Manufactured circa 1888. With browned damascus barrels each engraved with a band of stylized foliage at the breech end. Matted raised concave rib signed “W.W. GREENER. 68 HAYMARKET LONDON. WINNER AT THE LONDON GUN TRIALS. 1875, 1877, 1878 & 1879”, fitted with a bead front sight, and engraved “PATENT WEDGE FAST” at the breech end and engraved with scrollwork on the rib extension. Blued treble wedge fast action with cross bolt and signed “W.W. GREENER” on each side, the water table struck with “PATENT 2003” and a Greener “Elephant” trademark. Patent 2003 of 1881 was for Greener’s self-acting ejector, the present gun being an example of the early variant with a “Jumping Jack” stud protruding through the rear of the water table which holds the toplever and cross bolt open when the gun is open. Eventually the “Jumping Jack” was dropped in order to simplify production of what was already a complicated mechanism. Blued toplever, Greener patent side mounted safety catch and trigger guard. Border and scroll engraved throughout. The barrels and action struck with Birmingham black powder proof marks, the barrels each also marked “W.W.G.”. Well-figured 14 inch semi-pistol grip stock with checkered dark horn buttplate, and checkered grip and forearm, the latter with green horn tip and Deeley & Edge fastener. The underside of the butt with blank silver oval initial escutcheon. Weight 10 lbs. 0.8 oz.

Barrels with attractive damascus twist pattern, retaining 80% original browned finish with some faded areas and some muzzle rub, the rib engraving and signature is sharp. Action with sharp engraving, retaining 60% fading reblued finish. Nicely figured semi-pistol grip stock with well-defined checkering, some scattered storage and handling bruises and a small crack on the top right of the stock head. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection.