Hill’s Greener
 

Jay.....I had seen your previous post and am very envious. If I had known that that gun was available you would have gotten a run for your money. I had thought about PMing you to try and take it off your hands as I am a big Gene Hill fan. Thanks for posting again and when you take that first Woodcock somewhere Gene will be smiling. Good luck with it.

Greener
 

Kevin.... I was hoping someone here could direct me to a source where I could find out what grade it is. I also was wondering if this very lite 12 gauge was a special order or are 12’s this light rather common? I had seen letters before on Greener’s and am sorry Graham has discontinued this service. I am hoping someone will continue to provide Greener information. I will continue to use google in my search for that someone.

Any comments again are appreciated. Thanks.

Marty: we could confirm the 1896-1904 date of proof with a close up of the barrel flats. It should be marked '1 1/4 oz Max'.
1904-1925 would be '1 1/4 oz Shot'.

Under the 1896 Rules of Proof 12g 2 1/2” and 2 5/8” chambers (bore .710-.740) were proved for a maximum service load
of 3 1/4 Dram Eq. with 1 1/4 oz. shot. (1220 fps)
Under the 1904 Revisions, Supplementary Nitro Proof for 12g 2 1/2” and 2 5/8” chambers was for a service load 1 1/8 oz.

'70' (without mm) would be a post 1989 chamber length mark, but if reproved after honing it should have a Crown over R and be marked with bore in mm and BAR, and will have a Proof House date code

Bore 10” from Breech L. .787 choke.030 R .734 choke .010
That is .737" on L?

Cornell Pubs has 1900, 03', 04' & 06' Greener catalog repros so if we can narrow down the DOM you could order the appropriate catalog to ID the grade
https://cornellpubs.com/product-tag/w/page/4/

Thanks Marty,

I saw from your profile that you were from western New York, that's not too far away from Rhode Island. We'll have to meet up at a shoot or sporting clay place at some point. I would be happy let you shoot that Gene Hill Greener. I have read and listen to the audio book a thousand times. When I saw the description in an auction, I knew that it was the "Woodcock" gun. By the way, the narrator does a great job on the audio book:

Listen to A Hunter's Fireside Book by Gene Hill on Audible. https://www.audible.com/pd/B00BAZQWU...R150021921000R

Also I didn't mean to take away from your wonderful Greener, I just posted since everyone was talking about that chapter. Your Greener does seem to be a much higher grade. I looks like it has IC/F chokes, which is my favorite combination. It is a beautiful gun!

Have you had a chance to shoot it much? How long are the barrels? 26? That would be great with 1oz loads too. That is probably what I would use if I was hunting. And 3/4 or 7/8 if I was target shooting. I hope you enjoy it!

Greener
 

Dr. Drew... Thanks very much for sharing your knowledge. Yes....L 737

I believe 1901 ...

I lost my greener book in the hurricane but I'll see what I can find on it

Greener
 

Jay... Thanks for your comments and sharing the link. I have a double cassette that was sold with Gene Hill himself narrating his stories. It's called "Being There".

Yes 26" Barrels
Just got it...

These loads were pricey but I wanted paper and RST was out of stock on the others..

You are correct Marty. The proof dates to 1896-1904 and there is no reproof.
The original bore was 13/1 = .719" - .728" so the L barrel at .737" is still in proof.
Please let us know what you find in the Greener catalog.

Greener
 

Dr. Drew, Thanks again....Ordered 1903 and 1904 Hopefully they will be nice reprints.

I am still going to try and secure a letter from whomever.

My set of Being There is a bootleg set on CD’s.