Potential new Fox owner question.

[Balanced Action]

Hello Fox collectors, new member here with a question. Came across this shotgun recently and was wondering what you all make of the condition. I am pretty sure the previous owner has polished the receiver but the seller is telling me it is nickel plated. The serial# ties it to 1911 and the receiver has a "C" stamp. The stock has no checkering and has an almost glossy look to it, I will post pictures of that later. The barrel has most of the bluing intact, but not sure if it was re-blued at some point. Anyway, curious to see what you all make of this one.

[fox-admin]

Polished or cleaned with something abrasive. Craig

[Researcher]

The receiver has been polished. No nickel plating. The barrels, trigger guard and safety slide (which shouldn't be) have been reblued. Looks like the wood has been sanded well below the level of the metal which is probably the reason for no checkering. A.H. Fox Gun Co. didn't begin offering the Fox-Kautzky Single Selective Trigger until 1914. However, some of their early advertising for the SST said they had been testing it for five years.

Sad to say, but proper restoration of this old war horse would be more than the gun would be worth after the work was done.

[Balanced Action]

Here are a few more photos, I figured the gun had gone through some modification at some point, just not sure how bad. The seller is throwing out a number around 5k.

[Balanced Action]

Last couple photos. Action is solid and everything feels good, I am thinking it would be a good shooter, but I agree it would be very costly to restore it properly.

[Fin2Feather]

With the lever well left and all the "modifications" $5K sounds way high to me, but others here will be better qualified to guide you. Too bad; that was a beautiful gun...once.

[fox-admin]

run away from that gun!

[Balanced Action]

Safety concerns? if there was a price that worked, I would still like to shoot it if it was safe to do so.

run away from that gun!

[fox-admin]

If you want to buy a Fox CE Steve Cobb has a MUCH BETTER example. I once owned the gun Steve has for sale and it id beautiful and all original with tons of case color, the barrels are properly reblued.

[Balanced Action]

If you want to buy a Fox CE Steve Cobb has a MUCH BETTER example. I once owned the gun Steve has for sale and it id beautiful and all original with tons of case color, the barrels have been properly reblued.

Thanks for the link, that's a beautiful shotgun. What are some things to look out for on shotguns that have been re-blued? the seller of this one is insisting it is original.

[Foxnut]

Balanced Action,
Definitely not “original” bluing on the gun. If a gun has been properly rust blued (not hot blued) then there is nothing wrong with it for shooting generally speaking. If it was hot blued or incorrectly rust blued it could have issues w/ribs separating. In addition no telling how much work was done on the barrels (externally or internally) w/o measuring barrel wall thickness and bore, choke and chamber dimensions. I’m w/Craig for that Seller’s asking price you could get a very nice original or properly restored 12 gauge CE.

[vaturkey]

CE 12 gauges in original very good condition are out there for 5K. Agree with others on passing on this one.

[Silvers]

It's common for some sellers to insist things are original. That’s when “ya gotta know yur stuff” or consult with someone who does.

There are a number of originality issues and possibly some functional ones on this Fox. Overall I see what might be called a low cost "shooter" maybe at something like $1k but that’s if the barrels ring. And even at that price you'll have to get a good Fox man to trouble shoot and correct that break lever left of center condition. Also contingent that the Kautzky single trigger shifts/works properly UNDER RECOIL without balking and doubling. That replaced rear tang screw tells me someone's been inside and that's always a yellow flag with a Kautzky. Does it have ejectors and if so, are they timed to fire simultaneously at the top of the barrel opening movement? Strangely some gents fail to check that and repairs can be elusive and costly. Then what are you going to do with that peep sight; there's probably an extra large hole in the barrel rib? Lastly the sling swivels are another value deduct on that Fox.

Of course someone might fall in love with the gun and pay the asking price. That happens often and sooner or later the buyer gets a reality check.

That old saying comes to mind about a sow’s ear and silk purse. Actually the real question is, why buy this gun and get into hassles trying to spiffy it up when you can get a great Fox and ready to go for a few $ K? You wrote that you're a "new member" I assume you mean a new registered user. JFYI, paying members of the AHFCA have access to hidden forums here where members can advertise guns for sale/wanted and quite often we see good ones FS.

frank

[Balanced Action]

Thanks all for the input, unless the buyer drops the price considerably I will be looking elsewhere. Before this example I had not had a chance to see one in person, so this was a good lesson.

[eightbore]

A front mounted peep sight and sling swivels and uncheckered fancy wood. Get a letter and find out how many of those features are original. You may have a real rarity.