Call for semi-Early Graded Ansley H. Fox 12-gauges

[Researcher]

Those of us who have studied these things for quite a while have noticed that we see a good smattering of graded 12-gauge guns from serial number 2 to 3000, then we see guns from the 7xxx range on up to the last guns in the 352xx range.

This is a call for anyone with a graded Ansley H. Fox 12-gauge double with a serial number between 3001 and 7199 to come forward and tell us all about it?

[ROMAC]

Just a few higher than your range, but that crusty 32 inch 12 gauge early A I saw earlier in the year was 72XX.

[MARSHFELLOW]

Dave,

This is a very good topic which I hope we can keep at the forefront. Like yourself, I have never seen or heard of a Fox in the range that you outline. If there are no such guns than there are several thousand LESS graded AH Fox guns than conventional wisdom has held all these years!!!!...... and that was a small number to begin with.
THANKS!

tjw

[fox-admin]

Dave this is a very exciting project. I love it when conventional wisdom gets upset. If true it will greatly reduce the estimated number of early style guns. Thanks for your efforts and insightful observations. Craig

[eightbore]

My "Early A Grades" are 2875, 7121, correction, not 7121, but 7232, 7575, and 8833. I believe Dave is on to something. I believe old Ansley tried to pull the wool over our eyes. I think it's time to hit the "PRINT" button for our research files.

[Researcher]

So Bill how about some pictures of 7121? Without pictures it doesn't exist.

[eightbore]

You caught me, Dave. My records were found to be incorrect. I looked at the gun itself, and it is 7232. 7232 is a 32" early A in relatively high condition with .033 of choke in both barrels, and an early Mershon pad. When Valley Guns in Baltimore had FFL problems a few years back, they sent their shotgun inventory to The Gentleman Hunter in Bethesda for us to liquidate. The Fox #7232 was among the guns they shipped over here. Just a lucky break. I have no idea where the number 7121 came from.

[MARSHFELLOW]

..........we need to keep this "search" up towards the front of the thread list (in my opinion) Perhaps a sticky???

tjw

[Mike of the Mountain]

None of my graded Foxes fall within those numbers. You may be onto something here!!

[TOOL MAN]

Need to keep the bellows fanning the embers on this one!!! BIG STUFF! It has been three months since Dave dropped the bomb. In the words of Al Pacino (from "HEAT") : "What do we Got????????"

[Twice Barrel]

First are there production cards on or close to 3001 and 7199.

If yes what are the dates of production?

If there are dates close to 3001 and 7199 what significant actions took place between those dates?

If the dates of production are close then obviously Fox skipped those numbers. If so then the next question is why?

[fox-admin]

Dave: I checked all my recorded serial numbers, the highest number I have < 3000 is 2924.

[Researcher]

The few early cards that exist seem to support the idea that guns up to 3000 were built before the move from Wayne & Bristol Streets, but it is really only one data point --

173 A-Grade 30-inch Cut Open.

1738 A-Grade 30-inch dates of Aug 1 and Aug 14, 1906 on card

7540 Cut Out with dates Jun 25, 1907, Apr 15, 1914, unreadable 1916, and 1/24/18 on the card.

7552 Cut Out Jul 26, 1907.

7628 Cut Out many dates on card and crossed out. Ones I can read from Mar 19, 1908 to Apr 15, 1914.

8119 A-Grade 28-inch Oct x9, 1907