of E.M. Reilly, from his appearance at the Paris Exhibition of 1867 to the demise of the company, in the mid twentieth century.  

This gun was finished in 1876.

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The earliest Purdey guns made on their under bolt snap action patent opened by under levers accessed through a hole in trigger guard bow. This example features 30" fine Damascus barrels  engraved "2"  on narrow, concave game rib. Barrel flats are stamped with London black powder proofs and Birmingham nitro re-proofs for 2 - 1/2" chambers, along with Purdey's four bullet trademark. Serial numbers with B suffix are stamped on bottoms of barrels. Round bodied action with long first model under lever is fitted with peninsula back spring locks with round bodied serpentine hammers having vestigial pinfire type heads. This early centerfire gun has firing pins retracted from case heads by sliding links, actuated by slots in backs of hammers.  Hammers have pads filed into front edges striking these links to fire cartridge. This firing mechanism was protected by Purdey's patent number 424 of 1865. (A similar example no. 7202 with Jones underlever is illustrated on page 186 of JAMES PURDEY AND SONS TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF EXCELLENCE by Donald Dallas.) Action and locks are engraved with 60% coverage well cut shaded scroll. Top of action is engraved "PATENT". "Purdey" is on each lockplate. Remnants of serial number are on trigger guard bow. Well marbled European walnut straight grip butt stock measures 14" over steel butt plate. Standard flat top pattern checkering is at grip. Matching splinter fully checkered forend with “1" engraved on tip, attaches to barrels with sliding side bolt through shaped and engraved steel escutcheons. 

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This high grade flintlock shotgun is something of an enigma and worthy of further research. The locks are engraved WALLACE and from their style and quality would appear to date around 1800 -1815. There is a silver escutcheon behind the barrel tang engraved with the clan Gordon crest which provides a Scottish connection which is further supported with the Wallace engraved lock which, considering the quality, was most likely made by James Wallace, an Edinburgh gunsmith who was in business from 1776 to 1841.

However, the 30 1/2 inch barrel was made by the famous Paris barrel maker Francois Ovid BLETTERIE (his makers mark is under the barrel at the breech and the barrel rib is engraved “BLETTERIE a Paris”. Bletterie is listed in Der Neue Stockel as being in business in Paris in 1762 which is consistent with period style of the Damascus twist barrel — 40 years earlier than the Wallace lock. In addition, all of the silver furniture is in the French style and period of the barrel and the butt plate has three French silver hallmarks which unfortunately are not clear enough to date. One thing for sure, there is a story with this period custom made shotgun with the clan Gordon connection worthy of further research.

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A 12 bore, side by side, hammer action shotgun by James Adsett of Upper Bridge Street, Canterbury, Serial No. 2347, 30 inch Damascus barrels with engine turned top rib bearing makers name and address, barrels have been reproofed, bright steel hammers and actions profusely decorated with rose and scrollwork, walnut stock and fore end with chequered grips and composite butt plated.  The gun was restored in England in the 1950’s and remains in very nice condition.

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Tolley’s gun was conventional in that it had a top-lever and Purdey bolt, but extending forward from the top-lever was a hook. Extending back from the rib was a type of doll’s head, with a square-sided ‘L’ shaped profile, which slotted into the standing breech, with the short base of the ‘L’ pointing upwards. When closed, the hook projecting from the top lever, mated laterally with the ‘L’ shaped doll’s head and added a third grip. The firm gave it the title ‘Giant Grip’. Tolley was best known for big fowling pieces; plain four, eight and ten bores, many of which are still in regular use. These are certainly an oddity in the British gun circles.

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