This rustic frontier shotgun was produced in 1855 by W.W. Greener and retailed by the Browning Brothers in Ogden, Utah, in the late 19th century. On page 36 of "The Greener Collections" by Graham Greener, he states, "I am often asked if W. Wellington guns and the one he used mainly for wholesale exports to the United States of America." In this case Browning Brothers! The matted rib has a bead front sight, "W.W. GREENER. BIRMINGHAM" maker's mark, and "BROWNING BROS, OGDEN, U.T." retailer mark. The underside of barrels and back of lock plates are both marked "4," also "12/AE/WWG/Birmingham proofs" (see close-ups). The locks are signed "W.W. GREENER". The stock has a smooth forend, brass wedge escutcheons, checkered wrist, and 14 1/2 inch length of pull. In the Spring of 1868, a young John Moses Browning famously repaired an old percussion shotgun, and twelve years later, he and his brothers established their Browning Brothers gunshop in downtown Ogden. While cartridge firearms were widespread by the time they established their gunshop, percussion firearms remained in wide use throughout the late 19th century and hardware and sporting goods dealers continued to stock percussion caps and components for percussion firearms. This shotgun certainly looks like it saw some serious use in the American West where shotguns were depended upon for both putting meat on the table and defense.

Fair. Solid frontier rustic condition overall with untouched even dark brown and gray patina, moderate oxidation and pitting, moderate to heavy wear, and cracks in the wrist of the once wrapped stock. Mechanically fine.