.310 Cadet by W.W.Greener…………SOLD

A Nicely Marked .310 Cadet By Greener of Birminham

This nicely presented original boys training rifle was produced by the famous maker W.W. Greener of Birmingham, England.  We can be certainly sure of its date of issue as being January 1908 by markings upon the butt-stock.  Serial number  7468 marked on the barrel and the “inside” of the under-leaver.  This is a single shot trainer loaded from the top.

Overall the rifle is 40.1/4″ in length.  The round barrel is 25.1/4″ long.  Trigger pull length 13.1/2″.  Standard two piece walnut stock in good condition for a one hundred and six year old rifle.  The stock has earned many dinks and dents but nothing serious that would detract from the aesthetics of the thing.  All over the stocks have a good even patina with a mild “shine” to them on a bright day.  The metal works all exhibit the same unmolested honest type finish with wear to the high points and a lack of original blue which has been worn away by the rigors of  time.  The only strong original colour in the steel can be spotted by opening the action and looking carefully for the case color hardening at the base of the under-lever.  The rifle is fitted with a serrated trigger just like its bigger brother the Martini-Henry rifle.   Wood to metal fit is good all over with no looseness or filler.

The rifle is equipped with two sling swivels and a steel butt-plate.  Looking at the LHS of the rifle the action appears to have borne the brunt of wear to finish.  On the slab side of the same is the following;  “W.W. GREENER  MAKER  BIRMINGHAM”  and nothing else except the serial number which is stamped into the upper quadrant of the barrel just in front of the breech.  On the obverse of the action there is also the following; ” COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.”  and slightly above towards the front of the action the number “176”   This is clearly repeated on the same side of the butt-stock.  Looking down on the action from above; most noticeable is the lack of finish, which seems right as we think of hand contact and the effect of human sweat on gun blueing.  On the RHS of the action is the cocking indicator which protrudes every time the under-lever is closed.  On top of the action frame, where the barrel screws in is the clear Kangaroo motive.

Directly in front of the Kangaroo, on the top barrel flat, is the crossed pennants trade mark of Greener’s.  In turn, between the rear sight block and the breech flat is the following; “W.W. GREENER  MAKER  BIRMINGHAM”  Below that on the upper right quadrant of the barrel are the barrel proof marks “.310 – 12 – 120” and inspectors stamp.  The rear sight is on a block, on the side of the block it is graduated from 50 to 200 yards,  on flipping up the sight they are graduated form 300 to 600.  The round barrel has a nice even grey brown tone to it for its entire length.  Standard inverted “V” front sight on a block.  The muzzle is flat and the “crowning” looks to be unmolested and original.   The bore is good with some light spotting and misting and a tiny bit of pitting, but the rifling is strong and appears to be  fairly strong.  Action seems to function perfectly.

The markings on the RHS of the butt-stock are most interesting;  most obvious is the large roundel cartouche;  it reads “W. A” in the center which I take to mean Western Australia.  Around the outside it reads; “COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA” and in the lower half of the circle ” MILY FORCES”  This roundel is a good 1.1/4″ in diameter and the outer circle which contains the lettering 1/4″ in depth.  The stamp is entirely of the time, containing the right amount of dirt within the letters and correct wear over the radius of the stock.  Also stamped into that side of the butt is the “176” repeated on the action and the date of issue “1 / 08”

A good honest .310 Cadet in Correct condition for its advancing years.

£ 695…….SOLD

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