2 Questions on X grades

[vaturkey]

1st off, Were they always made with ejectors and never extractors?

2nd. If they were always made with ejectors did the early ones have Sterly type ejectors with the snap on forearm (and if so I'd love to see a picture of the bottom of the forearm)?

3rd (sorry thought of one more). Did they always have ducks on the one side of the receiver and was it an option to have the fox on the bottom of the receiver looking up or looking down?

Thanks mucho and good morning.

[spyder]

DE 200108 pictured in DGJ Spring 92 has a snap-on FE with the ejector "button".

[Researcher]

My favorite XE-Grades are the few that have a Pigeon in the oval on the bottom. My best guess is that the Pigeon, or Fox with head up or head down is more of a time period thing then something a customer actually specified. Generally speaking, the "Sterlingworth-style" forearms would only apply to the early 16- and 20-gauuge guns. I do have a couple of later high grade guns where the purchaser specified a "Sterlingworth-style" forearm in the queue for future Card of the Month. From the get go the gun was catalogued as the XE-Grade with ejectors, a Silvers recoil pad and twin ivory sights as "standard." I've seen cards where the purchaser specified a butt plate and a single sight, but I don't recall one requesting plain extractors.

The Double Gun Journal, Volume Six, Issue 3, has an article on a fairly early 16-gauge XE-Grade with "Sterlingworth-style" forearms.

[bbman3]

Tom,I had one of the first XE 20s made 2002xx and it had the short snap on forend.I have an excellent XE smallbore snap on forend,only the forend! Bobby

[arcmaster]

I own an X grade extractor gun with 32 inch barrels and no safety. I have the letter from Mr. Callahan and it was originally shipped to Von Lengerke and Detmow in NYC in 1918.

thanks
Mike

[bbman3]

Mike what gauge is your X grade. Bobby

[Twice Barrel]

I own an X grade extractor gun with 32 inch barrels and no safety. I have the letter from Mr. Callahan and it was originally shipped to Von Lengerke and Detmow in NYC in 1918.

thanks
Mike

Sounds like it was made up as a pigeon or trap gun. By 1918 pigeon shooting, although still popular, was being displaced by glass balls and pitch targets. The time period at end of WW1 and the roaring 20s have always fascinated me. If you were part of the "Moneyed Class" it must have been exciting, Stutz Bearcats, Flapper Girls, hunting plantations in the south, fine horses and wonderful shotguns.

[Fin2Feather]

Yessir Twice; can't you just see F. Scott and Zelda on the 5-stand?

[Twice Barrel]

Yessir Twice; can't you just see F. Scott and Zelda on the 5-stand?

We ought to ask the Researcher. I think he knew both.

[arcmaster]

My X is a 12 gauge

[TOOL MAN]

ARC,

Just got a whiff of Blue Rock through my nostrils. Now that is one I'd love to see! Does the letter/card state "NO SAFETY" and show only an "X" not "XE" beside "Grade?" I'm betting the gun also has double triggers???

[Researcher]

By 1918 pigeon shooting, although still popular, was being displaced by glass balls and pitch targets.

By 1918, glass balls were 30 years out of style. The Grand American Handicap at pitch (clay) targets began in 1900. The International Flyer Championship was held at Kansas City from 1917 to at least 1941.

Back to the original question, I've never seen an X-Grade, but there was a set of X-Grade 12-gauge barrels with forearm for sale at one of the Vintage Cups at Sandanona.

[Twice Barrel]

By 1918 pigeon shooting, although still popular, was being displaced by glass balls and pitch targets.

By 1918, glass balls were 30 years out of style. The Grand American Handicap at pitch (clay) targets began in 1900.

Granted pitch (clay) targets had gained favor with tarp shooters by the 1900s, however, there must have been some interest in glass ball shooting because glass target balls were manufactured into the 1920s.

[Researcher]

there must have been some interest in glass ball shooting because glass target balls were manufactured into the 1920s.

I certainly can't say they didn't exist, but I've done a lot of research of live Pigeon and trap shooting from the first Grand American Handicap in 1893 to WW-I, and I don't recall ever reading a report of a glass ball shoot.

[Twice Barrel]

I suspect that glass balls were dropped from formal competition by the 1890s and relegated to informal club shoots, country estate shoots and exhibition shooting until their final demise in the 1920s.