Newbie

[16guage]

Hi all. New here so thought I would introduce myself. New to the world of SXS and Fox. I had wanted a SxS for years, I always felt that they were more of a classic/ true hunting gun. I never got my hands on one until recently. I have hunted my whole life, however, a nice double eluded me. I'm a 35 yo family guy with two small girls so a collector grade gun was out of the cards for me. There aren't many affordable production doubles. And the ones that are available leave a lot to be desired. I had been keeping my eye out at local gun shops hoping to find a classic old gun on the racks. I found a nice Model B 16 guage. 1955-58. And have been in love since. I know, I know. Not a true Fox. But it's what I could afford and it shoots great. I got the gun about three years ago and recently the butt stock developed some serious cracks. I considered my options long and hard and at the end of season dropped it off at my gunsmith for a complete restoration. Again, I know. Cringe. It's only a Model B. And restoration will cost as much as it's worth or more. It was in otherwise nice shape, and although fairly new to me its age and nostalgia just made it more valuable to me. Plus it shoots so nice. It's getting a new butt stock and the forend refinished and re checkered. Barrels re blued and color case. Plus all the proper attention to details. All that said, I find my self looking for more doubles now that I have one. ( I'm sure this is a common problem). I love the Foxes and love that they are from NY and PA mostly. I live in North East PA, and grew up in the Hudson Valley of NY. I'm hoping to one day get a true Fox for my collection. I love to hunt and take pics so I hope to be an active member of your forum ( even if not a true Fox owner ). So humor me for now and maybe some day I can add a nice Fox that won't devour my kids college fund!!

[TOOL MAN]

Welcome "newbie" and YES, getting deeper into this wonderful avocation of ours is perfectly normal. You're probably not the only one cringing over a full restoration of a Fox-Model B....unless of course it was once owned by a Czar (long story). JMHO but I would have felt a lot better had you put that dough into the Radcliffe College fund. Then again, if you truly love the gun and are happy with it, who's better than you??

My only bit of advice as your interest in Fox guns continues to grow (and it will) is to think about joining our dysfunctional family. Trust me when I tell you that the $30 you will spend will pay for itself 10X over and give you the knowledge and confidence necessary to avoid any costly pitfalls. Hope you will consider the invitation. Good hunting.-----SC

[kgb]

When I was a kid I borrowed shotguns and a favorite was a Fox B 16ga belonging to a friend of my father. With it I had the first recollected experience of what I'll call a "natural" shot in the form of sensing the path of the shot from my shoulder down the barrels between my hands directly to the bird. I'd have that gun refinished, if needed, and never think twice about it. I don't know if they all had a fox head cut into the bottom of the frame but I think of that every time I see those guns or a Stevens 311 and variants. Yours sounds like a worthwhile project.

[Fin2Feather]

No need to apologize for loving a gun, and money is not the only thing that denotes value. My first double gun is a 16ga Springfield (made by Stevens); one of the older ones stamped 5100. I've slid a ways down the slope since, but I sometimes think I shoot that old Springfield as well as any of 'em. Good luck with the project, and I hope that Model B is good to you for a good many years.

[fnj682]

Welcome to the wonderful addiction of SxS shotguns. 10 yrs ago I bought my first SxS. Well since then my knowledge has grown and so has my collection. I think I've learned to love them all but my Foxes are becoming my favorites. Congratulations on your first SxS. If the restoration is going to make you happy then that's all that's important.

[16guage]

Thanks for the warm welcome. I would have probably already picked up a Fox sterlingworth or A grade by now but I can't stand buying guns on the internet (love looking at them). Much more of an in person purchase for me. On a side note how do you add pics to a post?

[Mike of the Mountain]

Welcome Newbie! As Fin2Feather said, I too started down the slippery slope with a Stevens 16g SxS built by Springfield. 3 safe fulls later and I'm mainlining!! Buy some, sell some to buy some more, trade, barter, we do whatever it takes to feed the need. Now, repeat after me, "Hi, my name is_________, and I'm a gun-a-holic......."

To post pics you need either a Photobucket or a Picture Trail account. Load pics into their uploader, save in an album, copy/paste the URL from the Forums Image Tag, and there ya go.

[Silvers]

I'll add my welcome 16gauge. Similar to you, I started my double gun addiction when much younger but with an Ithaca/Western Arms Long Range. And it's been downhill ever since, especially after I bought my first 16 ga Sterlingworth. Yeah I know how it is to balance family and college tuition etc - with hunting trips and a SxS addiction. I am also in NE PA, a little north of Scranton, and Mike of the Mountain who replied earlier is a good friend who co-owns and operates (with his wife) Rock Mountain Sporting Clays near Montrose. Shoot me a PM if you want to get together some Wednesday or Sunday morning when my gang shoots at The Rock. I almost always field a Fox when shooting clays and you're welcome to shoot whatever I have that day. Frank Silvers

[Mike of the Mountain]

Newbie, Yeah, what Silvers said! BTW, where are you located in NEPA?

[16guage]

Wow sounds great guys. I'll take you up on that. I'm just outside of Milford near lake wallenpaupak

[Silvers]

Great, I know your area well and hunted quite a bit out near Ledgedale at one time. One of my shooting buds lives in Hawley and he drives out to shoot clays at Rock Mtn once or twice a week. Unfortunately Ed is a Beretta gas gun guy but Mike and I beat on him to break out his 16 ga Stevens (as I recall) every chance we get. I think he might be working up to a Fox; he usually rides in the cart with me and he's getting to know the ones I use.