Fox Collectors

I recently acquired a Fox Sterlingworth (1927) and was disassembling it for a good cleaning. After removing the stock I noticed a corrugated Nail (flat wavy nail about 3/4 " square commonly referred to as a Jew nail) across the head of the stock directly behind the top lever shaft.

I have never seen this before. Close examination shows no apparent weakness or damage that would have warranted any type of repair and for all the world it looks like it was factory installed.

I have several other Fox's which I disassembled and they do not have this "feature". While the same (ga all 16's) they are all at least 10 years older.

Has anyone seen this before or have any information regarding this practice?

Regards

Joe

Joe,they were factiry installed in some of the philly guns that i have owned. I have seen a quarter sawed stock split at the staple.I do not install them in stocks i am making. Bobby

Bobby

Thanks for the info. Any idea when Fox started doing this and the duration.

Joe

Joe,sorry but i have no idea when or how long they were installed. Bobby

Here ya go. Sterlingworth Ejector #7504x is on my bench now. Made in ~ 1915. I've seen a few of these with corrugated gizmos over the years..... there's no apparent ryme nor reason why some Fox stocks have 'em but the majority don't. I'm thinking it was left to the discretion of the stocker/depending on what he saw in the wood grain at the head of the stock.

Notice how an extended mill cut was made to accomodate length of the corrugated nail. Silvers

I have one my SW pin gun 1912, I did not prevent the stockhead from cracking on the side away from the safety hole. I was able to put staple in without removing the factory fastener. Maybe helped prevent a more serious crack that would be visible on the outside. My crack was on the inside only. I agree with Frank maybe the stock maker saw a need that we can't. One gets some individuality in Fox guns, that make them special.

Hi: Just received my first Fox gun. It is a Sterlingworth 32" barrels with ejectors F/F. It is in need of some cosmetic attention, so it will also be completely disassembled/cleaned/reassembled. I noted the corrugated nail in this one as well and wondered about it being a repair but it looked like it was meant to be just as it is Quite the coincidence that this is the first thread showing on the forum.

I was able to remove the butt stock following the excellent instructions on the site. Is there a set of instructions for a full tear down?

I was surprised to see ejectors on this grade. Is that common or am I just lucky?

Cheers,
Jack

I would say you're lucky. Wish mine had ejectors.

Any photos of the gun?

Mike

mc15426378 wrote:I would say you're lucky. Wish mine had ejectors.

Any photos of the gun?

Mike

Me, too!

Stan

Stan Hillis wrote:

mc15426378 wrote:I would say you're lucky. Wish mine had ejectors.

Any photos of the gun?

Mike

Me, too!

Stan

me three!! 32" still fully choked in both barrels and ejectors! Pretty rare... too bad to hear its not in the best of shape but a gun worth cleaning up for sure. Post some pics and serial if you don't mind... there is a running post on here about 32" S/Ws.