Thanks all for your contributions and information. Edwardian I appreciate the time you have taken examining the serial numbers and Greener records. I probably should have mentioned there is a very small "J R" stamped next to the "16190" which makes me think that the "38440" would most likely be Greener's manufacture number.
If that is correct wouldn't it seem strange that a retailer would receive an almost finished gun with only the name to be engraved and not even using their own serial number?
That aside, I finally used it for the first time today with some Eley 28gram 2 & 1/2" fibre target shells and I noticed it was piercing the primers on the shells. I have experienced this before with a few guns intermittently however this consistently punctures the right hand primer and the left occasionally. I actually copped an eye full of primer powder and gas which passed around the firing pin!
Apart from that it fits and functions flawlessly so I am very much looking forward to take it out on the ducks this season.
Regards
