The Jostam Anti-Flinch

[Stan Hillis]

Given the widespread use of the Anti-Flinch during it's heyday era, I believe there would be a market for a newly produced reproduction of it. I have considered attempting to locate a company that would quote an estimate on producing them. Of course, a new, old stock pad in mint condition would have to be located to serve as a pattern. I would have no idea where, in the manufacturing sector, one would begin to look for a company that could be approached with the startup idea. I have a friend who bought an electric scooter, the kind sold for aging seniors, and took it to China and met with a company there, suggested some changes like stainless steel instead of chrome plating, and requested a production price. TMALSS, he has taken a significant share of the market in the USA for these "scooters" by selling a higher quality product at a lower price than the original company which introduced them. I wouldn't have a reproduction pad on a Fox that had "Made in China" printed anywhere on it, but would it have to?

If the pad was reproduced in high enough quality, does anyone here have any thoughts on the feasibility of such a project? Maybe the first question to be answered would be ....... could the pad be reproduced perfectly, and in high enough quality, that they could sell for enough to someday recoup startup costs?

Or, is it feasible that a home workshop could make these pads after a proper mold had been produced?

Also, has anyone ever seriously looked into this?

[44whiskey]

interesting stan,is the material known as in chemicals,ratio, and process or would one have to go thru r and d.all the best

[vaturkey]

This was almost done more then a few years ago. I think Researcher might have found a company that could reproduce the pad, but something happened. Hopefully he (or whomever it was) will chime in. As I recall the initial set up for more then a few thousand dollars and then the more pads made the cheaper the cost would be per pad. The question as I recall was whether one would ever recoop their investment.

PS. Could be wrong, but I think some neutrons in the rear cobwebs of my brain is bouncing around thinking this almost happened..

[Jimmy Goodtime]

Just my opinion, I believe the production of the pad would be the easier part of the equation. Molds produced from CNC or even possibly 3D printing from a rubber blank shouldn't be that hard. Modern production technology should make these pads easier to produce than they were in their actual time. I think the biggest hurdle is profitability. While I think you are correct in your assumption that there would be a market, I question how large that market actually would be. For instance, there is just under 3000 registered users on this site. I know there are other associations as well, but as a subculture of the firearms community, the classic firearms community is rather small. Then, some collectors prefer other period pads to fit their needs i.e. Hawkins, Silvers, etc. Some prefer no pad at all on their gun. For those who do not share the passion for period correctness, more modern pads do a better job of recoil reduction through better technology. I just don't know if any company would want the startup cost and outlay without seeing good numbers on the back end. I think this is the biggest reason it has not already been done by somebody, well this and any legal maneuvering that might have to take place with the Jostam brand or parent company if there is any. I don't pretend to even have a clue about that. Having said all that, if an individual took this on as a pet project and could produce a decent number of quality pads relatively cheaply, there might be some meat on that bone. Probably not enough for a larger company, but maybe enough for the individual. Prove me an idiot on this, Stan, as I would like to see you very successful on such an endeavor!

[fox-admin]

I contact a rubber molder in New Jersey that made the Galazan repro pads (I believe ??). I send two new Anti -Flinch pads to them to get a quote on tooling and piece price. I didn't hear back from them for 6 months at which point I found out the plant burned to the ground along with my two pads. The company never reopened and I didn't pursue it any further. Galazan may be interested in the project, call Tony and ask. Craig

[ROMAC]

Sounds like the Fox gods were angry!

I found my super with a Hawkins pad attached with age appropriate wear.

No mention of the pad on the card, so I don't know if is factory.

[Jim Cloninger]

My Super Fox came with a Hawkins pad also. I think the Hawkins pad was used on the Super Fox often.
Jim

[Silvers]

Just my opinion of course but I much prefer a Jostam Hy-Gun or Hawkins/heart vent pad over either a 6 or 7 slot Jostam Anti-Flinch. Those diagonal slots on the Anti-Flinch just don’t look right to my eye ..... they’re not in symmetry with the plane of the barrels or the perpendicular cut of the butt. And just because Fox/Utica used the Anti-Flinch isn’t reason for me to like them. Best to fInd a NOS Hawkins or Hy-Gun if you’re looking for a righteous 1” pad to replace an imposter or a pad that’s deteriorated so it can’t be used without crumbling apart. Again this is jmo. frank

[MIGrouse]

I have been in the rubber molding business for 20 plus years and thought about doing this many times. Over the years I have collected multiple samples of Jostam pads to use as patterns.

Custom rubber mixers have many formulations that would be suitable for the Anti-Flinch pad. Molders are easy to find. The tooling investment for a vulcanization mold and plastic insert is not cheap.

At the end of the day I determined the payback didn't make for a good business case.

[Jim Cloninger]

I have the Hawkins heart pad on all 3 of my duck guns.

[Stan Hillis]

Thank you, MIGrouse, for your expert assessment. Thanks to all for your feedback. Guess I need to keep searching for NOS pads. I've got several Hawkins and Hy-Gun pads, and like them very much, but have never had an opportunity to buy a NOS Anti-Flinch.

[vaturkey]

Thank you, MIGrouse, for your expert assessment. Thanks to all for your feedback. Guess I need to keep searching for NOS pads. I've got several Hawkins and Hy-Gun pads, and like them very much, but have never had an opportunity to buy a NOS Anti-Flinch.

They are as rare as Hen's teeth and certainly the 6 slot is the rarest of all. One sold a couple of years ago in the factory box on Ebay for $200. I think if folks want to go for originality and that pad is specified on the card then they try to find them. Also far as I know (and I'll be corrected if I'm wrong) all the Sterlingworth Deluxe models in the Savage years came with twin Ivory beads and the Jostam Anti-flinch pad.

[Silvers]

NOS vintage Jostam Hy-Guns, Hawkins, Red Head etc pads can be found if you put some effort into looking and will pay the going price. Just recently I got one for a project gun and found others to replenish my inventory. Cheap, no. But I'd rather use one of those vintage pads than any modern repro that might look good to an armchair guy but will never fool someone who's done his study and is willing to pay high dollars for a flat-out all original gun. Often the quest to create originality after the fact isn't the best decision, as compared with valuing a fully functional Fox or whatever "as found". I guess what I'm recommending if you come across a Fox alleged to be all original gun and priced accordingly, is to do your homework and even consider getting a consultant to verify originality. frank

[ROMAC]

I had some luck talking to a small shop owner once by asking if he had any old recoil pads or buttplates for sale and he went in the back a pulled out a box the size of a case of beer full of stuff he took of shotguns and rifles over the years. He said I could have anything in the box for $5.00 each. I ended up spending $30.

He was happy, I was happier. I probably left behind stuff that I should have bought but at the time did not know what I was looking at.

[vaturkey]

Speaking of a nice pad you run into on occasion is the Hawkins Rifle pad with hearts that's probably 5/8" or so thick. They work and look amazingly well on a small bore Fox where you want to add just a bit to the length after you take off the buttplate. I have two of them on my Foxes currently. One on an A grade 16 and a Sterlingworth 16.