The Edwinson Green records (such as survived- they appear to have been primarily an Order book for the Cheltenham shop) end in 1947 with a batch of A&D boxlock guns numbers 7082 to 7091. 7082 is a 16 bore, the rest are 12 bores some ejectors and variously made by Holloways, Perks and Brown (presumably A A Brown).

That is generally held to mark the end of Edwinson Green’s gunmaking although they undoubtedly dealt with repairs and retailing other makes of guns until the 1970’s.

I was therefore highly intrigued to see number 7692 on sale. It is an attractive 20 bore 2 1/2 inch Boxlock ejector, and the original Birmingham proof marks date it to 1957.

I believe that we can discount Green having made 600 other guns in the 10 years from 1947. It had taken them just over 40 years from 1906 to produce 600 guns in their own numbering (plus some more for London Sporting Park and some other makers). Guns between 6491 and 7091 have been evident in the market and I even own a couple.

I suspected that 7692 might be the very next gun after 7091, but on looking at my photocopy of the records there is cryptic note (it seems to be handwritten on a scrap of paper stuck into the ledger) “Edwinson Green O & U 7691”

Did Dudley Green, the grandson who owned the business in 1957 decide on a 600 gun jump to mark a fresh start?

Or did 7092 get misread by the engraver who numbered the trigger guard tang 7692? (Now seems less likely if there was a 7691)

I will be delighted to hear from any members who have seen Green guns numbered above 7091 or 7692.

I have a damascus SBS 12G bought from a UK soliciter (lawyer) around 1999 who had used it on a river trip down the Ganges river in India ca. 1948. Mine is serial 5014 and it shoots very well.

5014 is listed in Richard Milner’s digest of the records (HBSA Journal Vol. 3, No. 2, December 2000) as sold to “Stone” in April 1892.

I will get out my copy and see if there is more detail.

Mine is numbered 689X and by factory letter dates to October. 1913. That's not a lot of production from 1914-1947 (+/- 200 guns) if the numbers are sequential. Can't shed any light on the 600 serial number jump. FYI Graham Mackinlay has #6819, a 12 bore sidelock, on sale at present. Where is #7692 listed for sale?

7692 is on sale at F.A . Anderson , East Grinstead, Sussex, in the U.K.

1914 to 1947, think what happened in the meantime, WW1, depression, WW2 - none of which helped the sporting gun trade.

Bavarian Brit please see private message.

I have found the entry for your gun, but frustratingly still cannot access Imgur to send a picture.


It is very difficult to read, but here goes:-

H C Stone
Sunnyside, Weston, Bath

Apr 16. 12g hammer top-lever
double bolt blls (6lbs ?) 28 in brls. (erased)
5014. Case leather. 1/15/-
Cleaning rod 5/- Oil ???? 1/- 6/-
100 Scultze Cart 12g No 6. 10/-
17/11/-
Henry C Stone
Brand on case

To Mr G B?????? bend but shorter
in the stock


The original price has been erased but by subtracting £2/11/- (51 shillings ) for the accessories must have been £15.0.0.

Alleluia! Imgur seems to be working again.

Not what you were looking for but I have #1587. I believe it originally had half cock but now is rebounding. If you happen to have any info on it I would appreciate hearing from you.

Unfortunately the surviving records do not go back that far. They start in March 1881, the earliest serial number shown being 2922.

E.C. Green built gun number 75 using the 1868 patent of William Green, who was probably his uncle, so that would appear to date your gun to the middle of the 1870’s.

It is a ten gauge with a Jones Underlever. Clearly a best gun. Even the Damascus barrels are engraved. The person who had it a long time had many guns he brought back at the end of WWII. When his son did not trust him owning guns as he got older, it was given to a nephew who was my best friend. After he passed, I purchased it from the family. I will never sell it.

With the Jones Underlever and the hammers it does seem to take a while to load. It weighs under 9 lbs. What a pleasure.

One of my nicest hammerguns is an E C Green, "Edwinson C. Green, Maker Cheltenham" with rebounding hammers--I think original to the gun, with a swapmed swamped rib nice Damascus barrels. Not sure of the year it was finished.

If the number is above 2921 I can give you the year of manufacture (or a close estimate- his numbers dodged about a bit between years).

Possibly a little bit more information as to the purchaser, but the Order book that survives does not show numbers for all the guns mentioned .

I have just realised the significance of the subtraction sum jotted above the entry for gun 5014 shown above.

1953
1892
61

It seems likely that Dudley Green either saw the gun or was asked to look it up in 1953, and was working out its age.