To restore, do nothing, or to sell "as is"??
Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2012 8:57 pm
I just received an AH Fox "A" grade 12 ga, in fair condition, found in my family's house after a death, but is inscribed with a non-family memeber's name (must be second hand, but don't know when/where). A gunsmith and Fox expert/moderator have inspected the gun, and is in sound shooting condition.
The barrels (28") have rust/pitting, but the bores have been honed and in good condiiton, and chambers are original length. They are choked cylinder and full. It is a non-ejector gun.
The stock (semi pistol grip) is cracked badly, and has been repaired, years ago, with a screw & brass nuts, with carvings in the wood to try to minimize the brass features- it was explained to me as "pre-acraglass repair". Might have been nice at the time, but looks like hell now. It is also outfitted iwth a non-original butt pad. The drop at heel is 3 1/2". When I look down the barrel, I see no rib, but I see the entire bead. (Is this a correct sight picture for a SxS?) The receiver has lost all of the case coloring, and the remaining metal is in good condition.
The forearm is a splinter forearm, with dents and digs, but in much better shape cosmetically than the barrel, and phyically better shape than the stock.
My budget is under $1K, and would like to spend half of that if possible. I think I have a better chance of hitting the lotto than finding a readily matching stock from another Fox. My woodworking skills are minimal- I bought a CMP Garand, Carbine and Enfield full of grease and dents, and looks nice now, but I have done no inletting, etc. I have no experience with a double barrel. I have been given an estimate of $5000 for a complete refinish (like new) from one company, and $1100ish for a reman stock (fitted, but not finished (sand, stain) and to reblue barrel from another.
Opinions appreciated.
The barrels (28") have rust/pitting, but the bores have been honed and in good condiiton, and chambers are original length. They are choked cylinder and full. It is a non-ejector gun.
The stock (semi pistol grip) is cracked badly, and has been repaired, years ago, with a screw & brass nuts, with carvings in the wood to try to minimize the brass features- it was explained to me as "pre-acraglass repair". Might have been nice at the time, but looks like hell now. It is also outfitted iwth a non-original butt pad. The drop at heel is 3 1/2". When I look down the barrel, I see no rib, but I see the entire bead. (Is this a correct sight picture for a SxS?) The receiver has lost all of the case coloring, and the remaining metal is in good condition.
The forearm is a splinter forearm, with dents and digs, but in much better shape cosmetically than the barrel, and phyically better shape than the stock.
My budget is under $1K, and would like to spend half of that if possible. I think I have a better chance of hitting the lotto than finding a readily matching stock from another Fox. My woodworking skills are minimal- I bought a CMP Garand, Carbine and Enfield full of grease and dents, and looks nice now, but I have done no inletting, etc. I have no experience with a double barrel. I have been given an estimate of $5000 for a complete refinish (like new) from one company, and $1100ish for a reman stock (fitted, but not finished (sand, stain) and to reblue barrel from another.
Opinions appreciated.