W.W.Greener Empire model 12 ga

**Gert Odendaal** · 15-01-2015, 22:10

Good day members

I am extremely fortunate to have purchased a W.W Greener Empire model with ejectors, it is still in good condition, need some love and tender care but shoots really well. I purchased this shotgun from a very kind member on this great forum. I will later use this shotgun as a project...but will not under any circumstance cut or damage this beautiful rifle....I will upload more photos:

I did some research and contact W.W Greener regarding the origins of this shotgun , a reply from Graham N Greener in this regard:
W W Greener gun no. 75541 was started on 5^th September 1950 and finished on 7^th January 1952. It is an Empire ejector model, a 1`2 bore choked full and full. Stock dimensions when made were 2-1/4 by 1-1/2 by 14-1/2 inches and 1/8 of an inch normal cast., half pistol hand. It weighed 7lbs 12oz and was sold to the ‘Overseas Farmers Co-op. Company’. I attach some notes on condition. It appears to be genuine.
Kind regards
Graham N Greener

**Bokman** · 15-01-2015, 22:21

WOW! Very nice.

Congrats and I am looking forward to that thread.

**Ds J** · 15-01-2015, 22:30

For a moment I broke out in cold sweat when I read that you found a Greener for a project.

Enjoy the old girl!

**Gert Odendaal** · 15-01-2015, 22:37

Originally Posted by Ds J

For a moment I broke out in cold sweat when I read that you found a Greener for a project.

Enjoy the old girl!

Thank you Bokman

Yes I got hold of the book written by Ellis Brown: Building double rifle son shotgun actions....it really is a great book..I did a lot of research regarding this technique...it really is something I want to do ...

Ds.J no need to worry, I will build a set of double barrels from scratch...what I will change is a new stock to fit me to shoot the double and shotgun...some people says it is not possible to use one stock..I on the other hand think it is... the W.W Greener will stay as is...Ds. J you have an incoming pm...

**Gert Odendaal** · 15-01-2015, 23:07

Ds.J , boodskap kas is leeg gemaak...stuur maar die pm..e-pos godendaal@hotmail .com

**JS4** · 15-01-2015, 23:28

Wow. That is a beaut.

**525** · 16-01-2015, 19:52

Great that the gun is in the right hands Gert, look forward with great interest to seeing some pics as the project progresses.

**Gert Odendaal** · 16-01-2015, 23:22

Originally Posted by 525

Great that the gun is in the right hands Gert, look forward with great interest to seeing some pics as the project progresses.

525 thank you very much for selling me this great W.W Greener shotgun it really is a beautiful rifle, I shot it yesterday, run six shells through it and it shot extremely well. This shotgun point and handles extremely well, it is too long for me since it has been extended to suite your length, I will re-fit a new recoil pad to it to fit my length it surely will shoot even better. Johan Greyling has a very positive view on this shotgun, it is entered into his stock and already on the shelf between his collection rifles...according to him it is his until I can show a licence card...

I want to take it to the field to shoot some francolin and pigeons...when I get my licence.

**gwj DICKDEKOCK** · 16-01-2015, 19:55

Nice. I almost got my hands on one recently, but it didn't work out. From what I have heard, the can be very valuable?

**525** · 18-01-2015, 18:05

Originally Posted by gwj DICKDEKOCK

Nice. I almost got my hands on one recently, but it didn't work out. From what I have heard, the can be very valuable?

The first William Greener started making percussion shotguns and rifles in 1829, he was the first to perfect shotgun chokes so their guns were in high demand and all top end. The demand for high end guns took a nose dive when World War 1 started so they changed tack and made good quality more affordable shotguns which are the Empire side by sides. The company was sold to Webley in the mid sixties, the fifth generation Greener bought the company back in 1985 making high end shotguns and double rifles again. One of the guys I met at a sporting clays range has a pre 1914 Greener hammer gun, he said the value was around R100k. The pic is an example of one of the new Greeners, blurred but gives the idea ...