Greener questions

[Marty K.]

I have always wanted a 20 gauge greener. Maybe it is because of the one Gene Hill liked so much that he imagined who might have owned it originally and wrote a story about it. I had the opportunity to buy a very light 5 lb. 11 ounce 12 gauge with a very petite frame which is very close to my double (00) frame on my VHE 28. I purchased a couple of boxes of 2 1/2” RST shells for it.

Wondering where I could find out more about this gun. Graham Greener is no longer doing letters or doing any research which is fine. He gave me two names .....Mr. Dryhurst and a Mr. Tandy which to this point I haven’t heard back from. Does anyone here have information to share?
Serial # 50498. I believe 1901 0r so
Min wall thickness .027 both barrels
Bore 10” from Breech L. .787 choke.030 R .734 choke .010
Proofed at 1 1/4 oz with a 70 Marking
Chambers 2 5/8”

Any and all thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you

[Marty K.]

Pictures..... 12 gauge Greener
28 gauge 00 frame

[Marty K.]

Pics

[Phil Yearout]

Nice! The Greener Gene wrote about was actually a 16ga, 24" barrels. But his closing is classic Gene: Here's to you, old friend, who made this perfect gun come true. And I promise that as long as woodcock whistle and good dogs sleep at our feet while we sit before the fire and drink whiskey...you'll be remembered.

[Marty K.]

Thanks for that Phil...I saw your picture of your gun cabinet a while ago and I think mine is it’s brother....very similar.

[edgarspencer]

Originally Posted by Phil Yearout

Nice! The Greener Gene wrote about was actually a 16ga, 24" barrels. But his closing is classic Gene: Here's to you, old friend, who made this perfect gun come true. And I promise that as long as woodcock whistle and good dogs sleep at our feet while we sit before the fire and drink whiskey...you'll be remembered.

I just re-read that chapter last night......for the 20th time. What made Hill's gun even more special was the sum total of it's weight, the 24", single trigger, and, most unusual, the top safety.

[Double Lab]

Beautiful gun. Shoot it in good health.

[Kevin McCormack]

VERY nice Greener Marty! What grade is it? I owned a 20 ga. FH 35 Greener very briefly that had a broken ejector train on one barrel. Correspondence from Graham Greener at the time detailed the extensive process and considerable cost for repair (essentially rebuilding the entire ejector train) which I decided not to pursue. I sold the gun to a gentleman who had had work like that done before by Greener and didn't care about the cost, import/export hassles, shipping, etc.

I am not familiar with Mr. Tandy, but on our second trip to Scotland for driven birds, our trip organizer Jim Baker, who has had some fabulous guns built by Greener, invited David Dryhurst up for dinner at St. Andrews one evening. He was a most delightful fellow and gave us a "living history" of the origins, development, and marketing of Greener guns. It was quite riveting hearing (as they say) the "rest of the story."

Thank you for the great pics!

[Jay Oliver]

That's a beautiful Greener. A light 12 proofed to 1 1/4...that might kick a little. I like light 12s and do very well with 3/4oz loads. That is a very nice gun that you would have a lot of fun with.

Here is Gene Hill's Greener that I was lucky enough to acquire this past year. I have posted a few pictures on the forum previously. As others have said, it's a 1912 16ga. with 24" barrels. original pad, single selective trigger choked IC/M with ejectors and that top tang safety. It shoots very well and I like the shorter barrels. Hoping to take my first woodcock with it in a few weeks...

[Marty K.]

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.