New Member, New Fox Gun

[SmithShady]

Hi,

I'm brand new to the Fox Collectors Forum as of today, and have already learned a ton of great information by just surfing past posts here. I purchased my first Fox gun this past weekend at a Gun Show in Raleigh, North Carolina. I was not in the market for a new shotgun, but stumbled across what I felt was a great deal on a Fox 12 Gauge. The Gentleman selling the gun had purchased it as part of a collection from an estate sale, and couldn't tell me much about it. My grandfather passed down a Fox 20 Gauge to my father, so I was somewhat familiar with these guns and knew it's potential age. I spoke to a Fox collector I met at the show who was selling a few guns, and after my conversation with him, decided to take a chance on this one.

I ended up with an early A Grade 12 Gauge, with 30" barrels, serial number is 27XX. I looked up the serialization, and it looks to be made in 1906-1907. Based on some posts I've seen here already, it doesn't look like it would be worth trying to get a letter on the original specs of this gun. I think it's going to fall into that range of serial numbers where there doesn't seem to be any available info. I'd love to hear your opinions on that though. My Dad's Fox 20 Gauge is an A Grade with a serial # in the 202,XXX range. His 20 is in amazing condition, and all original.

I looked up the Blue Book Value but would like to get some opinions from the folks here. I will try to take some pictures of the gun so that I can post them. It's in great condition, which makes me think the barrel's may have been re-blued, and the stock may have been re-finished, but I'm not sure. I bought this gun to keep and shoot, so my interest in the value is merely to see if I made as good of a buy as I think I did. I hope to get a chance to shoot it for he first time this weekend, but from the sound of it, should probably seek out some RST 2 1/2 in shells before doing so.

Thanks,

Mike

[Researcher]

Welcome aboard.

There are not many 12-gauge production cards below 9600, and most that do survive are for factory cut-away guns that remained in company possesion. A gun in the 2700 range would likely be from 1906. What are the Patent dates stamped on the watertable?

If the barrels have been reblued and the stock refinished, the gun is not in "original condition."

[SmithShady]

Thanks Researcher. My Fathers 20 Gauge is the one in "original condition". The 12 Gauge I'm not sure of, but I'm guessing it's been worked on. Perhaps you can tell me based on the pictures below. I've uploaded some images of it that I took tonight, including one with the Patent Dates. It reads PAT D AUG 1, 1905 OCT 17, 1905 JAN 16, 1906. I'd love to get some opinions on the gun.


1906 A.H. Fox 12 Gauge by SmithShady, on Flickr


1906 A.H. Fox 12 Gauge by SmithShady, on Flickr


1906 A.H. Fox 12 Gauge by SmithShady, on Flickr


1906 A.H. Fox 12 Gauge by SmithShady, on Flickr


1906 A.H. Fox 12 Gauge by SmithShady, on Flickr


1906 A.H. Fox 12 Gauge by SmithShady, on Flickr


1906 A.H. Fox 12 Gauge by SmithShady, on Flickr


1906 A.H. Fox 12 Gauge by SmithShady, on Flickr


1906 A.H. Fox 12 Gauge by SmithShady, on Flickr


1906 A.H. Fox 12 Gauge by SmithShady, on Flickr


1906 A.H. Fox 12 Gauge by SmithShady, on Flickr


1906 A.H. Fox 12 Gauge by SmithShady, on Flickr

[MARSHFELLOW]

SmithShady,

Welcome. Nice pics, very nice pics. Looks like the wood has been "done". Trigger guard looks too good to not be "done". As far as the rest of the metal I cant tell from the pics but it looks like a nice early gun. Congrats.

tjw

[mc15426378]

I concur with Marshfellow. Barrels also look to have been blued. Gun has some nice case colors though.
Overall looks to be a nice early A.

In your first photo the screw under the top lever looks loose? If it is it should be tightened before shooting.

Mike

[SmithShady]

The Fox collector I met at the show pointed out the screw under the top lever to me as well when I showed him the gun. He said the screw should be flush, and were always factory set to be straight up and down (channel in the screw in line with the barrels). Because it was turned and slightly raised he felt the stock had probably been removed at some point, which supports the thought that it has been removed and refinished. He suggested trying to turn it, but cautioned using just any old screwdriver. I had not thought about it potentially being loose, and would like it to seat flush if possible. I'm a little concerned with trying to do that myself. Should I be?

[mc15426378]

If you do not have the correctly sized screwdriver or bit then no you should not try to tighten it down....but if you have a driver/bit that's really close you might give it a nudge and see if it is loose.

Mike