Bo Whoop found and for sale at Julia's

[Silvers]

Has anyone noticed there's a "2" next to the "H" stamp on the barrel flats in the 2nd set of pics on page 1 of this thread? I don't remember 31088 being cited by Callahan as a two barrel set. Forend iron doesn't have a "2" but of course it doesn't necessarily have to. Any takes on this? Silvers

[fox-admin]

Frank: It looks like the inspectors stamp to me, that's the position it is normally found.

[Silvers]

Craig, are you thinking it is "inspector #2", or to indicate something other than a #2 barrel?

I do know the "2" for a 2 barrel set is normally stamped under the s/n on the barrel flats, usually centered, but I've also seen "2" stamped forward. In the case of 31088 the "3-inch" stamp is under the serial number = not much space there for the "2". Of course i could be all wet on this and the "2" next to the H stamp on 31088 could mean something entirely different....

Just for show & tell: pic of SW barrel below. This one has the unknown concave square inspector? stamp, plus a "2". Frank

[Researcher]

That picture is a bit blurry, so is that really a 2? There does seem to often be some kind of inspector's stamp to the right of the H on Super-Fox barrel flats --







On the two Fox two-barrel sets I have the 2 on the second set of barrels is directly under the serial number on the barrel flat --

[Silvers]

Thanks Dave, I agree it is blurry but I copied the pic to my desktop and expanded to 400% and it sure looks like a "2" to me, more lightly stamped than the "H" to be sure. Also the 2 stamp is a smaller size than the s/n figures. Maybe it does signify something different.....

[Germantown]

[quote="Silvers"]Thanks Dave, I agree it is blurry but I copied the pic to my desktop and expanded to 400% and it sure looks like a "2" to me, more lightly stamped than the "H" to be sure.[/quote] It might be interesting to see one of those "Tags" that came with an HE back then. Are there any records, or does Mr. Callanhan possibly have one of them. I agree, a possibly poor choice of words back then, and the stamping is there unless eridicated, I should guess many of those tags have vanished.

[Researcher]

I've been on the lookout for one of those Super-Fox tags since I got my Super-Fox in August 1963. Haven't seen or heard of one surfacing yet. Sure would like to.

[loggy]

I had a chance to visit with an attorney friend of mine last night. He was kind enough to give me a nice glass of Costco merlot and a thumbnail talk about lost articles. He prefaced his remarks with the statement that they did not apply in cases where theft was involved. He stated that the ownership of a lost article would pass on to the the owners heirs. The finder of a lost article also had the ability to receive ownership by doing certain things. The finder would need to make an attempt to locate any persons with possible claim to the property. This would often be done in the legal sections of the news paper. There was no comment about how extensive this search would need to be taken. He also said that state laws would apply and that they may vary from state to state. It seems that a gun that has been "lost" for sixty years and where all of those originally involved are most likely deceased could present a problem. The additional fact that it could have been in more than one state could present another problem. The issue was no more clear after the merlot than it was before, just a different set of questions.

[eightbore]

I'm sure a clearer result would have been forthcoming had the beverage of choice been an acceptable bourbon or scotch whisky. Good varietal vino is great for dinner but not much use in discussion of gun issues.

[mike campbell]

Is it out of the realm of possibility that an agreement has already been reached with the heir(s) and that free and clear title exists?
And just how good are paper trails on most old guns anyway? What if somebody tried to lay claim to a gun I bought from his ancestor years ago and, like practically every private party sale, was not documented?

Hmmmm....is this why some people like to obscure serial #'s in pics?

[Northern Bob]

I've got an AE with an ivory forend tip that looks like the one in the photos. Maybe it is Nash's long lost upland gun, Bo Peep. Seriously though, how common was the ivory forend tip and was it a standard factory option? Would it be mentioned in a letter? Thanks.

[Germantown]

Mike Campbell raises a most valid point. James D. Julia is a reputable gun auction house, if they have authenticated both the provenance of this HE 12 Fox, and also attempted, or maybe have succeeded, in clearing the sale of the late Mr. Buckingham's "stolen" Fox gun with his heirs and assigns, then we should be satisfied with their research. Only because the late Nash Buckingham was such a reveared gentleman, sportsman, Ducks Unlimited founding member and premiere outdoor writer of another place and time in American sporting history does this become important.

[MARSHFELLOW]

Personally, I'm rather confident that the Julia enterprise would make sure that all the legal bases are covered before offering this item for sale especially with all the questions that surround it as to ownership.

tjw

[loggy]

I was looking for something in the DGJ volume II index today and came accross the Dr. Andrews article on Bo Whoop. There is a clear picture of the "Built by Burt Becker, Philadelphia, Pa" engraving on Bo Whoop II. There are also several other clear pictures of the gun.

[66fordking]

If indeed this is the true Bo-whoop at what point is it not stolen,If i remember right the gun was reported lost with ads in the local papers for its return with a reward! Somebody going down the road most likely the same day it fell off the fender Found it and took it home that day. You no it did not spend any time in a bar ditch or something like that . You no it was not taken to the police or it would have been returned. The papers found ads ???? Someone would have noticed by reading the ads thats all they had to do back then. I am sure that everybody around that area knew it was lost and that a search was under way for it . Not to be found because it was in some low lifes possesion knowing it was not thiers to begin with.But kept it anyway until they died and some family member sold it off. So again at what point is it not stolen? I think this might keep the price down a little unless Julias has some proof in the form of a letter or something that the Buckinghams give it up free and clear!!! That just might be the deal breaker. Tim