I am joined today by Val Forgett III of Navy Arms for the first in a series of videos telling some of his stories form growing up in the golden age of surplus, with a father who was one of the largest arms dealers in the US. Today, we are talking about how his father ended up owning the W.W. Greener company for five days, and taking a look at a sniper rifle from the Greener museum collection – a .280 Ross fitted with a Zeiss optic used by Greener’s nephew to significant effect in the First World War.
Minor correction: the guns Val still has were duplicates for Edward VII, not Edward VI.
In addition, Mr Bailey’s story has a happy ending. Val’s father gave him the machine tools from the Greener shop and prepaid for six months lease on a nearby building for him to start his own business. He eventually partnered with a former Greener employee named Leonard Onions and they formed Bailons Gunmakers Ltd, which was in business for many years.
About 1967, I was 18 years old and involved in a DCM club. I went into a gun shop in East Hartford, Connecticut to pick up some National Match ammo. A guy I barely knew came up to me with a short suitcase. Inside was a W.W. Greener side by side rifle in .577 Nitro. One of the last ones Greener made with external hammers. And one box of ammo, less 2 rounds fired. $100. I didn’t do it, and have been kicking myself ever since.
I empathize with you, deeply.
I missed out on a chance at five consecutively numbered Luger pistols with all accessories in Germany for dirt cheap because whoever replied to my inquiry about importing them to the US either lied or just didn’t know what they were talking about. They were legal to import, told me they weren’t, I passed on the deal, and… I think they likely got sent to whatever Germany uses as a means of official firearms destruction.
Now we need a video on that sniper rifle!
When I worked part time for a famous UK dealer in the late 70’s, early 80’s we used Bailons a lot to smoothbore section 1 rifles so they could be sold as section 2 shotguns to collectors!
Always check the wallet thoroughly before you throw it out. Or at least get the disgruntled ex employees drunk so they tell you secrets…