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Excellent Panel Scene Engraved W.W. Greener “Royal Grade G125” Double Barrel Shotgun with Interesting History
Exceptionally Fine and Unique Panel Game Scene Engraved W.W. Greener 12 Bore “Facile Princeps” Double Barrel “Royal Grade G125” Ejector Shotgun with Case - Serial
no. 64446, 12 gauge, 30 inch solid rib bbl., blue/casehardened
finish, walnut stock. This gun represents a unique opportunity to acquire an “as new” 107 year old high grade Greener shotgun. The serial number dates this gun to 1914 which in some respects tallies with the following story told to the consignor at the time he purchased the gun. The gun was apparently ordered by a German gentlemen in 1914, but the outbreak of the First World War put a halt to production, and following the war, Greener’s declined to complete the gun for the original customer. The gun remained in Greener’s workshop “in the white” with no stock. Unfortunately, the Greener records for this period of time were lost following the sale of the company to Webley in 1965. Many years later, the gun, still “in the white”, was purchased from Greener’s by an American who took it to the States with the intention of finishing the gun, but it remained untouched. A little over 10 years ago, the consignor learned of the existence of this untouched “in the white” gun residing in America and repatriated it to the UK where he engaged the considerable talents of David Dryhurst, a highly respected gunsmith who makes guns for and co-owns W.W. Greener today, to finish the gun. Finally, 99 years after the work had begun, this stunning gun was finished in 2013 and remains in “as new” unfired condition. The blued wrought steel barrels are each engraved with a spray of scrollwork at the breech end, and the flat matted rib has a bead sight and is signed “W.W. GREENER. MAKER. 29. PALL MALL. LONDON S.W. WORKS ST. MARY’S SQUARE. BIRMINGHAM” and engraved with scrollwork at the rib extension. The forward barrel lump is fitted with Greener patent Unique ejectors. The barrel flats and water table are struck with the original 1914 period Birmingham nitro proof marks, and the underside of each barrel is struck with a Greener “Elephant” trademark. It is import marked under the forearm. The casehardened bolstered action has three-point arcaded deep chiselled fences and is signed “W.W. GREENER” on each side and has a blued toplever with gold inlaid crown. It also features a casehardened trigger plate, blued triggers, a blued trigger guard, and a blued Greener patent side mounted safety with gold inlaid “SAFE”. It is finely engraved with foliate scrollwork framing numerous vignettes of game birds including duck, partridge and a woodcock, and further vignettes depicting working dogs. The finely figured semi-pistol grip stock has dark horn arrow shaped drop points, panels of fine multi-point checkering on the grip and forearm, a blued Anson push button release on the forearm, a dark horn buttplate with finely checkered panel, and a blank gold oval initial escutcheon on the underside of the butt. The brass cornered and fabric bound case is initialed “B.K.W.” on the lid and has a wine colored interior lining and reproduction W.W. Greener leather label fitted inside the lid. Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): chambers proved at 1 1/4 oz (2 3/4 inches); bore diameter 9 inches from the breech both proved at 12 (.729 inches) and measured at .734/.733; choke constriction .022/.039 inches; minimum wall thickness .028/.026 inches; 1 1/4 inch drop at comb; 1 7/8 inch drop at heel; 14 3/4 inch length of pull; cast-off; weight 7 lbs 10 oz. CONDITION: Excellent, superb quality, and “unblemished factory fresh.” The barrels have a deep blue finish, and the casehardening is strong without overpowering the delicate engraving. There is only some slight marks and fading from handling mainly on the trigger guard tang. The stock has a wonderful figure pattern and sharp checkering. The updated case is very good with mild exterior wear and fresh interior. Mechanically excellent. Provenance: The Malcolm King Collection. Estimate: 22,500 - 35,000
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