Help with serial no. & manuf. date

[Ron]

Howdy Folks,

I'm trying to find out when my Mod. B Fox was manufactured. It has Savage Arms stamped on the barrels so I'd assume it was made rather late by collectors standards. I cannot find a serial number on the gun anywhere. It was a gift to me by my step-father when I was about 12 or 13. I'm now 56 and thinking of having it restored and was curious when it was made. The only markings I can find on the gun are the letters "QR" stamped on each metal part of the gun. Can anyone shed any light on this for me?

Thanks, Ron

[Researcher]

All Fox Model Bs were made by Savage Arms Corp. After WW-II it appears that for some years Savage did not put serial numbers on their Fox Model B. Some clues would be the address on the barrels, Utica, NY, up thru 1945/6. Then Savage consolidated their arms making operations at the old J. Stevens factories at Chicopee Falls, Mass., and the factory at Utica went to making washing machines for the post-War housing boom. Savage/Stevens/Fox remained at Chicopee Falls into 1960, then moved to their new factory at Westfield, Mass. by 1961. The Gun Control Act of 1968 required Savage to start putting serial numbers on their Model Bs.

Here is my canned Model B chronology --

Fox Model B – The Fox Model B was added to the 1940 Fox catalogue put out by Savage. The retail price was $25. The Model B was offered in 12-, 16-, and 20-gauges and .410-bore, and had a color case-hardened frame. By January 22, 1945, the retail price of the Model B was up to $34.50.

Through the 1954 catalogue the Model B remained a double trigger, plain extractor, slim forearm utility gun. In the 1955 catalogue Savage added a Model BST which got a non-selective single trigger and a beavertail forearm. The offerings were the same for 1956 thru 1958.

By the 1960 catalogue the B and the BST got ventilated ribs. There were no changes in the 1961 catalogue.

For 1962 a B De Luxe in 12-gauge was added with a satin chrome receiver, white-line grip cap and butt plate, checkered side panels, beavertail, ventilated rib, and gold plated non-selective single trigger. They also gold plated the trigger on the BST. There were no changes for 1963.

For 1964 the De Luxe became the BDE, and included automatic ejectors, and also was available in 20-gauge chambered for 3-inch shells. The B and BST remained unchanged.

For 1965 the B and BST 20-gauges got 3-inch chambers.

For 1966 the satin chrome BDE was gone. There was a BSE with ejectors, non-selective single trigger, satin black finish, white-line butt plate and grip cap, beavertail and ventilated rib. The Model B had double triggers, was case hardened, had a ventilated rib, and now a beavertail. Both guns now featured impressed stamped checkering. For 1967, 8, 9 and 1970 the offerings were the same. The gun control act of 1968 required Savage to start putting serial numbers on these guns.

By 1971 there was a gun called the Savage 550 which was just like the BSE but had a case hardened receiver, and was offered in 12- and 20-gauges. The text said it had precisely engineered barrels resulting in perfect balance. In the picture it appears to be a mono-bloc design?!? Also grip caps are gone from the B and BSE. Offerings for 1972 were the same – the 550 listed at $174.95, the B-SE listed at $164.95, and the B listed at $139.95.

By 1973, the BSE and 16-gauges are gone, but there is a 24-inch barrel B in 12-gauge and 20-gauge, both with 3-inch chambers.

For 1974 the Savage 550 is gone and the B-SE is back. The B-SE 12-gauge has 2 ¾ inch chambers and the 12-gauge B and 24” Fox B have 3-inch chambers. All the 20-gauge and .410-bore are 3-inch chambered. No changes for 1975, 6, 7, or 8. For 1979 the grip caps are back and the double triggered B is offered with ejectors as the BE.

For 1980, cut checkering is back, but the 24-inch barrel offerings are gone – B, BE and B-SE. In 1981 the BE was gone, but the FA-1 and the FP-1 Fox autoloader and pump appeared. For 1982 the Fox offerings were B, B-SE, FA-1 and FP-1.

For 1983 the only Fox offering was the B-SE. The B-SE remained through the 1987 catalogue when its list price was $525. By the 1988 catalogue the Fox name was gone.

[Ron]

Wow! Looks like I came to the right place with my question! Thanks so much for all the info. So my Mod. B has an address on the barrel of Westfield, Mass; with 3" chambers and no serial number. If I understand the cronology right; that puts my gun somewhere between 1965 and 1968. Oops, almost forgot the beavertail forearm. So probably 1966 to 1968.

Thanks again,
Ron

[Stan Hillis]

Dave,

I am forever impressed by, not only your vast knowledge of doubles (Foxes in particular), but your graciousness in sharing that info with others less knowledgeable. That was a very long post to type out, even if you don't retype it every time someone asks, you did it at least once. It is obvious to me that you not only love doubles and have a great amount of information at your fingertips, but you truly enjoy helping others advance their knowledge. In the South that is one of the marks of a true gentleman. My hat's off to you. You embody what I want to see as leadership of our Fox Collector's Association.

Stan

[Jim Cloninger]

Dave, I second what Stan said. We are lucky to have you as a director of the Fox Collectors Assoc. Jim

[fullchoke16]

I concur. If I see one of Dave's posts, I always read it even if I'm not particularly interested in the subject and I'm never disappointed in the depth of info that he comes up with. ATTA BOY Dave.

[Researcher]

Thanks to the kindness of mr. R.W. (Billy) Harris, I could today change my canned Fox Model B chronology, because he sent me the 1970 Savage/Stevens/Fox retail catalogue and Wholesale price list that I was missing. For 1970 the Model B-SE had a wholesale price of $131.60 and a suggested retail price of $164.50; while the Model B was $110 and $137.50

[Stan Hillis]

Dave,

What were the longest barrels that were available on any of the B series (or 550), in 12 and 16 gauges? Were there ever any offered with 32 inchers?

[Researcher]

From what I find in the catalogues generally the 12-gauge was offered in 26-, 28, and 30-inches, the 16-and 20-gauges were only offered in 26- and 28-inches and the .410-bore only in 26-inches. For a while right after WW-II the 12-, 16-, and 20-gauges weren't offered in 26-inch, and there was a period when the 12- and 20-gauges were offered with 24-inch barrels.