Fox Collectors

I should have this one in a couple of days. Been in the sellers family since it was purchased in 1921. Pictures provided were not the best and they have no knowledge of shotguns. Gave them my best offer with the little information they could provide. I don't know if anything has been altered but I think it was worth the gamble. Worst case I send it back in my 3 day inspection.

16 ga
26" tubes

I freaking love these c grades!!! I need to sell some stuff and get a nice small bore!

Another pic

.........from the pix it looks like a decent gamble.......

tjw

From what I can see it looks like the real deal----I hope it turns out for you. Craig

Seems my photos must be too wide or large. It keeps cropping the image and not getting the full width. Or maybe it is my computer. I am using photobucket.

Picked up my 16 ga CE at the FFL today.  Receiver as I thought had the case coloring removed.  Engraving still looks crisp and sharp.  Gunsmith said there was a time when people used Flitz or a similar product to remove the case color but keep the engraving nice.  Case color still remains under the lever and next to the trigger guard.  A couple small rust marks that are very light and are not deep thankfully.  Barrels are excellent and all original.  Only 2 very very small marks in the barrels and the bores are better than any of my other Foxes.  Tight on face with ejectors timed and working correctly.   Chokes are 4+ inches and original M/F.  Wood has typical handling marks and nice wood/metal fit.  Overall I am happy.  

The only thing I don't like about this gun is the high shine that it has. If I keep this one any ideas other than new case colors on how to darken it up a bit?

It is of course subjective but I think that nice deep engraving would look excellent in French grey. I understand you may wish to keep it more true/original but that shiny finish would drive me nuts!

Congrats whatever you do on a beautiful fox!

Very, very nice. You make me realize I'm an accumulator of Foxes, and not a collector of finer Foxes, but I guess that's how it all starts with shooters. As for it being polished? "I've taken a shine to that gun!" Congratulations

I have a Parker Trojan 16 with a polished receiver. I've heard several possible way to darken it, including rubbing the metal with cut strawberries and cut onions! So far I haven't tried any of them but I may one day. Here's a link to some discussions on the 16ga forum about darkening a finish; go to page 3 or 4 of the thread...

http://www.16ga.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14582

MilRob wrote:The only thing I don't like about this gun is the high shine that it has. If I keep this one any ideas other than new case colors on how to darken it up a bit?

Rob on a gun of lesser quality I would recommend a very mild acid to etch the metal and knock down the sheen on the receiver but this gun deserves to be treated as the fine lady that she is. I recommend you find the finest craftsman that does Cyanide case coloring in the original Fox process and spend the comparatively few dollars to bring her back to her original glory.

Can you recommend anyone to me that is replicating as close as possible to the original Fox process and results?

You might start by talking with these folks. I have not used them but have it on good authority that they did the original case coloring for Fox guns and are still doing Cyanide case coloring.


Fred Heinzelman & Sons

Heinzelman Heat Treating LLC
790 Washington Avenue
Carlstadt, NJ 07072-3008 map

Phone: (201) 933-4800

It's entirely possible it may not have been polished at all. I notice two things in the pictures. The barrels are marked Chromox and its likely the receiver is the same material. This is a high chrome content steel and through wear from carrying the gun it can get almost polished silver looking. The other thing I see is a slight thinning of the blue in the breech area of the barrels unless that is light reflection in the photos. It's possible it was polished by gloved carry wear. I would take it and love it to death regardless. Lee.

lee r moege wrote:It's entirely possible it may not have been polished at all. I notice two things in the pictures. The barrels are marked Chromox and its likely the receiver is the same material. This is a high chrome content steel and through wear from carrying the gun it can get almost polished silver looking. The other thing I see is a slight thinning of the blue in the breech area of the barrels unless that is light reflection in the photos. It's possible it was polished by gloved carry wear. I would take it and love it to death regardless. Lee.

Lee I apreicate where you are comming from and at first had the same thought, however, if you compare the finish on the receiver to the finish on the forend iron you can see that the receiver has definately been worked over.