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Info needed for Unusual W.W. Greener weapon

squeakyc
Here's a different one guys..........I have been collecting farm items for several years and purchased an item made by WW Greener. It is 9" tall and the diameter of the chamber is approximately 3/8". The piece is shaped like a barrel with a cone on the end of it. The top screws off and it appears to take some sort of centre fire cartridge. It reads on the edge of the circular brass base "W.W. Greener Gun Maker Birmingham Patent No. 7040 Greener's Humane Cattle Killer". On the sides of the barrel it reads "W.W. Greener Birmingham" along with a proof mark and the numbers 1505. On the top part containing the firing pin a u-shaped piece of iron swings up over the firing pin and also has a proof mark. It reads "extractor" on the u-shaped piece.
I lived on a farm most of my life and have seen other types of killers but have never seen one like this before last weekend. I am puzzled about how it works as well as all the old timers that have looked at it so far. The two big questions are: When it was made? and how does it work? Any information about it or where I can find information on it would be greatly appreciated. I will have some pictures of it tomorrow if anyone would like to see it, email me at gfletcher@superaje.com and I will forward them to you.
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Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • v35
    It was made by WW Greener of Birmingham England. It takes a cartridge and may need a hammer to fire it.
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  • Iconoclast
    As v35, noted it does take a cartridge . . . something of an oddball design.
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  • squeakyc
    I have received some information on the Greener Killer and will add it and thanks for your replies.
    You probably have the 'Bell' type cattle killer invented by W W Greener in 1895, although it was in production for many years thereafter in several different forms until 1965. Most were in .22 or .310 bore although ammunition is no longer available for the .310. These larger bore killers can be bored out to .32 and re-proved for the .32 ACP round. The one I have is likely a .310 bore.
    It also appears to be the basis for noise suppressors for rifles. Here is a quote from an ammunition study "Noise of the target practice became a problem. There were some models of the suppressors invented in 1903, but they were not yet produced, except a bulky "sound deadening device" of W.W. GREENER's "Humane Cattle-Killer"; a slaughtering tool."
    I will post any other information I can dig up.............squeakyc
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  • v35
    On P 520 of The Gun and its Development by Greener, the Cattle Killer is described. A cutaway drawing of the device is shown in place against a cutaway of a cows head. The weapon has a bell end, a short rifled barrel and a breech cap containing a firing pin and spring that screws onto the barrel. The belled end is held against the forehead of the beast and the firing pin struck with a mallet. The cup has a cover plate with a bullet hole sized exit. Its purpose is to allow gas to expand inside the bell, muffle sound & contain the blast.
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  • squeakyc
    Hi v35,
    Thanks so much for the information on the Cattle Killer. I tried putting a shell in mine and it appears to have been modified to fit a .32 centre fire cartridge.
    I would really like to see the cut away drawing, as mine has no spring in it anymore. Would it be possible for you to send a scan of that page to me to compare it to the one I own? I know this may be an inconvenience for you and I understand if it is not possible.
    My email is gfletcher@superaje.com.

    Many Thanks,

    Greg
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  • v35
    I believe the spring shown is a firing pin return spring which might not be necessary to fire the gizmo. I will try and scan it and send you the pic and writeup.
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  • squeakyc
    Hi v35,

    Thanks again for the information. I look forward to seeing the information if you can get it scanned easily.

    Regards,

    Greg
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  • v35
    Sorry, the scan came out illegible.
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  • G N Greener
    If you need any information on W W Greener cattle killers you can e-mail me at; gng@wwgreener.com We made four different types in two calibers .22 and .310. AS a member has said the .310 ammunition is no longer available but it is possible to re-chamber and have the weapon proved for the .32 ACP round.
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