Early 20 bore CE Straight Grip - Restoration Update

[somo_setters]

I posted some pics of this gun earlier in the year. The gun is Serial #3 and is a two barrel set, and built as an ultralight (per notes on the card, to be built as light as possible).

Unfortunately, the stock and forend of barrel set #1 are pretty much toast so I chose to replace the wood on the original gun. It will be done in the spirit of the original, same checkering and shape, but made to my dimensions. The receiver is in good shape (30-40% color) and will remain as I found it.

We are now finished with inletting and shaping, so on to checkering and finish. Attached are a few pics of the gun as found, along with some of the current restoration.

Action

Barrels

Stock2

Action2

[fox-admin]

Nice, good luck with the restoration. Craig

[Jim Cloninger]

Wow, # 3! That is something. What are the lengths of the barrels? Jim

[somo_setters]

Jim: Both sets are 28", 3 weight barrels.

[Jeff S]

That's going to be a sweet 20 ga.!

[vaturkey]

Love it.

[Foxnut]

Keep us updated and post pics as the restoration moves forward. Glad she will get a second chance! That is a special 20 gauge!

[somo_setters]

Replaced stock and forend #1 are nearing completion. Note the checkering pattern, which is original to the gun. From my research there was quite a bit of variation in checking patterns in the early small bores.

[larrys]

Very nice gun, when you have it finished come down to Wausau and give it a test drive. Lots of sxs guys and Fox folks there.

[vaturkey]

Curious. Some early CE grades had the ebony tip and some didn't. How about your two foreends?

PS. Looks absolutely super.

[somo_setters]

This gun did not have ebony inserts. This pic is of barrel set #2 (refurbishing this forend).

[somo_setters]

Here are the two completed forends. Top is the original, barrel set #2, restored. Bottom is the newly built forend for barrel set #1. I thought they matched well. Excited to get it in my hands.

[Researcher]

Except for 200002 which now sports a Deeley style forearm with the black tip, the other early CE-Grade 20-gauge guns I've saved pictures of are all without a black tip --

200012

This one has the "other" style ejectors and hence no escutcheon.

200086

200109

Can anyone add some more to this inventory? The next CE-grade 20-gauge I have pictures of is in the 202xxx range.

[Folson]

Very nice gun, when you have standing desk chairs at work finished come down to Wausau and give it a test drive. Lots of sxs guys and Fox folks there.

This ejectors style is pretty rare, isn't it? It looks amazing.

[somo_setters]

Project is complete. Very pleased with the restoration.