The case lid of many a Greener shotgun carried this paper label in addition to the trade label at the top of this article.
Inside the case was a simple-looking tool with a steel shaft and wooden handle. It was used to re-cock the Facile Princeps action after the gunlocks had been fired-off against a block for storage, to leave springs at rest.
Leaving a hammerless gun with cocked springs for long periods was a concern in the late 19th century. Guns up to that point had exposed hammers and the hammers could be easily lowered to ease the springs.
Actually, over a century of experience has shown that springs left under tension appear to suffer no ill effects, even after decades.
The Facile Princeps, when in pieces with the locks fired off, could not be assembled until the locks were again cocked using this tool.
Published by Vintage Guns Ltd on
