Fox Collectors

I'm sure this has been discussed in the past but as a relatively new member - I'm curious as to what folks think about Fox shotguns being made again by CSMC. I'm not asking whether or not you think they're good guns or whether you'd buy one. But amongst hard-core collectors I wonder if there's not a significant group that think it's almost sacreligious to mess with the classics. I'm sure a guy that has an original Shelby Cobra looks down his nose at folks that are building them with kits now. I realize this is a small slice of the public interested in double guns - but I wonder what the true "lovers" of the Fox think about the remakes? Is this a great way to keep the name alive for future generations and be able to have a few of the high grade smallbores that are virtually unobtainable on the used market - or should a classic just be left alone? Hopefully this isn't too controversial - I'm just curious as to what people think.

CSMC Fox guns, are like decorative decoys or limited edition Winchesters and Colts and Parker reproductions. They attract a loyal following but normally most hard core vintage collectors have just a passing interest. Most hard core vintage collectors don't look down their nose at these guns they just have very little personal interest.

When the discssion turns to comparison of the original Fox guns to Tony Galazans recreation of the Fox I think of these words written some time ago by Jim Carmichel in the discussion of classic America shotgun.

" The double-barreled shotguns made by Ansley H. Fox in his
Philadelphia factory are classics for the simple reason that
they are the most beautiful shotguns ever made in America and,
for that matter, among the most beautiful boxlock designs ever
made anywhere. Whereas the customary practice of gun invention
was to design from the inside out, often enclosing the
mechanism in a plain outer shell that required engraving or
other embellishment to be presentable, the seductive lines of
the Fox receiver suggest that it was sculpted by an artist.
Like a lush maiden shed of her arrayment, the Fox needed no
engraving to accent its sensuous contours and, indeed, the
unadorned lowest grades perhaps best showcase their elegance
of form."

Tony stayed true to the Fox design and function concentrating on small bore highly decorated versions and should be congradulated for that. Since I am a self described "hard core" vintage shooter as much as I appreciate Tony's contributions my tastes tend to agree more with Mr. Charmichel asertions that more is less when considering Fox guns.

I don't happen to own one of Antony's Ansley H. Fox doubles, but I've always had the opinion that Tony is building the ones Ansley wished he could have built.

I have a 16/20 FE in my collection, try and find a vintage FE in 16 or 20 ga. They are well made with modern materials and engraving and stocks not available to A H Fox during his time at Fox.

fox-admin wrote:CSMC Fox guns, are like decorative decoys or limited edition Winchesters and Colts and Parker reproductions. They attract a loyal following but normally most hard core vintage collectors have just a passing interest. Most hard core vintage collectors don't look down their nose at these guns they just have very little personal interest.

Wow, you've done a 180

I said MOST hard core collectors---I am the proud owner of a CSMC Fox

I like my CSMC 16GA DE Special with 30" Barrels, Exhibition Turkish Walnut, Skeleton Butt.....all with 15 1/4 LOP weighing in at 6lbs 4oz.

Ansley would have loved this one

CSMC guns- darn right I'd like to have one. Will they ever have the soul that my small collection of Sterlingworths, with there dings, dents and barb wire gouges have? Not in my life time, but I'd never look down my nose at a CSMC shooter/collector, after all, it's still the Finest Gun in the World.

Would you rather have a vintage XK-120 or a new one? The new one might be a better car, but who cares?

I had a CE 20 years ago and liked it,though never fired it.I prefer the older Foxes. Bobby

Anyone that is lucky enough to own an original small bore BE or above should consider themselves blessed----you are very fortunate indeed!!!

Thanks for the responses guys - there certainly doesn't seem to be any animosity towards the CSMC Foxes. Some guys don't have a lot of interest in "reproductions" while several actually own one. I've had a 16 gauge XE on order for over 2 years now - hopefully I'll take delivery sooner or later.