Please note that registering for the Fox Collectors Forum does not
mean you are a member of the AH Fox Collectors Association. Paying members of
the AH Fox Collectors Association have access to a private forum where Fox guns
are bought and sold, Newsletters are archived, and many more interesting topics
about Fox guns are discussed by knowledgeable collectors. In addition AHFCA has
copies of all the available factory production cards for graded guns.
Members may obtain a copy of a card on an individual gun. Each member receives
one free card look up per year and then a $25.00 fee applies. To obtain
membership information please click on the Fox Image below.
To view a sample of
a factory card click on the card below
Fox Collectors
The Fox Collectors forum was founded in 2006 to stimulate interest in the history and production of Fox shotguns. We believe you will enjoy our forum and learn more about the rich history of Fox shotguns.
Back in 2016 I was at the Tulsa Spring show and ran across a Three Barrel Gun Co. Grade C single Barrel Trap gun Serial #106 with a 30” barrel non ejector. Unfortunately the entire floor plate/trigger assembly was missing!! The floor plate screws were in place. I walked buy that gun at least 20 times over the course of the weekend trying to talk myself out of it knowing it would be a major project but Lo and behold it somehow followed me back to MI.
I began the proverbial task of finding the needle in the haystack to find a donor gun for the project. At last Dennis Coberly from NM contacted me saying he had a gun that would be a good donor gun. I purchased that gun and thought it would be a shoe in for the project. Unfortunately that gun was an earlier Grade A Serial #48. When we compared the two floor plates my heart sunk since #48 had different taper/dimensions to the rear of the floor plate and bottom tang. Drats!!! Interesting that in the course of the 58 guns between the two guns the design had changed!!!
So then Plan B went into effect. A very competent MI gunsmith contacted a fried w/a CNC shop and measurements/drawings were sent to the shop. First a plastic template/model was created to ensure proper fit. Once sure of everything a new floor plate was made for the project. Once complete the new floor plate was engraved by a well known engraver and then the trigger assembly from #48 was attached to the new floor plate. Instead of polishing, re-engraving and case coloring I chose to have the patina of the gun matched on the new floor plate. This project took a little over 2 years and quite honestly more money than probably what the gun is worth but I am pleased w/the results and am looking forward to letting her have a run on the trap line and an upcoming vintage shoot!!!
Last edited by Foxnut on Sun Mar 19, 2023 9:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
More pics. The project Gun #106 was shipped June 4, 1908 and donor gun #48 was shipped September 17, 1908. Interesting that the lower serial number gun was shipped after #106. However in their advertising of that period they mention having guns in stock w/2” - 2 1/2” drop and barrel lengths of 30 & 32” available in several grades. They obviously had stock on hand.
Last edited by Foxnut on Sat Mar 18, 2023 4:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Many years ago at the Syracuse gun show, mumblin' Gary had a C-grade on his rack. I picked it up examining it and noted a crack in the forearm wood. I sat it back in the rack to think about it. An arm reached in front of me, grabbed the C-Grade and never put it back!! He who hesitates.....
Researcher wrote: ↑Sat Mar 18, 2023 5:49 pm
Nice work!!
Many years ago at the Syracuse gun show, mumblin' Gary had a C-grade on his rack. I picked it up examining it and noted a crack in the forearm wood. I sat it back in the rack to think about it. An arm reached in front of me, grabbed the C-Grade and never put it back!! He who hesitates.....
The only other Grade C I ever had in hand was when I attended the Maurice Mudge Collection auction at Ameskog Auction in 1999. SN #139 sold for $1900. I thought that was way to much at that time….if I’d only known!!!
WOW Brett, what a save on one of the earliest SBT's ever!! I will definitely tap you for a BOD spot once I get the VTA (Vintage Trap Shooters of America) off the ground!!
Un-Gosh Darn believable that this could be accomplished. Today at Baltimore, I saw and examined another single barrel of the same make, not a common sight.
