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An incredible William Greener 10g Percussion Gun made for the 1853 New York Exhibition and remains in remarkable original condition.  William Greener was (1806-1869) an English inventor, gunmaker and father to his more famous son, William Wellington Greener (1834-1921).  William Greener helped establish the Greener name in gunmaking and its reputation for its high quality firearms and, especially well made Damascus barrels.  The Exhibition of the Industries of All Nations was held from July 14 1853 to November 1 of 1854 and was inspired by the success of the first World's fair, The Great Exhibition of All Industries held in Great Britain in 1851. The fairs were to showcase the attending Nation's achievements in industry and the event in New York attracted 4,854 exhibitors, over half of them from foreign nations. While the event was privately sponsored, U.S. President Franklin Pierce and Secretary of War, and future president of the Confederate States, Jefferson Davis were in attendance and gave opening speeches, promotions for the event were handled by P.T. Barnham and Walt Whitman penned "The Song of the Exposition".  The gun featured here is a W. Greener Grade I Superior Quality double barrel sporting shotgun made for this New York Exhibition of 1853 and the top rib is inlaid in platinum: “William Greener’s Laminated Steel Barrels Indestructible by Gunpowder”, “No. 3”, “Exhibition New York 1853” Greener's was award Silver medals at the NY exhibition for their guns, some of the first in a long list of accolades awarded to the Greener firm.  The gun is fitted with bar action locks with "Newcastle" style hammers and engraved in wonderful game scenes, obviously inspiring the engraving patterns of the later W.W. Greener high grade guns. The right lock plate shows two setters pointing a brace of grouse, one looking over its shoulder (a tell-tell characteristic of original Greener guns). The left lock shows two running setters behind the hammers and a brace of snipe, one flushing one looking over its shoulder surrounded by full coverage and expertly engraved acanthus scroll, The trigger bow engraving shows a brace of pointers surrounded by scroll. Hammers and the breach block feature a dog’s head surrounded by matching scroll engraving. Furniture is also fully covered in matching scroll. The 29 3/4" William Greener’s Laminated Steel barrels have a smooth game rib, platinum inlays with extensive engraving scroll along the full length of the rib, at the breaches, in the middle of the barrels and at the muzzles.  The highly figured walnut is beautifully checkered in a point pattern on a straight hand grip and forend.  The stock has a 14" LOP over a smooth steel butt plate with a game scene engraved 4-tiered “widow's peak" depicting a brace of pheasant, the hen flushing and the rooster looking over his shoulder surrounded by matching scroll. The original gold stock shield between the hammers remains blank.  Finally the gun is housed in its original Oak & Leather case lined in a blue calf's skin with its original trade label and host of accoutrements.  Retains probably 20% original case colors in protected areas Much of the original black remains on trigger bow and there is strong traces of original black on trigger bow tang and butt plate. The balance of metal having a soft silvered patina and the engraving remains sharp showing all its original shading and detail. The platinum letters on top rib remain all intact and remain flush. The bores remain in excellent condition and the barrels are bulge and dent free. Finally, the original case remains sound and sturdy and in equally remarkable condition as the gun.  In addition to its history and provenance, this is without doubt the oldest gun I have ever handled in such high, original condition and a testament to the illustrious reputation the elder Greener is famous for. 

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