An XE 16 Ga. Collaboration by Jim Demunck & Walter Koulach

[Foxnut]

The previous thread and pics of Jolly Bill’s guns done by Jim Demunck got me thinking and really appreciating Mr. Demunck’s work. Here are some pics of an XE upgrade that was done by Jim Demunck and Walter Koulach. Jim did the metal work/engraving and Walter did the furniture. The original owner kept all the documentation, receipts and info between the craftsman and himself for documentation. This gun was completed many years ago and hasn’t left the safe since completion. One interesting aspect of the project is the donor Sterlingworth ejector gun had the traditional friction/snap on forearm. It still retains the snap on forend iron and lug but Mr. Demunck and Mr. Koulach cleverly inletted an A&D style forend latch per the owner’s request. The owner also requested an engraving of his setter on the floor plate instead of the traditional Fox. The fit, finish, stock work, checkering, metal work and engraving is superbly done. It’s a beautiful gun!!! This is not my gun but so enjoyed getting to handle/photograph the gun.

[Foxnut]

Additional pics.

[Researcher]

Beautiful gun.

One interesting aspect of the project is the donor Sterlingworth ejector gun had the traditional friction/snap on forearm. It still retains the snap on forend iron and lug but Mr. Demunck and Mr. Koulach cleverly inletted an A&D style forend latch per the owner’s request.

Does the Deeley latch serve any purpose other than looks?

[Foxnut]

Beautiful gun.

One interesting aspect of the project is the donor Sterlingworth ejector gun had the traditional friction/snap on forearm. It still retains the snap on forend iron and lug but Mr. Demunck and Mr. Koulach cleverly inletted an A&D style forend latch per the owner’s request.

Does the Deeley latch serve any purpose other than looks?

Strictly cosmetic!!

[ROMAC]

Nicely done!

[Jeff S]

Very impressive workmanship.

[loggy]

Very nice!

[jolly bill]

What could be nicer? Gorgeous!

[SPE33]

That’s a beautiful gun. It appears that the barrels may have been re-stamped.Or could one have ordered Chromox barrels on a Sterlingworth for an additional charge?

[Foxnut]

That’s a beautiful gun. It appears that the barrels may have been re-stamped.Or could one have ordered Chromox barrels on a Sterlingworth for an additional charge?

Joe, that’s a good question that I don’t have an answer for. I’d assume that they have been re-stamped as I don’t believe you could get Chromox barrels with a Sterlingworth. If I get a chance I’ll ask the owner if he knows.

[vaturkey]

That’s a beautiful gun. It appears that the barrels may have been re-stamped.Or could one have ordered Chromox barrels on a Sterlingworth for an additional charge?

I suspect restamped. Jon Hosford has the original roll stamps. He roll stamped a Sterlingworth for me about 4 years ago to make it appear as a graded gun. That gun is currently with a stocker (long sad story) and I hope to get it back in time for next bird season.

[jolly bill]

I sent a note to Jim DeMunck telling him about this XE12 that he helped upgrade from a Sterlingworth to a very nicely done XE.

He sent me a note back and had this to say about the gun:

"I remember that one.

I will look through my patterns and see if I have that one in there. I may have just used a pull from an original X that I already had at the time and used that for the layout.

The gun has top and bottom frame 'rebates' and a 'Lock Screw' for the top tang screw.
I seem to remember putting those features in the gun. I did that to a number of project Fox guns. A lot of high grads had them, I guess.
The top of the frame itself was reshaped by filing in the frame to meet the bbl contours right up to the top rib.
That leaves a small pedestal of sorts where the rib extension engages the frame.
Again, something to make the upgrade have the same look of the higher grade Fox. Lots of file and polishing work but it does add to the final appearance I think on an upgrade.

The gun orig had a PG trigger guard IIRC. The orig guard tang is cut and a blank extension welded to it.
Then the extension is shaped and the sharp pointed tail end is filed in place at the same time.
The screws were probably made at the same time with the new TG tang screw holes to match. The very narrow screw slots are what I generally made.
TG bow reshaped with a slight taper.

The skeleton butt plate I think was a Parker Repro part. Through it may have been an orig.
The safety button was reshaped from the original. The small flat steps front and rear, the serrations reshaped a bit then recut to sharpen and even them up.
Top Lever was reshaped a bit. Mostly thinning it down from SW weight.
All little things to make it 'look right'.

Bbl markings I don't recall if they were orig. Most times I just recut them as they may have been faint. The ones done with the broken die roll stamps I usually added the parts of the letters back in that were missing. A few I cut the entire address lines as new.

DTR (Doug Turnbull Restorations) didn't have a roll die for the Fox lettering when I was there and I certainly didn't!
Roll dies were just starting to appear. The Parker address die was one of the first in hand at DTR.
Then came Colt dies and many more after I left.

I likely signed it along the bottom tang right next to the triggers in small block letters. It may have a Yr also, but some not.
That's the usual spot I signed SxS's.
I did the work in early 90's I believe. Either when I was still working for DTR for a short time or just after that when I went on my own.

Walter was/is? an engraver and an excellent stocker as well. Probably the fastest stockmaker I ever had any contact with. A job like this, completely finished and checkered would usually come back in 3 wks. He could do less if needed and at a cost!
He did a number of stocks for DTR on upgraded guns. Parkers, Fox, LCS.
He did work for other dealers and collectors as well that I recall coming through the shop.
He wasn't inexpensive but he was/is good.

I will look through my collection of pattern lifts I had a habit of making after a job and see if this one is in there.
I may have just started out by using a pattern I lifted from a factory engraved X that came through.

If I can remember anything else, I'll add to this.

You can add this info to the Fox Forum discussion if you want to.
Neat seeing the gun again. I forget about most of the projects after a time. The patterns I kept keep me reminded of some of them."

End of Jim's comments. Bill.

[Jeff S]

Very interesting. Thanks Bill.

[Silvers]

Superbly done and overall a great Fox. I certainly understand and value "to each his own" but if that were my Fox I'd be shooting and hunting with it as soon as completed. It's not like it's an original high condition historical piece. A safe sitter investment? No, I'd get way more return on T bills or CD's.. frank

[Foxnut]

Jolly Bill,
Thanks for reaching out to Jim and adding his info here, very cool to see him pull it all together for us. I’m usually not an “upgrade” guy but I have an affinity to this gun because of Mr. Demunck’s and Mr. Koulach’s hands being on this gun and the thought that went into it. Great stuff!!