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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.
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