Fox Collectors

I have a 1933 SPE grade with a non-selective trigger.Seems that trigger did not go over very well.Anyone have an idea how many guns were built with a non-selective trigger?Looked in advanced search and the topic did not even come up.Leads me to think it could not have been very many.

With the introduction of the SP-/SPE-Grade in the summer of 1932, Savage also introduced the non-selective single trigger, though this magazine ad doesn't quite spell it out --





Unfortunately, Savage just sent out these Retail Price lists with the same retail catalogue they had been using since 1931 and would continue to use through 1934, so the SP-/SPE-Grade isn't pictured in them --



In the same time frame, Savage began offering the option of a non-selective single trigger on their J. Stevens Arms Co. Stevens No. 330 and Springfield No. 315 and No. 311. They also show up on "trade brand" doubles produced by J. Stevens Arms Co. --



While there was a little folder put out on the SP-/SPE-Grades, the first appearance of the SP-/SPE-Grade was in the March 15, 1933 Wholesale Price List, Fox Guns, page 3 --



You can see that on the A-/AE-Grade below they only offer the optional Fox-Kautzky Single Selective Trigger, and that is consistent for all the grades. But on the back page, page 8, they offer to fit it to any Fox Gun new or old --



The non-selective single trigger appears again on the March 1, 1934, Retail Price List, but isn't mentioned in the Wholesale Price List and makes no further appearance in any Savage Fox paper that I've seen. I'm sure no one has gone through the surviving records and counted them up, and that wouldn't include those that were retro-fitted anyway. Ithaca Gun Co. also introduced a non-selective single trigger at the same time and offered it on all their doubles from the lowest Western Arms Long Range on up to the highest grade Ithacas. They seem to have been much more of a success as they are seen quite often.

Researcher-Thank you for all the info regarding the non-selective trigger.Looks to me like it had not quite a two year life-span most likely on the SP/SPE models more than any others.The gun I have is choked imp.cyl.in both barrels so I guess whoever purchased it might just have wanted something new and different.I would appreciate hearing from any other members if they are aware of any other non-selective trigger guns. You wear your title well.Thanks again

In my decades of recording Sterlingworths, I've recorded one Savage-era 16-gauge Fox-Sterlingworth Field with the non-selective single trigger and it also had a beavertail.

I had a very nice 20 gauge Sterlingworth with beavertail and non selective single trigger that I never lettered. I did not realize that the trigger or the beavertail might be original. I probably made a big mistake when I sold it cheap at an Upper Marlboro, Maryland gun show years ago. I have not seen the fellow I sold it to for quite a while.

I owned only one SP(E) with a factory nonselective single. Only one that I recall seeing.

tjw