Fox dimple

[JakeFlyFish]

I just sold an AE grade Fox 20 on GB. The gun is coming back as the guy that bought it says it has a hole drilled in the top tang. I've seen the little dimple under the top lever before, my A grade in the box has it. I'm sure it's done by Fox, but my question is what was it used for on the gun? Thanks for any info, as soon as the gun comes back I'll photograph the gun. The boxed A grade is not with me here at the house for pictures. Thanks, Jerry

[Silvers]

Jerry, from your description it sounds like the safety slide locating pin is missing. If so, the last few posts and the last pic on this thread will give you an explanation. Silvers

http://foxcollectors.com/My%20Forum/php ... f=2&t=2432

[JakeFlyFish]

That's the exact location of the dimple to which I refer. My boxed A grade, which I believe is unfired or largely so, has this also. Thanks much, Jerry

[JakeFlyFish]

I can understand the little dimple on the Fox AE 20 gauge, as the stock was pinned, and I guess the little pin could have been lost while someone worked on the gun. The 12 AE I have in the box however I'm sure has never been apart. The gun still retains 100% of all the finish. The little hole or dimple is present on this gun. Would anyone know why it's there? This perplexes me. Jerry

[Silvers]

The locating pin is a so-called press fit, or "interference fit" in machinist lingo. IMO there are two explanations that make sense: Most likely: the interference fit wasn't tight enough, i.e., either the pin was slightly undersize, or what is supposed to be a blind hole was slightly oversize. By slightly I'm meaning 1/2 thou or even less. Thus the pin basically came undone and was lost thru the cocking cut in the frame. Less likely: The case hardening or cyanide hardening process left chem contaminants in the hole and that in turn corroded the metal interface that retains the pin. Again I'm talking about a loss of metal by .0005" or even less.

I've had Foxes apart where the blind hole was properly machined (no hole through the frame under the lever) and yet the locating pin was absent. Of course that isn't noticeable from the top side when the lever is moved right to open the gun. These guns often have problems with the Safety button working like it should. Silvers

[JakeFlyFish]

As a long time stockmaker of these fine old doubles and L.C. Smith freak, I'm no stranger to things not being " exactly " perfect. Jerry