Fox Collectors

I happened to notice one just sold for what I considered a hefty price on one of the internet auction sites. I have one already, but do not see them very often. I'm curious how many of us out there have one just because they were made By Ansley Fox even though we otherwise would have no interest.

I think it just looks good on a library shelf in the gun room. The sight of which has started more than few "Fox" conversations.

I have one that i bought from another Fox Collectors member who listed it for sale. The Researcher has one and may know of others and the number flare guns produced by Fox.

Way back when, David Condon had a trunk full of the Very Flare Pistols in his military surplus shop. I went through the whole trunk and layed out all the A.H. Fox Gun Co. made examples (11), took the best one and threw the other ten back in the trunk. Probably should have bought all 11.





America's Munitions 1917-1918, report of Benedict Crowell, the Assistant Secretary of War, Director of Munitions, Washington, Government Printing Office, 1919. On page 220 where he discussed the Very Flare Pistol -- "In August 1918, we let contracts for 135,000 of the 25-mm pistols and for approximately 30,000 of the 35-mm pistols. The A.H. Fox Gun Co. completed 4,193 of the smaller pistols and Scott & Fetzer Machine Co. turned out 7,750 of them. Other concerns which had taken contracts but had not come into production when the armistice was signed were the National Tool & Manufacturing Co., Doehler Die Castings Co., The Hammond Typewriter Co., and Parker Bros."

Mine's in its' original 25 mm configuration. It has not gone through the conversion and thus not marked. To me it is just a curiosity but it does round out the collection. I'd probably buy a reel if I fell into one too, albeit with the same lack of passion.

This is an old post but it is funny that I remebered it on the way home from a flea market where I scored a "Fox" reel for the hefty sum of $15.00.

The best part is that it has a full spool of braided line. It looks cool and is just the ticket to put next to the flare pistol.

I just could not help myself when I saw it.