Early Fox 12 gauge identification

[Birddog17!]

I hope these photos help, I trust you do think it is indeed a Fox ? Would there ever be a chance to find a Card for this gun ?

[fox-admin]

Your gun may have been returned for ejectors after it was shipped. A picture of the front of the action where the forend metal intersects would tell us what style ejectors are fitted to your gun. It appears your gun was hunted in salt water as the action is covered with pitting representative of use in a salt environment. Its a AH Fox for sure, no card is available.

[Birddog17!]

I will send three more as well. The gun came from an estate sale from NJ, you may be right about the salt !
Do you think that can be fixed , at least improved upon by a professional ?

[Birddog17!]

This is the front on photo of the forend, not sure if this helps.
Thank you.

[fox-admin]

No action side picture, no the pitting it can't be fixed without a huge expense.

[Birddog17!]

Here is the face on I think you wanted ?

[Birddog17!]

Here is a photo of the ejectors

[fox-admin]

You have a second generation ejector system, meaning your gun went back to Fox after 1913 to be fitted.

[Birddog17!]

Thank you for this information. Was it typical for these guns to go back for a refit of sorts ?
Would Turnbull Restoration be a good company to go to ?
What type of metal is the Breech made of ?

Thank you so much. It was worth joining for sure !!

[Silvers]

Some Foxes were sent for conversion from extractor to ejector, or from first to second gen ejectors but I wouldn't say either was typical. The steel used in these early Foxes was ordinary low carbon. The low serial number isn't that big a deal. OK so you have an early AE Fox that looks honest but only in fair condition from what we can see in the pics, and we haven't heard anything about the bores, firing mechanism or ejector function. The barrels might be bottomed out on the frame bar (what looks like bump marks in your last pic). That generally indicates heavy use. What does the buttstock look like, has it been cut short?

Just my opinion but I think your Fox isn't a candidate to spend a ton of money on. Assuming she checks out for function and safety-wise I'd say just enjoy her as is, as an example of a Fox that served her owner(s) in the days when family food came from the grocery as well as the game fields and waters.

frank

PS: in your first post you wrote that you're a new member and in your last you wrote: joined up. I assume you mean you're a new registered user. JFI, members pay dues and have access to private forums that users can't see or access, and that's where the more dedicated Foxers tend to hang out. If you caught the Fox bug, you might consider stepping up to be a member if, in fact, you're currently a user.

[Birddog17!]

Hi Frank,
Thank you for all of this information. Yes I paid for. Three year membership using PayPal. I ha e caught the bug. I will send you a Stock photo and Butt plate.
Need to find the FOX Forum.

[Birddog17!]

Butt plate

[Birddog17!]

Stock photo

[Researcher]

Tom Kidd mentioned in one of his The Double Gun Journal articles that after the F.T. Russell Patent No. 991,375 ejectors came out in 1911, that quite a few extractor guns that had been languishing in inventory were retrofitted with the new ejectors.

I was pleased with the restoration work Bachelders in Grand Rapids, MI, did on a Parker Bros. double for me that had been left in a case that drew moisture. Personally, I don't think Turnbull case colors look very Fox-like.

[Jeff S]

Welcome to the group "bird dog". I hope you'll be able to get out this fall and nail a couple of ducks with your "new" gun. We like pictures. Jeff