Unique Order Cards and Letters

[Foxnut]

I have been rereading some of the Card of the Months that are posted by Researcher. Got me thinking about some unique order cards/letters that I have had on some of my guns. Examples include very specific details on stock measurements, barrel lengths, chokes, no engraving on ordered graded guns, X wood on CE guns, delivery location, notes on who ordered it or “see so & so”, etc. etc. Curious if any of you have something unique on an order card or letter that you have? Would be interesting to see some neat examples. Thanks - Brett

[Foxnut]

I’ll start off with this one with a unique consignee. This SPE was shipped October 29, 1934 to Remington Arms Co, Ilion, NY! I’ve also seen guns that were shipped to Winchester and other arms and ammunition manufacturers!

[Foxnut]

Here’s another “unique” letter as it traces the gun being returned to the factory twice. The first time it was returned it doesn’t specify what work was done. However, the second time the stock was changed from a full pistol grip to a “straight” stock. It would be interesting to see if I ordered a card today for this gun would both cards show up in the research. Imagine if I didn’t have a letter with these details and I only had a copy of the first card. One might assume that the straight stock was not done by Fox/Savage! As an aside I do miss Mr. Callahan and the thought and detail he put into his research efforts. He was a gem as was Roe Clark!

[Don Ay]

Interesting topic, glad I have one I can include that's rather detailed

[Jeff S]

Wow! An HE, XE stock, Monte Carlo, and CE engraving. That’s definitely unique.

[Foxnut]

Don,
That is a cool gun!!! Very specific details on stock dimensions with the sketch (and wanting it returned)!! That fella knew what he wanted!!! Thanks for sharing!

[Jeff S]

I always thought this was rather peculiar. Someone ordered a SBT J grade with a 32” barrel. Then they shipped their 20 ga. to Fox and asked that the dimensions of the J match the dimensions of the existing 20 ga. Seems odd that the 20 ga. was used as a dimensional example for a trap gun since they probably had different uses.

[Researcher]

I have a 16-gauge Fox-Sterlingworth Ejector Deluxe for which both the original production card which show the original choke designation of F & F crossed out and stamped IMP MOD and IMP MOD --

and a Fox-Special card for the change of boring and addition of a beavertail forearm --

Usually we find that they only filed one of these cards, so both surviving is kind of scarce.

[Silvers]

A 16-gauge AE I had at one time. Ordered with heavy dark curly stock and to balance at the trigger guard ...... "Customer has only one arm". frank
.
Back side of its Record Card

[Sporrns]

Here are 2 cards for the same SN gun; it appears as though Mr, Wright, as Savage executive at the time, couldn't make up his mind as the gun was being built if he wanted a skeet or trap version. The gun wound up being built in skeet configuration with all specs on the "TRAP" card fulfilled but in Skeet configuration. Kevin

SavageSKtTrapGunCardCopies34792.png (166.07 KiB) Viewed 1192 times

[Silvers]

I suppose it doesn't matter one whit to most readers but we have a segment that are Fox purists looking for absolute originality in guns and to include proper Fox lingo. In line with that the "Order Card" nomenclature seems to have crept into Foxese. I've read posts on the Parker Forum that refer to "Order Card" and that may be correct for Parker guns. But the terminology used by John Callahan the former Fox Historian was "Record Card" (not Order Card) as in my 26 Callahan Letters and 3 written by the Savage Historians who succeeded Mr. Callahan. Just trying to keep the Fox language from getting diluted. frank

[Foxnut]

A 16-gauge AE I had at one time. Ordered with heavy dark curly stock and to balance at the trigger guard ...... "Customer has only one arm". frank
.
Back side of its Record Card
IMG_94AB.jpg

That is a cool order card. Makes since given the shooter probably couldn’t hold/rest the forend in the non-trigger hand and that balance would make it easier to shoot!

[Silvers]

Sorry for a tangent here but more on what a one arm shotgun shooter can do. One of my friends has regulation trap and skeet fields at his farm and he holds biweekly shoots during the warmer weather months. One high average Trap shooter is a regular; he lost his right arm just above the elbow and his right lower leg, both due to a Bouncing Betty while serving in Nam. He shoots with a 28" Browning Superposed and it's absolutely amazing how he cradles that Browning against his torso, loads one shell, pushes the gun closed, raises it with his left wrist, calls for and almost always gets the bird. Then he'll break the Browning with a snap and help by gravity, and the ejector does the rest. No call for special treatment, no excuses and what an inspiration! I have him on video on my phone and anyone interested can see it at our next vintage event.

Back to the 16-gauge Fox AE I posted. Its Record Card shows shipment down south and that's where I got it while at the Southern. It had fair honest wear and was probably a quail gun; and of note the cutout in its frame was undamaged from the hammer toes, something that a few guys say is a weak point if snapping an AH Fox SxS open ..... as a one armed shooter would probably do. Don't get me wrong. I'm not suggesting or condoning opening a Fox with a snap open technique but sometimes ya gotta do things. frank

[fox-admin]

Here are two special HE's

[Foxnut]

Here are two special HE's

Those are definitely two special HE’s!!!