Product Details
A RARE .450/.455 E.C. GREEN'S PATENT REVOLVER, serial no. 5825,
circa 1890, with reblued 4 1/2in. barrel with raised 'Smith & Wesson' style top-rib signed 'E.C. Green & SON, CHELTENHAM & GLO'STER', integral ramp and blade fore-sight, push-button cylinder release, fluted top-strap with 'Webley' style stirrup latch lock, original blued and fluted cylinder with automatic ejection, original blued frame with ejector over-ride catch forwards of trigger guard and marked on the left side 'E.C. GREEN'S PATENT', brushed bright trigger and hammer, finely chequered walnut birdshead grips and lanyard ring at heel, strong traces of original finish to frame and cylinder, complete with a full-flap leather service holster
Provenance: For a similar revolver see A.W.F Taylerson's 'The Revolver 1889-1914', first edition page 175, plate 32 (lower)
This revolver conforms to British Patent 20321 of 1889 and was almost certainly manufactured by William Cashmore on behalf of Green. Around this time, a bitter exchange of letters occured in 'The Field' magazine between Green and Webley, whereby Green laid claim to having invented the stirrup latch in 1883. Webley, who were just about to sign a contract with the British Army for their new 'MKI' revolver which used a very similar stirrup latch were anxious that Green did not pursue his claim further and the whole tirade seemed to end as suddenly as it began. Rumours would have it that Webley formed a deal with Green over the latch, and 'licenced' him to continue with its use. Whether any money changed hands has never been disclosed, but judging by the numbers of surviving Green revolvers, which is very few, it would appear that they did not form a major part of his manufacturing portfolio
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Estimate £800-1,200
S5 - Sold as a Section 5 Firearm under the 1968 Firearms Act, Sections 7.3 and 7.1 Eligible.
Unless prior arrangement has been made, two weeks after the Sealed bid sale, all Section 5 (and Section 7.1 / 7.3) items will be moved to a Section 5 carriers where storage charges will be incurred.
Goods will not be released until all outstanding charges have been met. Collection will be by arrangement.