Wood on graded Foxes

[Brian]

My literature (very limited) indicates B & C grades having English Walnut. I would have to believe that you could order Circassion, English or American (highly figured) on these. Has anyone seen original B or C grades with American Walnut?

[DGKaas]

IMHO, based on 40 years of Fox ownership and observing hundreds of Fox guns,virtually ALL graded Phila. made Fox graded gun had "juglans regia" stocks, that is A grade on up. I have never seen a graded Philly Fox with what I considered original juglans nigra stocking. However, quite a few Utica made graded guns do have juglans nigra stocks. I have owned 2 Utica XEs with what I considered original juglans nigra wood and I have seen large amounts of unused juglans nigra Utica Fox wood. As Dave Noreen has pointed out on a number of occasions, early C grade guns are often notable for their nice wood and I would say the same for most Phila Foxes. I would question the originality of any Phila. graded gun with juglans nigra but I would not discount a late Utica factory re-wood using juglans nigra of an early gun. BTW, Circassian and English walnuts are both juglans regia. The term "Circassian" was often used by early 20th century American gunmakers for exceptionally well figured European walnut. I consider it a marketing term rather than a claim of origin. Use of imported walnut was a style and marketing feature used by firms like Fox, Parker, Lefever, etc. to set their wares apart beside being a superior wood for fine guns. Thus Fox could claim post 1912 for instance that its A grade had both more engraving and imported wood compared to Parker's competing V grade.