1915 Panama Pacific Expo guns?

[fox-admin]

This week at our duck club sporting clays shoot we got 22419 FE and 22416 XE back together after 111 years. Both guns were made "For Exhibition" for the 1915 Panama Pacific Expo. Just curious does anyone else own a gun from that exhibition?? If so pictures would be appreciated. Most of the 12ga guns fall in the 22430 to 22440 range.

[Jeff S]

Wow, Wow, Wow! Very impressive Craig.

[Foxnut]

Craig,
My 16 Gauge BE letters as a gun for the 1915 Panama Exposition. I’m out of town but when I get back home I’ll post a pic of it along the letter and original hang tag. Brett

[jolly bill]

I don't own them anymore but here are two that were there plus a picture of the Fox Expo in case anyone is curious what it looked like.

First picture: Fox SPECIAL 12 gauge with serial number 22323 (* See below.) and
Second picture: a 16 gauge Fox SPECIAL with serial number 300476 and
Third picture: What the Fox display looked like.

(* Actually, I was told there was no card for 22323 but the guns on both sides of it were pretty fancy and were probably at the Expo, so I assumed 22323 was also. However, I could be wrong, but it is a very gorgeous Fox.)

[jolly bill]

If you would like to see much better pictures and some other very interesting tidbits on those two Fox SPECIALS pictured above, see two of Tom Kidd's Double Gun Journal articles on them:

For the 12 Gauge SPECIAL, Ser. No. 22323 see "For Exposition" in Volume 11, Issue 2 - Summer of 2000 edition and
For the 16 Gauge SPECIAL, Ser. No. 300476 see "Trick or Treat" in Volume 7, Issue 4 - Winter of 1996 edition.

[Jeff S]

Beautiful guns Bill, thanks

[loggy]

Bill, thanks for sharing. You have certainly owned some of the best Foxes made, john

[eightbore]

I own the very sign that is hanging in the far back right corner of the display. There are better pictures of the sign in other venues.

[Researcher]

Some beautiful shotguns, thanks for sharing. Great to see some of them getting out.

Was the Panama-Pacific Exposition the 111 years ago start of "everybody that plays gets a ribbon/medal"?

Remington Arms - Union Metallic Cartridge Co --

Winchester Repeating Arms Company --

[bbman3]

I once owned an AE 20 that was on display at the Expo. Bobby

[fox-admin]

I searched the records and came up with 23 12ga, 9 16ga, and 17 20ga guns marked "For Exposition". Future Newsletter article.

[fox-admin]

Assuming the 20 and 16 ga where put into production at about the same time it is interesting that majority of 16s "For Exposition" start at 300487 and the 20s start at 200691. It shows how in 1915 20s where outselling 16s. I believe that trend reversed as the years progressed.

[Researcher]

From my observations it appears the transition from the early style engraving to the Gough style engraving occurred for the 16-gauges on the 30022x range and in the 20-gauges around 2003xx.

In The Double Gun Journal Volume One, Issue 2, page 81, there are pictures of the A.H. Fox Gun Co. tents at some Grand American Handicaps 1909 and 1911, so there may well be earlier "exposition" guns.

[Foxnut]

If you would like to see much better pictures and some other very interesting tidbits on those two Fox SPECIALS pictured above, see two of Tom Kidd's Double Gun Journal articles on them:

For the 12 Gauge SPECIAL, Ser. No. 22323 see "For Exposition" in Volume 11, Issue 2 - Summer of 2000 edition and
For the 16 Gauge SPECIAL, Ser. No. 300476 see "Trick or Treat" in Volume 7, Issue 4 - Winter of 1996 edition.

Bill, beautiful guns!! Thanks for sharing….they truly are special!!

[Foxnut]

Below are some pics of BE 16 gauge #300493. It letters as being completed and shipped on May 6th, 1915. Original consignee is shown to be “Exposition”.

I bought this gun a number of years ago from a fellow Fox member. The original hang tag was included along with a handwritten card from 1961 where the gun was gifted to someone who shared the same first name as the then owner. I’d say that was quite a gift. The member I bought the gun from had the original wood replaced (still have the original stock as well)! You’ll note in the letter that the original stock was 13 1/2” LOP with a Silvers recoil pad.