Engraved "B" Grade 16 Gauge

[edwardssporting]

Hello
looking for some help on this A H Fox of Philadelphia 16 gauge. I have searched the internet and found only one with the same engraving. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

http://s1298.photobucket.com/user/edwar ... %20H%20Fox

[fox-admin]

Your gun is what we call second generation engraving. Check out this link on our home page
http://www.foxcollectors.com/ah_fox/con ... fox_2.html
The B Grade went through a major overhaul in 1913 with the arrival of William Gough as head of the Fox Engraving Department. Gough was a well respected Engraver who came from Parker Bros. Gough redesigned the engraving on all of the Fox graded guns accept the C Grade, which stayed relatively unchanged. The B Grade was treated to the full treatment of Gough’s bold floral pattern, maybe as an attempt to improve sales. In my opinion the late B grade engraving pattern makes one handsome gun. For unknown reasons the late style B Grade was not a hit with the shooting public, it was dropped from the line in 1918. I estimate that fewer than 600 late style B grade guns were made in 12 gauge and less than 200 in both 16 gauge and 20 gauge. These low production numbers makes the search for an original condition gun very difficult for today’s collectors.
It appears your gun has beavertail forend which is most likely a replacement. The stock may also be a replacement as the checks are not checkered.

[edwardssporting]

Thanks for the information. Being that the forearm and stock may have been replaced, does this firearm have any value?

[fox-admin]

Your gun does have value but establishing a value is very difficult due to it's condition. This is a pretty much pure guess without a hands on inspection $1250-$2850.

[gwsmith]

I actually like the late"B" style engraving a lot.

[edwardssporting]

Here are some additional photo's with the Orvis Company case and close ups of the stock and forearm and the receiver. Thanks everyone for the help on this.

http://s1298.photobucket.com/user/edwar ... %20Fox%202

[Twice Barrel]

Very nice gun. The white line recoil pad should really be changed out with a Silvers which would be more appropriate to the era. The number 4 weight barrels are quite desirable but the advantage of their lighter weight is somewhat defeated by the beaver tail forend. I don't know if I missed it but what are the barrel lengths and weight?