Inherited FOX

[onedumguy]

I recently inherited an old shotgun from my father in-law. I really have no knowledge of the history of this particular type of gun and have found a lot of info on this site. It is a double barrel side by side. It has Philadelphia Arms Co Makers Philla PA - Krupp Fluid Steel down the middle top of the barrel and FOX on the side. The serial number is 526 with no grade stamp that I can find. It has a patent stamp of Aug. 16 1904 on it. I'm just really trying to find some info on this so as to mark it down for insurance purposes as I do with all my guns. Can anybody help me.

[Researcher]

We have some Philadelphia Arms Co. info here --

http://www.foxcollectors.com/ah_fox/con ... _arms.html

I did an article on Philadelphia Arms Co. in The Double Gun Journal, Volume Thirteen, Issue 4. Here are two Philadelphia Arms Co. magazine ads from the first half of 1905 --





We'd like to see some pictures of your gun?

When they are grade stamped it is usually above the serial number on the watertable and the bottom of the barrel lug as on this C-Grade --

[onedumguy]

Thx for the info. I will try to post some pic of it if I can figure out how. But I can say it looks exactly like the grade gun with the same engraving on it as the Grade A one in the old advertisement. The gun has no Letter marking near the serial number. Is that common? It simply has 526 in four locations in the same places as the one you pictured and one near the pistol grip.

[Researcher]

It does seem like they didn't bother to stamp the grade letter on a lot of the A-Grades.

If you can't figure out posting pictures, you can email them to me at AHFCA@comcast.net

[onedumguy]

I sent you some photos via email since I cant post pics on this forum. Let me know what ya think.

[Researcher]

Here are the pictures --







Looks like a pretty typical A-Grade. What length barrels does it have?

[onedumguy]

It has a 30 inch barrel. Is this the more typical type of gun produced? It would appear to have a low serial number compared to others I have seen on here. Any idea what this gun would be worth on the low end just so I can mark it in my book before it goes to the back of my safe?

[Researcher]

The 30-inch barrels seem to be the most common. We see dealers asking $1000 to $1500 for A-Grade Philadelphia Arms Co. guns and they sit on their web sites for years!! They more likely actually sell for half that or less. You might want to read this thread --

http://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=13468

So far serial numbers we've recorded for Philadelphia Arms Co. guns run from 59 to 1845. They only were making guns in late 1904 and early 1905. Their magazine advertising disappears after July 1905, and by a year later PAC is being sold by the Sheriff.