Wow! What a gun: 16 gauge W.W. Greener SxS sidelock…

W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN
W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN

W.W. Greener is a gunmaker that needs no introductions. Founded in 1829, the firm built firearms until 1965, when it was bought by Webley. In those 136 years, they built all sort of doubles, from percussion shotguns and big bore breech loading hammerguns to their famous “Facile Princeps” boxlocks. The firm also made sidelocks like this L70 and this L60.  Greener’s sporting arms were sold around the world and demand for them grew the company into what was once the largest sporting gun factory in the world.

W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN
W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN

In 1985, the W.W. Greener was bought by Graham Greener, W. W. Greener’s great grandson, and gunmakers David Dryhurst and Richard Tandy. Today, this team turns out some of the finest shotguns and double rifles in the world.

The sidelock you see here is one of their efforts. Completed in 2005, it’s an awfully impressive SxS, right up there with the very best I’ve seen. I love it’s almost Gothic excesses: The steps of metal at the bottom, breech-ends of the bbls, the flames of engraving on the tubes, the arcaded fences (much nicer than Woodward arcaded fences). Overall, these features give this double a ton of personality and make it a lot more interesting than staid, conservative guns like standard Purdeys.

W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN
W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN

Check out how deep and crisp the shaping is on the arcaded fences and on the beads that run up from the lockplates and around the toplever. And look at the little sweeps of metal on either side of the toplever–perfectly balanced, beautifully shaped. I love the big square top strap, too. Very distinct.

W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN: ENGRAVED BY TALLET AND COGGAN  MADE 2005 29″ BARRELS SELF OPENING 006 AND 011 2 3/4 EVERYTHING INTERNALLY ON THIS GUN IS A BOSS DOUBLE TRIGGER EJECTORS SPLINTER FOREARM PISTOL GRIP AS NEW IN MAKERS OAK AND LEATHER CASE 6LBS 5 OZ X 2 7/16″ X 1 9/16″ X 14 9/16″. Price: $89,500

W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN
W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN
W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN
W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN
W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN
W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN
W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN
W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN
W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN
W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN
W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN
W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN
W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN
W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN
W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN
W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN
W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN
W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN
W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN
W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN
W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN
W.W. GREENER SxS SIDELOCK 16 GAUGE SHOTGUN

Fabulous gun alert: A 12g SxS by Ogden Smiths & Hussey…

Ogden Smiths & Hussey Imperial Ejector SxS Shotgun
Ogden Smiths & Hussey Imperial Ejector SxS Shotgun

In a the world of fine shotguns, “Best-gun” seems like a phrase with a pretty obvious definition: The very best shotgun a manufacturer can make. But because these were hand made by different people at different time periods, each one is a bit different. That means some bests are best-er than others.

Ogden Smiths used to be a fishing tackle company in London. In 1923, Walter Sydney Ogden Smith of the Ogden Smith family joined with the gunmaker Henry H. Hussey (son of gunmaker H.J. Hussey’s) to sell guns under the name Ogden Smiths & Hussey, Limited. This partnership lasted until 1933 and produced shotguns and rifles of different styles and qualities, including single-barrel trap guns like this and the best-quality, SxS, Imperial you see here.

Ogden Smiths & Hussey Imperial Ejector SxS Shotgun
Ogden Smiths & Hussey Imperial Ejector SxS Shotgun

The Hussey family Imperial grade sidelock shotguns since old man H.J. started his own operations after being fired from Lang & Hussey in 1898 (in fact, Lang & Hussey’s finest gun was also called the Imperial). Today, these Imperials pop up on the market on a regular basis. They’re nice guns, but none of the I’ve seen have been anywhere near as nice as this one. In fact, it’s this is the best Hussey Imperial I’ve ever seen.

Ogden Smiths & Hussey Imperial Ejector SxS Shotgun
Ogden Smiths & Hussey Imperial Ejector SxS Shotgun

On this one, the engraving on the fences and action, as well as the overall finish on all the metalwork, is a step above any of the others I’ve come across. With it’s high stock, long chambers, tight chokes, heavy proof, and wide, file-cut rib, it sure looks like it was made for live-pigeon shooting. Sure, the buttstock is a bit plain. But it is original and I bet the maker used the blank because of the strength of its straight grain. I’d be looking at the rest of the gun and never notice it.

Ogden Smiths & Hussey Imperial Ejector SxS Shotgun
Ogden Smiths & Hussey Imperial Ejector SxS Shotgun

Ogden Smiths & Hussey Imperial Ejector SxS Shotgun: A fabulous quality and condition pre-war 12 bore double trigger gun retaining nearly all of its original color 90% plus, and a London black. Gold line cocking indicators, exquisite very fine rose and scroll engraving with carved fences. The 30 inch Whitworth steel barrels with a pigeon rib, have the original 3 inch chambers with 1 3/8 ounce proof, choked full and full. The stock measures 14 1/2 to a checkered horn plate with a drop of 1 1/2 by 2 1/8. The gun weight is 7lbs. 7 oz. Articulated front trigger and the guard has 80% of it’s charcoal blue. Locking screws on the first guard and ejector stop screw. Blank gold oval. This gun is as good as it gets from a best maker. Price: $18,500

Ogden Smiths & Hussey Imperial Ejector SxS Shotgun
Ogden Smiths & Hussey Imperial Ejector SxS Shotgun
Ogden Smiths & Hussey Imperial Ejector SxS Shotgun
Ogden Smiths & Hussey Imperial Ejector SxS Shotgun

This week’s top new guns, powered by Gunsinternational…

Here are my top-picks of the shotguns that popped up this week on Gunsinternational.com. That Holland & Holland is exceptional and the A.h. Fox 12 gauge Super Fox looks nice, too.

Charles Daly Regent Diamond Double Barrel Shotgun
Charles Daly Regent Diamond Double Barrel Shotgun

CHARLES DALY PRUSSIAN SXS REGENT DIAMOND 9MM CENTERFIRE SHOT: This is without a doubt the sexiest gun we have encountered. 22” barrels, double triggers, extractors, splinter forearm. Pistol grip. In maker’s crocodile case. 3lbs, 6oz. Price: $95,000.00.

HOLLAND & HOLLAND DOUBLE HAMMER RIFLE .450 CALIBER: .450- 3 1/4″ ctg, 26″ fluid steel barrels with sideclips and rebounding hammers. Back action locks with bolted safeties. Underlever opening, double triggers, and express sights. Checkered foend and pistol grip buttstock with Holland top tang extension. In fabulous original condition retaining nearly all of the casehardened finish and barrel blue. Mint bores. In it’s original oak and leather red baize lined case. This is really on of the nicest original rifles like this I have had. Price: $24,500

CSMC Fox DE 20 gauge shotgun
CSMC Fox DE 20 gauge shotgun

Fox CSMC DE 20 ga.: Fox CSMC DE 20 ga., 26″ barrels choked IC/IC. The action features deep relief engraving of woodcock and rough grouse and a setter on the bottom with two flushing woodcock. The remainder finished in a deep, stylized acanthus, and chiseled oak leaf fences. Weighs 5 lbs, 10 oz. Maker’s case! Superb condition. Price: $16,500.

BAKER 10 GAUGE WATERFOWL SHOTGUN WITH 32″ DAMASCUS BARRELS: Chambers are 3″. The minimum wall thickness is 75/1000! The weight of the gun is 10 LBS 1 OZ. Good bores. This gun was made for Montgomery Wards as a private label. Nice damascus pattern on barrels. Traces of case colors. Engraving is crisp with scroll engraving on the sideplates and a quail on the floor plate. Price: $900

Francotte or Guild: 4 GA Gauge double barrel, circa about 1910-1930. The barrels measure 39-1/2″ and approx 56-1/4″ overall. The stock measures 14-1/2″ from the trigger to the checkered butt. The barrels retain 95%+ blue and the frame shows 95%+ case hardening. Price: $53,000

H.J. Hussey Ltd. 12 Gauge 3″ Chamber Imperial Ejector Shotgun: 30 inch barrels choked Full and Full. The condition of the shotgun is excellent with appoximately 75% of bluing, and 80% of case color remaining. Length of pull to the front trigger is 13 and 7/8 inches.  Price: $9,000

E. M. Reilly 12 ga hammer gun, side by side
E. M. Reilly 12 ga hammer gun, side by side

E. M. Reilly 12 ga hammer gun: Beautiful 12 ga hammer gun by E. M. Reilly. Thumb lever opening. Beautiful 30″ damascus barrels choked Cylinder and Cylinder. Bore diameter is .725 with a wall thickness of .030″. In a nice leather case. Price: $8,900

A.H.Fox HE Grade: A.H. Fox HE Grade Super Fox 32″ bbls,3″ chambers,bores .742,chokes .047 & .047 extra full. Gun was shipped October 4,1924 per factory letter.  Gun was listed as 23/4 inch chamber,however;references say many were sent back to factory and rechambered for the then new Winchester SuperX 3″ shells and bbls are stamped accordingly. With the 15″ LOP and 1 1/2X1 1/2 Monte Carlo stock.Price: $7,850.00