Fox Collectors

hello everyone! I just got a membership here because I am very interested in the A.H. Fox shotguns. My grandfather passed away a few weeks ago and he left me 7 guns, three of which are double barrel Fox's. One was his, one was his mothers who died in 1936 and one his fathers.

I have a 12, 16, and 20. I am wondering if you guys could help me date them and confirm what I think the "grade" is.

Please let me know if you all can square this young soldier away!

Start by posting some detailed pictures of your guns.

I suspect many here will try to help. We will need decent pics and serial numbers will be helpful as well.

tjw

Not seeing how you post photos. Point me in the right direction

http://srphotography.zenfolio.com/p904809451

Here is a link to the 20 gauge. I'd love to know more abt it. Series 200939, Krupp steel barrells.

Looks like a restocked A grade.My cataracts do not let me see too clearly.Very nice gun. Bobby

Why do you think it is restocked???

According to my grandad, it wasn't fired after his mother died (1936) and before I posted, I put a thin layer of linseed oil on it.

It has sat in a safe for a long time.

Here is a factory stock on a A grade small bore. Your gun was made in the late teens.

Unless special ordered, the teardrops formed into your stock cheeks are not correct for a factory stocked A Grade Fox. Also the buttstock is significantly lighter in shade than the forend wood, further suggesting the butt stock has been changed out or modified. Paying members can get one free record card lookup per year which will confirm/deny a special order. Alternately you can order a letter from John Callahan as shown on the home page.

Regardless of the originality of the buttstock you have a very nice family heirloom. What is the length of the barrels and does the gun have extractors or ejectors?. Do you know any of the history, was it used for hunting or target shooting and what part of the country did your grandparents live.

the barrells are 24inches, Krupp Fluid Steel. We are from NC, my grandfathers mother died in 1936 when he was a year old and the only thing he got were a few pictures, books and this shotgun, it was his treasured piece of her, and he pretty much treasured it. I assume that it was for hunting more or less.

I need to post pics of the other two. I have a 12 gauge model B i think and a 16 gauge, the 12 was my great grandfathers and the 16 was my grandfathers, I know those were used for hunting. These are priceless heirlooms for my family. So special that only 5 people had seen them prior to his death. It was just something of his you know?

now my other two, I cant seem to locate the serial numebrs on them. In one, near the hinge there is what appears to be a 188 but on the 12 Gauge Model B shotgun, all i can see inside under the barrels is a RVB7 with the B in a circle. the 16 gauge has an ABDE stamped inside. thoughts?

The serial number will be engraved on the trigger guard, and stamped on the barrel flats, on the forend metal and on the water table. The grade will be a single letter on the water table. Look at your Grandmothers gun they will be in the same location as the ones on her gun.

By the way you really need a letter on your Grandmothers A grade. If the barrels are 24 inches from the factory the gun is quite special.

not seeing it on the 12 and 16 gauge. One is a Savage model and the other I am not sure.

What is significant about the 24in barrels? there is no mistaking them, they are 24 in Krupp fluid steel, measured them wiht a tape.

24in means they have most likely bean cut off....as 24in was not a standard length, but could be special ordered....your other two guns sound like post 1940 made model Bs valued in the 200-400 range with very little collector interest...some of the model B guns with a Utica address on the barrels will bring a premium over newer model B guns with a Chicopee or Westfield address.....