Greener air Rifle.

[Fronteria]

What is a Greener Air Rifle requiring restoration Worth?
I have been offered the one I have listed the defects from a visual inspection, I was not allowed to strip it for further inspection.
Somebody has taken barrel/breech cam mechanism apart and put it together wrongly so it doesn't work, it will cock and shoot but I don't think it has enough power to blow a cobweb out of the barrel.
No original finish anywhere on the metal parts but I couldn't see any rust or pitting on it.
Stock has been stripped and smells of stain and I suspect it has a crack in the head of the stock.
It appears to be complete including all of its sights.
Calibre .177
It doesn't appear that any of the parts have been damaged by the person who took it apart and tried to put it back together again wrongly, but you can never be sure until you have stripped, cleaned and inspected it, so this needs to be allowed for.
Sorry I couldn't get any photographs as I was not expecting to be offered a air rifle to purchase so I didn't take a camera.

[AC99]

I paid about £400 I think for mine about 3 years ago and it wasn't in brilliant condition but it was complete and in good working order with a minor crack in stock and it shoots well and a lot of original finish left but I wanted to own one so I was prepared to pay. They do not often come up for sale.
It seems this one you are looking at has been tampered with; I wonder what damage has been caused by stripping - screw heads etc; also why would anyone feel the need to take it apart if it was working? You would need to spend some time and money restoring it but make him an offer of £250 or so bearing in mind it isn't working and potential damage is unknown. Does he know anything about Greeners and their potential worth?

[Fronteria]

I paid about £400 I think for mine about 3 years ago and it wasn't in brilliant condition but it was complete and in good working order with a minor crack in stock and it shoots well and a lot of original finish left but I wanted to own one so I was prepared to pay. They do not often come up for sale.
It seems this one you are looking at has been tampered with; I wonder what damage has been caused by stripping - screw heads etc; also why would anyone feel the need to take it apart if it was working? You would need to spend some time and money restoring it but make him an offer of £250 or so bearing in mind it isn't working and potential damage is unknown. Does he know anything about Greeners and their potential worth?

As far as I know he is a total amateur which is a bit of a worry the screw heads don't appear to be too badly beat up, are any replacement parts available for Greener air rifles?
I just feel that the breech cam system might have had a fair bit of force applied to it, is anything in that area likely to break?

[AC99]

As far as I know he is a total amateur which is a bit of a worry the screw heads don't appear to be too badly beat up, are any replacement parts available for Greener air rifles?
I just feel that the breech cam system might have had a fair bit of force applied to it, is anything in that area likely to break?

Greener parts, like the rifles, are quite rare and it is unlikely you will find anyone who is breaking one for spares. John Knibbs and others only seem to make spare parts for Webley, BSA and other popular brands. Even if you could identify which parts are missing/damaged you would need to provide parts drawings to whoever is prepared to attempt making bits for you and this would prove to be very difficult since I don't think these drawings are easy to find.
Perhaps whoever took it apart discovered the rifle was not performing properly and decided to try and 'fix' it. I cannot think of anything in that region which could easily be broken since the rifle is very robustly constructed but, however, he may have lost a part or parts. I think you need to be wary and if possible try and examine it more closely and then make a decision.

[Fronteria]

Greener parts, like the rifles, are quite rare and it is unlikely you will find anyone who is breaking one for spares. John Knibbs and others only seem to make spare parts for Webley, BSA and other popular brands. Even if you could identify which parts are missing/damaged you would need to provide parts drawings to whoever is prepared to attempt making bits for you and this would prove to be very difficult since I don't think these drawings are easy to find.
Perhaps whoever took it apart discovered the rifle was not performing properly and decided to try and 'fix' it. I cannot think of anything in that region which could easily be broken since the rifle is very robustly constructed but, however, he may have lost a part or parts. I think you need to be wary and if possible try and examine it more closely and then make a decision.

One of the cams was broken into four bits! on a closer look it was found that when the lever was removed it has broken through all four corners of the square in the cam, which enables the cam to be turned when the lever is moved to close the breech, force had been applied which caused the incorrectly assembled cam to break up.
A rare quality air rifle is probably a write off.
And I can't see anyone buying it at the price it was offer at, as getting the breech cam parts made is sure to be expensive.

[Josie & John]

One of the cams was broken into four bits! on a closer look it was found that when the lever was removed it has broken through all four corners of the square in the cam, which enables the cam to be turned when the lever is moved to close the breech, force had been applied which caused the incorrectly assembled cam to break up.
A rare quality air rifle is probably a write off.
And I can't see anyone buying it at the price it was offer at, as getting the breech cam parts made is sure to be expensive.

I'd hate to see such a classic written off and if the price of the repair is factored into the sale, then she may still be of use to someone. The damage sounds quite bad but I am no engineer and perhaps someone capable of repairing it could provide an estimate? Got to be worth a go.

John

[AC99]

One of the cams was broken into four bits! on a closer look it was found that when the lever was removed it has broken through all four corners of the square in the cam, which enables the cam to be turned when the lever is moved to close the breech, force had been applied which caused the incorrectly assembled cam to break up.
A rare quality air rifle is probably a write off.
And I can't see anyone buying it at the price it was offer at, as getting the breech cam parts made is sure to be expensive.

I can add a bit more to the 'Grreener Saga'. Last night I met up with a mate who, last week, had the opportunity to take this rifle home with him and it examine it for a few days. The bloke selling the gun knew little about collectable airguns and was not the same person who dis-assembled it. The high point of the cam is clearly identified with a punch mark but it is possible to fit it in 4 different positions - the plate has a square cut-out into which fits the the square shaft running through the tap. It seems that on re-assembly this unknown person had fitted it 90 degrees out! On closing the breech and moving the locking lever back, inevitably some resistance was encountered and rather than just stop there and consider the possibility that you might just have got it wrong this person then seemingly applied further pressure in order to lock the breech. The long lever provides a high degree of mechanical advantage and the result was the square drive shaft broke through the thin side-wall (a couple of mm) at the four corners of the square hole it the cam plate.
On loading and firing a pellet there was a prolonged hiss of escaping air and the pellet barely left the barrel. The pellet seating mechanism had been severely impaired also the leakage may have been due to a damaged piston washer; either way it doesn't shoot and the stock is split apparently! The offered price now was £285; my mate offered him £100 which was declined. The whereabouts of the gun is now unknown - it is probably 'doing the rounds' and probably heading for a town near you. Look out for a shady character entering your local carrying a long package, "wanna buy a nice Greener guv -only £400 cash!" Caveat emptor - let the buyer beware!