New member and Model B

[mattyd87]

Hello all and thanks for the great info on this forum.

I recently acquired my late father's double barrel shotgun and had no clue what it was other than what was stamped into it... But after searching the internet I stumbled across this forum! And after some more digging thru the posts here I found out that I own a pretty darn cool Model B shotgun. I apologize ahead of time for any wrong terms or misprints I make as I'm new to long guns...

Specs on the gun that I can decipher:
- Double Barrel 20 GA
- 26" long barrel which means it has "Modified/Intermediate" choke??
- Stamped on the barrel is:
- "Proof Tested 20 Gauge"
- "2 3/4 Inch Chamber"
- "Fox - Savage Arms Corporation - Model B"
- "Chicopee Falls, Mass U.S.A."
- Single trigger
- "9G" in an oval on the bottom of the receiver making this a 1955 model based on the date letter code G??
- Below the left barrel on the receiver and barrel are 4 other letters "W" and "P" are stamped in the same font and size. Then "A" and "D" within their own individual circles, both in the same size and font.
- Below the right barrel on the receiver is a letter "s" (no picture)

I look forward to learning as much as possible about my model as well as other Fox arms via this forum and it's members.

-MattyD

[Researcher]

The Savage Arms Corp. produced Fox Model B began life as a slightly dressed up J. Stevens Arms Co. (wholly owned by Savage Arms Corp.) No. 530. The Fox Model B had a somewhat nicer profiled receiver than the No. 530, with mostly the same internal parts, and a bit nicer stock. These guns have nothing to do with the double barrel shot guns designed by Ansley Herman Fox, the focus of this web site and this collector organization.

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. The original Fox Model B was a slightly dressed up version of Savage’s J. Stevens Arms Co. No. 530 double introduced in 1936. 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.

[Fin2Feather]

Enjoy the gun; I have my father-in-law's 12ga Model B made in 1962; still has double triggers and a splinter forend though. You're correct on the date, and the gun's features (single trigger, BT forearm, etc.) would match up with those referenced for that date in Researcher's chronology. I like the duck pattern on the bottom of the receiver; the later Model B's have a line drawing of a Fox; not nearly as attractive. Those letters stamped on the various parts are some sort of production codes and don't have anything to do with specs, etc; not sure what the "S" stamp is. IC choke would be Improved Cylinder; IC/M I think is pretty standard on a 26" barreled gun, and is a good all around combination.

B's are a little heavy by most folks' standards, but they're solid guns; I hope you get it out in the field where is belongs ! Good luck...