AH Fox Early A ? Patent Date Aug 1904 Ser#103

[poldach]

Hi Everyone,

I have tried this several times, I am new!!! I own a AH Fox shotgun I believe that it is an early A model. The gun was passed down to me from my father and his father passed it down to him, so perhaps that gun has been in my family since the beginning. The serial # 103 would place the production in the early week(s) of the company going into production at 15 gun a day production. I would like to find out additonal information if anyone has any.

Thank you,

Paul

[eightbore]

Seems to be a nice Philadelphia Arms Comapany gun. Dave Noreen will tell us where is stands on his serial number stash. More pictures would be very interesting. The gun looks to be very much in original condition.

[poldach]

Eightbore,

Thanks for your input and interest. I will submit additional pictures this week. The shotgun is in original condition, really has not left my house for 25 years and I know my father didn't use it, it remained in his closet in a rifle bag. Living in Arizona has been a good enviornment for it. Will be eager to hear what Dave Noreen
has to say.

[Researcher]

Looks like a nice example of an early A-Grade, Philadelphia Arms Co., FOX. Does it say A.H. FOX or just FOX on the sides of the frame? What is the barrel length? I have recorded three Philadelphia Arms Co. guns (or the remains there of) with two-digit numbers. #59 is just a receiver and likewise #127 is also just a receiver. #127 is the highest serial number I've recorded with A.H. FOX on the sides of the frame. From #152 to the highest number I've recorded #1845 they all just have FOX on the sides of the receiver. Philadelphia Arms Co. may have had the plant capacity to produce 15 guns a day, but it certainly appears they couldn't come anywhere close to finding homes for 15 of their guns per day!! While magazine blurbs mentioned 15 guns per day with deliveries beginning in the summer of 1904, all the magazine advertising I've found for Philadelphia Arms Co. is from January to July 1905, and were slight variations of these two ads --

[poldach]

Researcher,

Thanks for your reply and additional information concerning my AH Fox 12ga. I have measured the barrel @ 28-1/4" barrel and it says "A.H. Fox " on both sides of frame. My Fox is still in excellent working condition, last time shot was about 12 years ago with a light load. The shot gun is original and tight. Between the barrels on the top it says "- >Philadelphia Arms Co., Makers., Phila., Pa.,- Krupp Fluid Steel <-" . The front sight appears to be made of bronze.

[ASavageFox]

28 1/2" would make me think that your barrels were once 30"s and have been lightly trimmed... some additional pictures would be really great. Close up of the frame sides and the ends of the barrels would be great to see. I assume this is an extractor gun as no ejector guns have ever been seen that I know of.

Dave, Do you have any additional info on how long the metal forearm tip was used? I have both 56 and this gun recorded with the metal tips but no others... my earliest is 294 and does not have the metal tip.