Fox Collectors

Here is another family jewel! This one has me confused though. This gun has whopping 34" barrels. The barrels are stamped with the fox proof, serialized, and marked with a D. The barrels seem to be hand engraved with "Sir Joseph Whitworth Fluid Steel, Made by A.H. Fox Gun Co. Phila. P.A. U.S.A" I have edited the serial number so if you think you know anything about the shotgun please PM me and I will provide the serial number. The receiver does not seem to have any markings saying, " A.H. Fox, Grade, Proof marks, or patents.

Looks like a gun Burt Becker cobbled together from various Fox parts he had on hand. I don't mean that as a bad thing.

Researcher wrote:Looks like a gun Burt Becker cobbled together from various Fox parts he had on hand. I don't mean that as a bad thing.

Burt Becker is only a name I have come across from reading forums here. Could you please educate me?

Thanks,
Jonathan

This is definitely an atypical DE ? with Becker "fancy back" frame scallops and Becker safety button. No serial number on the frame bar. Stock is obviously special and deliberately made without the checkered cheek panels etc. The nose of the comb is quite abrupt, common on Becker made guns and different than Fox factory styling. I'm a little rusty on this, but I seem to recall there are only three (or five) other Foxes known with Whitworth steel barrels, and only one of those is a 34-inch gun ??????? Again, I'm relying on memory here. In any case Whitworth-barreled Foxes are extremely rare. Jonathan, my wife just came by with a roll of paper towels so I can clean all the drool off my desk. Frank

Appears to be 33059 another special gun-----I would like to suggest you join the AH Fox Collectors Association and obtain copies of the factory work cards on all your guns-----you have a treasure trove of Fox guns----you are a very fortunate man. Craig

Unreal collection. Thanks for sharing.

The gun in question could have some bits of 33059 in it, but it isn't 33059. Many years ago, Headrick and I were going to do an article on 33059, and had this color photocopy of the card from John --



At that time 33059 had been Becker restocked to a capped pistol grip with a Jostam Hy-Gun Pad, and a Fox-Kautzky single selective trigger in the intermediate position. It is engraved much like 33050 and 33051. While its 34-inch barrels are marked Whitworth on top, no Whitworth wheat-sheafs underneith. Notes say bore standard, 2 3/4 inch chamber, 46 points choke, 5 1/2 inches long.

That is an incredible gun, thanks so much for posting Jonathan. It's always so cool to see these kinds of guns surface, especially when they deviate from the standard configurations. 34" Whitworth barrels, scalloped frame & stock, WOW.

Mike

Edited to say: I should have kept scrolling down, when I posted this I hadn't even noticed all of the other guns you have posted this morning! Thanks for taking the time to photograph them and share them with us. Not only are these guns some of the finest I have seen, but you have the unique history and connection to some famous Fox owners from the past. I think most people here would sell their soul for just one of these guns, let alone to have a whole collection like this in the family.

If you can go to one of the shows so the Fox faithful can photograph and document this incredible collection.
I would like to see more and thank you for sharing.
Wow,
Mike

Thank you for posting your Foxes!!!