GUN SPRING 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Wednesday, March 21, 2018.
EXCEPTIONALLY RARE 8 BORE WATER-FOWLER BY JOSEPH H. GREENER, ELDER BROTHER OF WILLIAM WELLINGTON GREENER.J.H. GREENERSXS HAMMERNSN8Cal. 8 bore. 3-1/4" Chambers. Not only is this gun unusual in that it is a fairly high condition 8 bore water-fowler, but it was made by Joseph H. Greener; family lore relates that his younger brother William Wellington, the now famous gunmaker, "marched his brother Joseph off to Liverpool docks and gave him money to emigrate to Australia, because there was only enough room for one Greener to make guns in the United Kingdom." Guns made by Joseph H. Greener are exceptionally rare; only one, a muzzle loader, is illustrated or described in THE GREENER STORY by Graham Greener. This very well made large bore breech loading example has 32" laminated steel bbls engraved "Joseph H. Greener Maker St. Mary's Birmingham" on swamped game rib. Large Jones under lever action with nicely filed fences is fitted with back action non-rebounding locks having tall serpentine hammers. Action and locks are engraved with 60% coverage very well cut scroll, and with "J. H. Greener" on each lockplate. Nicely stump figured European walnut straight grip buttstock with spur of trigger guard forming grip, measures 14-1/2" over 2" weighted hard rubber buttplate. Near fully checkered splinter forend with inset horn tip has typical sliding side bolt release. Bore diameter at muzzles: left -.857, right - .857. Wall thickness: left - .052, right - .044. Drop at heel: 3-7/16", drop at comb: 2-1/8". Cast about 1/2" off. Weight: 13 lbs. 4 oz. LOP: 14-1/2" CONDITION: Very good to fine, original, as found. Bbls retain 70 - 80% of their orig Damascus finish, considerably darkened and lightly frosted. Action and locks retain a considerable amount of their orig case hardening color, difficult to determine due to accumulated grime. Stocks retain most of their orig finish. Thick buttplate appears to be a later addition, but is possibly orig. Bores are good, scattered pitting throughout, but nothing real deep. Action is tight. Locks are fine. 52994-2 MGM210 (3,000-5,000)