B grades

[Foxnut]

I had questions on that special BE I posted. Of course in that s/n range it's a 12-gauge, ordered and shipped at weight 6-6 (28" barrels). Ordered with Cyl and Full chokes. also with note: "Pattern gun and send patterns". Pellet counts were R 191/195 and L 321/329. Shot charge/pellet size were not noted on the Record Card. She was ordered by the Dad of a then elderly gent from SW PA who told the intermediary buyer I got it from that his Dad was a traveling salesman for a company in WV. A really cool gun but IMO not for brush hunting with thinner barrels and the inevitable trips/falls and swinging against saplings and limbs. frank

Frank, thanks for posting that interesting B grade with special order features! I always find those uniquely ordered guns of special interest. Agree with you on thin barrels and the dangers of the grouse woods!

[Foxnut]

Attached are pics of two 4th Generation B Grades. The first is 16 Ga. w/SN# 3004XX that letters to May 1915 and is shown to be “Exposition”. JTC assumed this was likely the 1915 Panama Exposition. The second is 12 Ga. W/SN# 224XX that letters to 1915. Assuming w/this ribbon style that the “Ansley H. Fox” is engraved. Brett

[Jeff S]

Very nice! Thanks for posting the pictures.

[thepalm0314]

All very helpful info.

What are the stats on Gen 3 B grades? Any recorded? 12 or 16's?

J

[Dblgunnut]

What I also find interesting is the difference in barrel engraving. Guess it was up to the craftsman and how much time he had available.

[Researcher]

During the transition from the "Banner Style" C-/CE-Grades to the "Oval with Birds Style" we see some guns with the barrel engraving similar to 2nd generation B-/BE-Grades. Here is the earliest "Oval Style" C-Grade I've seen --

I thought this was strange, but then I found this 1907 A.H. Fox Gun Co. magazine ad showing that style --

[thepalm0314]

16ga Phili B grade with 3rd gen engraving posted for sale on the parker forum....