XHE...and now the rest of the story...

MARSHFELLOW · Post by **MARSHFELLOW** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 10:48 pm

Well boys, I guess it's time for me to let those of you who were asking who got the XHE know who in fact got the XHE. I bought the gun, have taken delivery and am very very pleased with it. I understand from a couple of friends on this forum that there was a fair amount of speculation by some of you that I took the plunge...guilty as charged. The auction website's anonomous bidder name style leaves something to be desired.

I didnt treat this as a huge secret but I chose to stay mum until the deal was done with the gun in my hands. Perhaps I'm old fashioned but I have seen too many deals come unglued during their course.

Much of the "blame" for my first Super Fox acquisition must go to Silvers & our Board for the second year of great Bo-Whoop Challenge targets. I have been fortunate to buy a few Fox guns and I realized rather recently that most all of my guns were lightweight, open choked varieties...not very well suited for many sporting clay venues. Ofcourse stock fit and dimensions on many are not well suited to me.

When this gun appeared I liked everything it had to offer especially after reading the original factory record. I find the gun's original dimensions rather remarkable and perfectly tailored for me. Truth be told, my target O/U has THE SAME custom dimensions!!!...1 5/8 parallel Monte Carlo, 14 1/2 LOP. Unshootable??...not for me. Granted the butt has been clipped and it's too bad because the fit and finish is fantastic. The good news is that wood is a renewable resource!

Throughout my Fox collecting I have always gravitated towards Kautzky single trigger/ Beavertail guns. I had never encountered a righteous Philadelphia beavertail. I have now....we know it "letters". It's like no other Fox beavertail I have ever seen. The sides come up along (above) the barrels to give quite a handful of control. I have never seen a forend iron like this one either. Yes, unfortunately the rear edges of the forend have been chipped away but it can be modified, repaired or renewed.

The metal and original finishes on the metal are excellent. The bores are mint. Chambers and chokes original. Barrels are undented, undinged and ring like a big ol' chime. The seller's description did him a diservice. There is no pitting. (yes, there was crud)

The gun was covered in old dried dirty grease. An hour with a q-tip and some nice solvent did alot of good! A nice amount of original color case is still on the frame sides and tang. Screws are nice and beads are ivory nd original equipment as is the A.H. Fox grip cap.

I went into this somewhat lengthy description because the pictures that we saw were not a fair representation of this grand shotgun.

I was very reticent to spend a decent chunk of money on an auction with no "inspection" or return policy but for some reason I decided to pursue it to the conclusion. Upon closing the details with the seller I can now say he is a gentleman and a pleasure to do business with.

I guess what really grabbed me is the true X grade rebated frame and the top tang locking screw....not to mention the engraved wedges. Luckily for me it is a "high head" fox on the bottom of the receiver too...I like that. It is a bonified XE and a bonified HE all in one. The barrels still have the "0" weight stamps, the "NOT GUARANTEED" marking and original jeweling on the flats.

I have done some preliminary research on Wyeth Hardware the consignee for the gun. They were a very large concern in St. Louis, MO. I hope to dig up more info on this gun's original owner...he obviously knew exactly what he wanted when the order was placed.

So, I've got my "shooter"...now breaking the targets is up to me.

Yes, I will get some pictures one of these days.

birdawg · Post by **birdawg** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 11:18 pm

Well done Tom!

TOOL MAN · Post by **TOOL MAN** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 11:45 pm

Nice grab TJ !!! Can't wait to see her at our next Barthmaier Summit??? What could be more fitting than coming out of the closet on the eve of the King of Pop's funeral? Another Fox riddle is uncovered. Well, at least Eightbore can finally get some sleep....LOL.

Researcher · Post by **Researcher** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 12:02 am

Glad to hear one of the faithful got it. Congrats!!

Post by **fox-admin** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:08 am

Tom well done! I can't wait to see it, maybe at the Vintagers. It would be very cool if you could gain some insight into the original owner.
Now I need to find 31736 HE with CE engraving, "ducks engraved instead of birds"

Silvers · Post by **Silvers** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:46 am

Pan Marsh, ya dun good. TOOL and I talked this just the other day and we figured the buyer was one of three men. You know who I mean. You bought an one-of-a-kinder and I hope to see her in person one of these days. At Pintail? Well whatever you do she should be ready to show her stuff at the Bo-Whoop next year! A nice vintage companion to that Perazzi you tried out this year, similar stock dimensions. How many times have we shouldered a friend's gun and said "hey I can shoot this gun". Congrats again! Frank

MARSHFELLOW · Post by **MARSHFELLOW** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 7:52 am

Thanks for the "high fives" boys. Here's a pic I snapped quick the other day. BTW, the SuperFox brochure went from Philly to Australia then back.

[img][img]http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r299 ... ow/XHE.jpg[/img][/img]

eightbore · Post by **eightbore** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 8:57 am

Congratulations, Tom. Everything in my files shows that Wyeth Hardware was in St. Joseph, Missouri, not St. Louis. Email me and I'll tell you how I got my information. Bill Murphy wilmrph@verizon.net

MARSHFELLOW · Post by **MARSHFELLOW** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 9:06 am

Bill, you are correct sir, I knew better...St. Joseph it is indeed.

Thanks for the catch. tjw

jolly bill · Post by **jolly bill** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 12:36 am

Atta boy Tom. I think you have a few of us waiting to see it in the flesh.

Jolly

FOXIST · Post by **FOXIST** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 8:44 am

GOOD JOB TOM!!! Happy to see one of the members get it. I hope you bring it down to the Vintagers. Paul

loggy · Post by **loggy** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:02 am

Congratulations on your purchase. I know it has found a good caretaker.

mike campbell · Post by **mike campbell** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:05 am

Congrats, Tom!

Seems the gun was intended as a serious target gun. You said the chokes are original....are they the typical HE xtra fulls? or is the right barrel anything less than full?

Would be cool to find out he was a gung-ho shooter and not just a well-heeled socialite. Best of luck in tracking down some history to share.

lee r moege · Post by **lee r moege** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:27 am

Marshfellow, Oh how my heart burns! Congrats on your aquisition. Since I live close to St. Joe and knew some of the old time gun men there, as well as having done business with Wyeth Hardware when my parents were in that business, I offer you a "hummm could be scenario" that may be traceable. Harold Hatfield and his family ran a sporting goods store there for years, and this would be the kind of thing they would deal in. I bought a Browning Diana 2 barrel trap and skeet set, 20ga./12 ga. and Smith Crown grade several years ago. Yes that is the same Hatfield clan that is now making guns in Turkey and made the wonderful Hatfield blackpowder rifles. I think one of the brothers still lives in St. Joe and the store may still be there although after Harold was gone they didn't deal in the high grade stuff anymore. I wish you luck on your quest. Lee.

MARSHFELLOW · Post by **MARSHFELLOW** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 11:42 am

Thanks again men for the nice words.

Mike, the record lists the gun as 30" rt 70% lft 75%. I like that set up. I did a quick check and the chokes are in that proportion. I need to get a different digital gauge before I quote any real numbers.

Lee, thanks for the tip...I will follow up on it. This may be a tough one but they are the fun ones. Nice of you to share that with me.

tjw