Please note that registering for the Fox Collectors Forum does not
mean you are a member of the AH Fox Collectors Association. Paying members of
the AH Fox Collectors Association have access to a private forum where Fox guns
are bought and sold, Newsletters are archived, and many more interesting topics
about Fox guns are discussed by knowledgeable collectors. In addition AHFCA has
copies of all the available factory production cards for graded guns.
Members may obtain a copy of a card on an individual gun. Each member receives
one free card look up per year and then a $25.00 fee applies. To obtain
membership information please click on the Fox Image below.
To view a sample of
a factory card click on the card below
Fox Collectors
The Fox Collectors forum was founded in 2006 to stimulate interest in the history and production of Fox shotguns. We believe you will enjoy our forum and learn more about the rich history of Fox shotguns.
Romac, nice finds on this one and the B grade too. I favor straight grips myself. I love that deep chiseled early X engraving and the head-down Fox is way cool too. I saw the pics you posted yesterday and had intended to answer then but got sidetracked. Then the server problems made those pics go away. The one pic from yesterday showed the back end of the breeches with the ejectors back, and I noticed the guide pin on the left ejector seems to be pushed through into the shell rim countersink. Or maybe the guide pin was broken and replaced, and the smith drilled thru the face of the ejector to install a new pin. Last possibility is, that the ejector face was damaged by something compressed between it and the standing breech. I couldn't quite tell which it was from that one pic. In any case I'd suggest you get that looked at along with a general safety/function inspection before trying to fire your XE.
Also, thanks for stepping up to membership. I'm sure you'll see the benefits. Silvers
I took a close look, everything seems in order. I'll post a few pictures and tell me exactly what you see. What you described might be the grooves in the ejectors that were either put there on purpose or from striking exposed firing pins. Each ejector has a groove where they would sweep across the firing pin if it was not rebounded. They look as if thye were filed. These are the best pitures I have for now. I'll try to take a better look later.
By the way, this is better than the condition as found
"Somehow, the sound of a shotgun tends to cheer one up" -- Robert Ruark
The additional views clarified it. What I saw yesterday on that one pic, now looks to be a light reflection from the groove in the left ejector. These grooves were cut at the factory and are not the result of dragging across the hammer tip (firing pin). A H Fox hammers do not rebound. Once the hammer is dropped it stays all the way forward under pressure from its mainspring, until the start of the cocking cycle. The grooves mainly come into play when a Fox is assembled or closed when the hammers are decocked. Again, congrats on your finds.
Permit me to hijack and use your thread to show a couple pictures of your guns brother: another straight grip XE 12 with deep engraving, head down fox and in the 22XXX serial number range- 22416.
Great guns both. We need to see a picture of an XE-Grade with the Pigeon in the oval on the bottom. That is my favorite. My old 32-inch 1 weight XE boomer has a nose up Fox.