Off Face

[3birddogs]

Years ago l bought a very nice Utica SW 20 with 28" barrels. My best friends son likes Foxes, so I sold it to him as a high school graduation present. The gun was never shot a lot, and only with 7/8 oz game loads, but is now off Face and often the left barrel has a light primer stroke and won't fire frequently. I've never had an off face Fox, what is the fix for this? I know that on Parkers, that often the roll pin is replaced. I've never had an off face gun that wouldn't fire, so also suspecting a hammer or hammer spring issue.
Interested in your opinions, and recommendation of gunsmith.

[vaturkey]

Because or your location I'd probably go with Jerry Andrews. He has done work for me and others in the past. He is part of a country music band and travels a bit, so I don't know his backlog, but this isn't a hard fix to put it back on face. Regarding the light strikes I'm sure he can take care of that also.

https://lcsmithguns.com/

[3birddogs]

Yea, was talking to Jerry yesterday, he's less than a half hour from me, but just wasn't sure he could fix the off face issue. Going to have him look at the gun next week, but exploring other options

[vaturkey]

Yea, was talking to Jerry yesterday, he's less than a half hour from me, but just wasn't sure he could fix the off face issue. Going to have him look at the gun next week, but exploring other options

He can do it without a doubt. Does a good rust blue also.

[Silvers]

Harold, with the typical hammer tip protrusion on a Fox, I can't imagine the barrels being that far off the face to result in light primer strikes/misfires. I suspect that left hammer tip is broken or the left mainspring or hammer stirrup is bad. Regarding off the face, if indeed more than a thou or two off the face a proven GOOD 'smith can tighten that by microwelding on the barrel hook, machining to a very tight fit and then final fitting. The 'smith has to be very careful the axis of the new cut is dead nuts on the original center and also perpendicular; otherwise it becomes a mess situation.

Here for info are pics of a welded hook and the fixture and DRO (digital readout) I use to locate and plunge mill that axis exactly on center + .003" for final fitting. Yes the DRO on the milling machine reads out in ten-thousandths. Last pic is of a welded hook after the plunge milling and before final fitting.

This work is on my own Foxes; sorry I don't do commission work and haven't had any barrel jointing done by anyone after two bad experiences with a 'smith out west about 20 years ago. That was the first and last time I used a 'smith for barrel jointing work and thus I have no personal experience with jointing by anyone else. But with that said I've seen enough other Fox work by Brian Dudley in NY and Lou Rotelli in CT to suggest people contact them to check on their interest and queue times. frank
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[3birddogs]

Thanks Frank, it is barely off face, no wiggle with fore arm on. I agree with you, not enough to cause light hammer strikes. My friend is taking the gun to Matt Begely at Diamond Gun Works.

[Silvers]

Harold, I've seen Begely's name here from time to time as regards stocking but don't personally know anything about his mechanical work. Please let us know how you make out. I presume I'll see you at the Northeast SxS three weeks hence? frank

[SPE33]

I took a 16 gauge W.C.Scott to him that was considerably off face,he did a great job for me. He also put ejector guide pins in my SPE and repaired the non-selective single trigger. I’m fortunate that he’s only about an hour or so away from me. Matthew Begley