Extremely Rare EM Reilly – Comblain Military Rifle

Serial #15492, .577 CF, 30 1/4" barrel with an excellent, bright bore.  This is a rare example of Comblain’s first military rifle design which utilizes a camming side-lever to both lift the breechblock and move the hammer to half-cock.  The barrel has retained 90% plus of the original blue finish, with some silvering at the muzzle and along the high edges, as well as some further fading towards the breech along the "E.M. REILLY & Co. / SOLE MANUFACTURERS / NEW OXFORD St. LONDON" markings on top.  Much of the original color case-hardening remains on the "H. COMBLAIN / BREVETTE" marked breech and "E.M. REILLY & Co. / LONDON" marked lock, with the balance turned to a mottled pewter gray patina.  The walnut stock has numerous small handling marks and minor surface blemishes scattered about the original military oil finish, and the brass furniture is cleaned to a bright yellow patina.  This was Hubert-Joseph Comblain’s first British-patented rifle action (1867) and was submitted for War Office trials announced in 1866.  As such, Comblain partnered with the British firm of E.M. Reilly & Co., which had a significant presence in France and Belgium, and submitted this design for the trials.  The rifle was eliminated fairly quickly, but Reilly proceeded to offer them for commercial sale to target shooters and militia units.  This example was not used very much at all, and is an excellent example of one of these extremely rare Comblain Type I rifles.  Antique