Kautzky trigger doubles

[mstaffor]

I have a Fox Sterlingworth with a Kautzky selective trigger. The gun is doubling (firing both barrels) with 1-1/4 oz standard (non magnum) factory 2-3/4 inch factory loads. My gunsmith worked on the gun and it continues to double. Can anyone recommend a gunsmith that can resolve this problem? If not resolved soon I may resort to having Doug Turnbull install a Miller trigger

[dragon]

i would recomend Dewey Vicknair . he has worked on single selective trigger for me and does excellent work!

[mstaffor]

Could you supply some contact information for Dewey? A phone number and address would be great. If you don't want to post the information you can call my cell at 406-360-6539.

Thanks

[scaupman]

x

[Silvers]

I triple recommend Dewey.

Interesting, every single one of the original Foxes with K-triggers I've ever owned or handled worked perfectly. Conversely 5 of the 5 guns I had my hands on, that were restocked or had local gunsmiths into them, were malfunctioning when I shot them or saw them shot by others. IMO you need to deal with someone who really understand the design and Dewey is an expert.

Just one check if someone has a malfunctioning K trigger on a factory-stocked gun, be sure the rear tang screw is tight, but don't "reef" on it. That's the one under the trigger guard tail. Often they loosen up from shooting and/or when the wood dries out over the decades. Usually that means that when tight, the front end of the rear tang screw will protrude above its hole in the rear frame tang. If that bothers you (as it does me) you can have a professional dress it down and re-engrave the little decorative cuts on its front end. Silvers

[mstaffor]

The gun is off to Dewey as of Saturday. Thanks for all the knowlegeable help.

My Fox hunting collection is now complete. I only wish Fox had made a 10 gauge so my quail, pheasant, and goose guns were all Fox Guns.

[mike campbell]

Often they loosen up from shooting and/or when the wood dries out over the decades. Usually that means that when tight, the front end of the rear tang screw will protrude above its hole in the rear frame tang. If that bothers you (as it does me) you can have a professional dress it down and re-engrave the little decorative cuts on its front end. Silvers

The screw didn't grow longer....the wood shrank. Rather than alter the screw, maybe you'd want to consider some glass bedding to fill the gap, strengthen the wood and return the tangs to their original separation? Snugging that screw down without proper support under the tang can lead to a snapped tang. Trust me....I know.

[Silvers]

Yep that's what I said, the wood dries out and shrinks. Difference of opinion here.... the glass bedding will work of course but I think most gents who own an original Fox with a Kautzky won't look too kindly on using a synthetic polymer to fill up gaps in the bedding. That's why I recommended just tightening the screw. Another, better option which is more involved is to shim the tang(s) with a brass or steel shim of the proper thickness to restore the factory positioning. I have done both and in fact had some very thin steel shims (.005") made up for that purpose.

Regarding breaking off the frame tang or the trigger plate tang, Mike is a very careful and precise observer and I trust he has seen original Fox wood shrink more than I have. The rear tang screw is 32 tpi so that means each full turn will close up the very back end of the tangs by about .031". I have never seen a screw in an unmodified Fox tighten up by more than 1 full turn, usually it is about 1/2 to 3/4 turn. So, from my experience the tangs will move together no more than about .031", probably less than that, and it is usually the trigger plate tang that will bend since it has a lesser crosssection than the frame tang. Generally it's easiest to just tighten the screw but based on Mike's post I will caution not to do that if the rear screw tightens more than about 1 full turn.

Of course restocked guns vary widely in quality and I can definitely see how an inexperienced stocker could do a gun and have very little bearing under one or both tangs. In that case I could see where the screw tension and excessive bending could possibly cause breakage. Silvers

[mike campbell]

Of course restocked guns vary widely in quality and I can definitely see how an inexperienced stocker could do a gun and have very little bearing under one or both tangs. In that case I could see where the screw tension and excessive bending could possibly cause breakage. Silvers

Ouch.

I never suspected that owners of original Foxes would prefer to cut off the end of a screw and pay to have it re-engraved just to preserve the "originality" of the shrunken inletting. I admit I still have lots to learn.