doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Condition Question - WW Greener

I had an interesting experience taking my WW Greener Forester to a Cabela's gun room where they "evaluated" my 1892 Greener Forester and proceeded to explain to me that it was a fairly low condition gun. I had the impression that it was fairly high condition for a gun of 1892 vintage. The checkering is very sharp, the finish looks like the original finish on my old LC Smith field grade which I assume is correct, the gun is tight and on face and the Damascus barrels have what appear to be a slightly worn but original brown.

Would be very curious to hear the forum's thoughts on the condition and originality of the gun.

For good measure, it is in proof measuring .732 in each bore with full chokes. It also has a Facile Princeps action confirmed by Graham Greener. Performs flawlessly - shot a 23/25 in a round of trap with suitable low pressure loads (better than I usually average).

In any event, here are some pictures.

http://s304.photobucket.com/user/djangofandango/library/?sort=3&page=1

It doesn't appear to be overly rubba dubbed.
The gun vetter's at Cabela's are handicapped by policy since the great scam in Hammond, and can't be relied upon to give market values anymore.
They mostly open the Big Blue Book, and then offer half the wholesale price. Usually as trade for something at full retail.

So I wouldn't say that gun is in low condition, but also not a popular one either.

Looks like pretty good condition to me. I don't know what the value would be, but condition does not appear to be a problem unless there is some bore condition problem. Not the best Greener to begin with, but it is pretty good for what it is...Geo

Looks to be in decent condition to me.

The horn tip on the forearm should have a little schnabel. I would bet that some time over the years, the checkering has been pointed up and the finish has been worked over. Usually the checkering would have been fairly flat. I can't tell from the pictures if it's there or not, but there should be a little triangle of checkering on the knob of the rounded pistol grip.

Here is a closeup of the checkering on the pistol grip. For what it is worth, the checkering feels very smooth.

http://s304.photobucket.com/user/djangof...d02gk5.jpg.html

Also the tip on the forearm is brass. It is either original or a very well filed up replacement as the tolerances are very tight.

Thanks for the input gentlemen.

It's not a high condition gun. A decent gun for sure but the metal finish is much worn off. Wood is easy to give a top coat of finish and make it look fresher. As to being a high condition gun for its age it's like saying a lady is sexy for a hundred. Looses something in the description. A high condition gun looks nearly new not like one which is a hundred years old with steady use and care. I like your gun for the solid gun it is and you can expect it to last another hundred years.

your gun is well used but looks like well maintained....Cabelas does not like Damascus guns to start with and yours not being in collector condition takes it out of the running for their 40/50% of retail offer.....

I like this gun precisely because it isn't over finished.
The one similar at Cabela's (GunsInt'l) has had the retiree rubba dub, and looks like wax cake. It'll never sell for $3300.00

With no visible figure in the barrels, and no color on the action, it would be hard to get $1200.00 in trade.

I would say, BV3, Condition well used, not abused.

Clapper, they indicated that they would put it on the rack for $750 implying that they would offer me something like $500 for it. Furthermore, they had no idea the barrels were Damascus. I was just their for informational purposes so I didn't bother to enlighten them.

The gun actually has a lot of color in the action - it is just hard to tell because it is almost a forest green as opposed to a blue. I don't really think it is patina because the color is so pronounced and unusual. It is also very uniform. Again, it looks like it hasn't been refinished to my eye, but I am new to this.

According to the previous owner, the gun spent at least 30 years in a safe unfired.