Picked up a nice JV Needham, Challenger #3. Very nice shape with strong case colours, untouched 30" barrels, well timed ejectors, a top spring that is so tight it keeps pinching my thumb and pistol grip stock. Engraving on rib reads, JV Needham Lovedale Street Birmingham I did a google on Needham and realize this gun was made by Greener around 1929. I can find information on Needham prior to the Greener purchase but not much on the Needham line after that. I would like more information on what Needham guns were being produced by Greener and the differences between the Challenger 1, 2 and 3. I cannot find a listing of manufacturer dates and only relying on the seller for the date. Would like to verify the date.

What is interesting is the butt stock and the inlet of a major piece that was well fitted for grain and carpentry. No cracks or splits otherwise. I wonder what happened to cause such a major repair?

Appreciate any information and other thoughts.

Graham Greener’s book lists the serial numbers of guns made by Greener for J. V. Needham but does not give much information on individual models.

Greener appears to have started a separate serial number block for them in 1886 at 6001, but previously seems to have intermingled them with Greener serial numbers following the acquisition of the firm in 1874.

From its position the insert in the stock has been fitted to replace a rubber anti recoil cheek piece.

Tamid,

Your gun was made in 1924, a year that marks something of a surge in Needham production with over 700 being produced by Greener.

If you Google Vintage Gun Journal (Diggory Hadoke’s online monthly publication) and enter Needham in the search bar you will find a February 2022 article “Needhams and Feral Cats”.

The author has and illustrates Challenger 1, 2 and 3. Your Challenger 3 appears to be the best grade, the 1 being a plain gun with no top extension.

It is interesting that he was able to find all 3 grades quite quickly in Australia. This suggests a strong demand for Needham branded guns in Australia. This may explain why Greener felt it worthwhile to keep them in production until 1941.

My mid-1930’s Greener “Fine Guns” catalogue does not show any Needham guns. I suspect they issued a separate one for Needham guns.

Parabola,

Thanks for the lead. Was the rubber recoil cheek piece from the factory?

Tamid,

It was more probably fitted later when the owner found the recoil uncomfortable.

It would not be a standard item, but could have been made as part of a special order.

Just from memory, I think Needham invented an ejector system that W.W. Greener fancied. Greener bought the patent and Needham's whole operation in 1881(?), and employed Needham to supervise the building of Needham badged guns there, until his death. The Needham name was in good repute, so Greener continued producing guns in his name for years afterward as he was entitled to do under the purchase agreement...Geo

Tamid,,have you removed the action plate? The reason I am asking is I have two greener a&d guns market j brazier under the plate mine are 10 years apart.

It won't be for a month or 2 before I have the time to take this gun apart.