Fox Collectors

A friend is selling a Savage /Fox model B and I am thinking of getting it.

There appears to be no serial number on it. It has satin chrome receiver and a beavertail forearm that attaches by a screw. It has 12 ga. 2 3/4 chamber with 26 inch barrels with a mid bead, although not sure about that. Single trigger that doesnt appear to be selective. The gun looks to be unfired, although not stored in the best manner. No rust, but a bit of handling/storage marks.

He said I can have it for 200, which I think is very fair. I plan on using it for hunting, possibly even turning it into a backup turkey gun. Is this gun strong enough to handle modern turkey loads? Would it be a problem having it sent out for choke tubes and increasing the chamber to handle 3 inch shells, or is this a waste of time? Is this gun selective, and if so, how do I change barrel selectivity?

Any history and help will be greatly appreciated.

Fox Model B – The Fox Model B started life as a dressed up Springfield 311, added to the 1940 Fox catalogue put out by Savage. The retail price was $25. The Model B was offered in 12-, 16-, and 20-gauges and .410-bore, and had a color case-hardened frame. After WW-II the Springfield 311 became the Stevens 311. By January 22, 1945, the retail price of the Model B was up to $34.50. Through the 1954 catalogue the Model B remained a double trigger, plain extractor, slim forearm utility gun. In the 1955 catalogue Savage added a Model BST which got a non-selective single trigger and a beavertail forearm. The offerings were the same for 1956 thru 1958.

By the 1960 catalogue the B and the BST got ventilated ribs. There were no changes in the 1961 catalogue.

For 1962 a B De Luxe in 12-gauge was added with a satin chrome receiver, white-line grip cap and butt plate, checkered side panels, beavertail, ventilated rib, and gold plated non-selective single trigger. They also gold plated the trigger on the BST. There were no changes for 1963.

For 1964 the De Luxe became the BDE, and included automatic ejectors, and also was available in 20-gauge chambered for 3-inch shells. The B and BST remained unchanged.

For 1965 the B and BST 20-gauges got 3-inch chambers.

For 1966 the satin chrome BDE was gone. There was a BSE with ejectors, non-selective single trigger, satin black finish, white-line butt plate and grip cap, beavertail and ventilated rib. The Model B had double triggers, was case hardened, had a ventilated rib, and now a beavertail. Both guns now featured impressed stamped checkering. For 1967, 8 and 9 the offerings were the same. The gun control act of 1968 required Savage to start putting serial numbers on these guns.

I don’t have a 1970 catalogue, but by 1971 there was a gun called the Savage 550 which was just like the BSE but had a case hardened receiver, and was offered in 12- and 20-gauges. The text said it had precisely engineered barrels resulting in perfect balance. In the picture it appears to be a mono-bloc design?!? Also grip caps are gone from the B and BSE. Offerings for 1972 were the same – the 550 listed at $174.95, the B-SE listed at $164.95, and the B listed at $139.95.

By 1973, the BSE and 16-gauges are gone, but there is a 24-inch barrel B in 12-gauge and 20-gauge, both with 3-inch chambers.

For 1974 the Savage 550 is gone and the B-SE is back. The B-SE 12-gauge has 2 ¾ inch chambers and the 12-gauge B and 24â€

Looks like I have a 1962 B DeLuxe model. Thanks so much for the information