Hi guys I have an old WW Greener that i need some help identifying and finding out sme info about it. Sorry I dont know how to attach photos It has stampings on it as follows on barrels: 729',BNP with crown above, 12 in triangle, 2 3/4, 3 1/4, tons square inch,triangle with what looks like 12c, the barrels also have the word sleeved stamped on both. The rifle has: scroll engravery WW Greener, bnp, elephant, England stamp with crown stamps and others i cant identify, serial 33934 once again i appoligise but dont know how to upload pics but can email them. I just want to know if it would be safe to fire modern day ammo including buckshot, and any other relevant info like when it was made etc thankyou George. George, The address Ned gave you is the admin. Centre of what's left of the once great Greener enterprise of Birmingham. Boevoj ustav suhoputnih vojsk chastj 1. Graham Greener is a helpful and obliging chap and has the old company records; from the serial number he'll be able to tell you when the gun was made, what the quality grade was, what the original dimensions were, and how much it cost.

Jun 02, 2012  According to Greeners book the exact number of GP shotguns made is impossible to be determined as the serial numbers of these shotguns were not recorded untill 1968. (serial number 417XX) by W. Greener of England. 44,000 of these went to Egypt (serial numbers 1001 through 45000), and the subsequent 15,846 went to colonial police.

They probability is he will also have the name of the original purchaser. He makes a small charge for blowing the dust off the old books and sharpening up the quill pen but it isn't much.

You refer to the gun as a rifle, but from the rest of your information it sounds very much like a shotgun and I'm taking it as one. The term 'sleeved' means that the original barrels have been replaced, and the other Proof markings indicate that this was done in Birmingham within the modern era, certainly post WWII. I doubt Graham will have a handle on who did the job, there were (and are) lots of people who did such things. On the face of it she should be perfectly safe to shoot with modern CIP 70 mm loads.

Greeners guns were always soundly designed, very strongly made and well put together; however you must take the old girl to a competent gunsmith who can give a professional assessment. He can measure the bores against what they were at Proof, check for dinks and dents that amateurs miss, and examine all the other relevant bits on the gun. If he does give you the green light.

Have a lot of fun! Eug PS If you email some good clear pics to me at I'll paste them up for you. Sharpness of image is a must in these cases, some very significant info can be gained from some very wee markings! _________________ For my part, I mind my belly very studiously, and very carefully; for I look upon it, that he who does not mind his belly, will hardly mind anything else.' Doctor Johnson quoted by Boswell. I took the shotgun to a local gunshop as we don’t have gunsmiths in Sydney and he told me that I should only fire 1 1/8 to be safe as it doesn’t have proof marks which has confused me more And took advice from the forum members and this is the email I received from graham greener and im still not sure if its safe to fire or not, one photo of the underside of barrels I saw the letter/number J4 if that means anything, hopefully someone can clear things up for me.

From a description in the catalogue of 1892 – a model no. 28 – a plainly finished hammerless shotgun price - £16 – 16s – 0d (16 guineas or sixteen pound and sixteen shillings, 20 shillings to the pound). W W Greener gun no. 33934 has a Facile Princeps action, it is a 12 bore non-ejector double barrelled shotgun, originally with 28 inch Damascus barrels, stock dimensions when made were 2 by 14-3/8 inches. It was finished on 2nd August 1893. The person ordering the gun is not recorded.

Value depends on condition and whether it is ‘in proof’ and safe to use. The barrels have been sleeved and it has been re-proved but that does not necessarily mean it is ‘in proof’. Bore measurements will need to be made by a competent gunsmith who should be able to determine whether the gun is safe to use with cartridges no longer than 2-3/4 inches (70mm).

Assuming it to be ‘in proof’ and safe to use than as a sleeved non-ejector shotgun it would fetch a couple of hundred pounds at auction in UK. I attach some notes regarding condition and value which I hope will be helpful. Well what to say about the gun shop guys advice? George the marks you see on the barrel flats and the action body are the Birmingham Proof marks.

BNP = Birmingham Nitro Proof. The.729' figure indicates the internal bore dimension in inches at the time of Proof. The 'competent gunsmith' needs to mike up the bores and compare them to the original figure; if they are the same or near enough you are over one hurdle. If on his visual examination of the rest of the action he sees no problem, you are in the home straight and good to go. In general the gun looks to be in OK condition; not cosmetically great, but basically sound. I suspect the gun suffered a certain amount of neglect after it was sleeved; the new barrels appear to show corrosion pits and a not very wonderful blacking job.