Fox Collectors

Several weeks ago I was able to hunt with a Fox Sterlingworth 16 that was restocked to fit me. The gun performed wonderfully in my hands. I posted a photo of her first hunt, while in my round of care taking, in the hunting section. It's about the only post with no responses. Is there a taboo in modifying Fox guns that I should be aware of or did I post in the wrong section?

i appreciate all the replies that i have been given. but in all honesty, this forum gives way less on responses than the parker forum or my banjo hangout guys. in fact , i have already mentioned the lack of responses in general in a prev post. my question is this....if i dont get responses here as a newbie, why on earth would i want to join? not for a magazine or a book or goodies. i enjoy the comraderie, the different opinions about things.i may not have graded foxes at home( i have had an A grade) , or know more about the history or workings of a fox, but i certainly speak my mind, right or wrong. just give them a little time, im sure theyll chime in. but every post wont solicit a response. but they seem like a good bunch of guys, very knowledgable.

fnj682,
nothing wrong with that SW at all. Many of us shoot/hunt with guns that have been modified/customized. In a post titled Fox and Pheasants above your post is a picture of my Utica SW 16. It had been very nicely restocked and someone cut the barrels to 26 1/2". Still, I love to carry it even though I also have a lot of "unmolested" guns. I used it today under snowey/sleet conditions to take 2 pheasants over my setters. Because of the weather, the birds were holed up in cover more like grouse cover. rThe gentlemen on this forum are great guys and I have had the opportunity to meet and shoot with many at some of the double guns shoots, Hausmann's and Spring Southern.
Hope to see more posts and pictures from you.
Harold

fnj682 wrote:It's about the only post with no responses. Is there a taboo in modifying Fox guns that I should be aware of or did I post in the wrong section?

Yes and no... Each collector community is a little different. As it was stated, the Parker Gun Collectors Association forum is very active where almost every post gets a response or two. The ethos of the PGCA is that everyone is welcome. It might also be inferred that there are no bad Parkers, only Parkers that need a little attention by a competent double-gunsmith.

This AH Fox Collectors Association is not as large as is the PGCA, nor as old. It is however a fine organization of which I am a member. I am also a member of the PGCA and Lefever associations. Those membership dues are repaid ten-fold when I receive knowledge or advice from fellow members before I purchase a Fox, Parker, or Lefever. I in turn pay more than my dues as a moderator on the PGCA forums and by helping out the new guys with information of which I was naive of a few years ago...

Now, back to your question above "modifying" a Fox gun. Personally I think the the AH Fox gun with its perfect lines in the "cones" (bosses?) milled into the sides of the receiver and balance of a pigeon gun. Ansley Herman Fox was a famous pigeon shooter. A Fox gun, especially a Sterlingworth is the perfect platform to modify into a special gun for the shooter. Called it a common man's bespoke gun which is easy to achieve. Why is it easy? Simple, because Ansley gave us a gun that is 90% perfect for darn near everyone to shoot and love. Now that's the rub to AHFCA members. Why would anyone mess with near perfection?

You have a nice Fox which by restocking you saved from the never being used again. I think that if Ansley were her he would consider it a compliment!

PS: Do not feel too bad about the lack of responses. In past years I spent hours shooting splendid photos of gorgeously restocked Fox guns which received very few compliments when posted on this forum. Those same photos posted on the PGCA forum received dozens of positive responses. Oh, I'll still be a member here, that is until the AHFCA throws me out for committing blasphemy with walnut!

Some of my custom stocked Fox guns:
http://www.foxcollectors.com/My%20Forum ... =34&t=5316
http://www.foxcollectors.com/My%20Forum ... =34&t=5315
http://www.foxcollectors.com/My%20Forum ... =34&t=5322
http://www.foxcollectors.com/My%20Forum ... 34&t=5318z

Now here's a teaser... a CE 16 with new walnut! See more photos on the Parker forum...


Mark

The lack of response to your modified Fox post, especially by those that frequent this forum that have a relatively high post count, actually speaks volumes.

Many of us own re-stocked, restored and CSMC Fox guns, I believe most of the current BOD's own and shoot a re-stocked Fox or a CSMC Fox or a restored Fox. So I don't believe there is any kind of taboo regarding custom or re-stocked guns within the leadership ranks of the Association.
Please understand comparing the Parker Collectors Association to Fox is a little unfair. We are at an all time high of paid membership of 325. I believe PGCA has 1300 paid members, so doesn't it just make sense that their forum is busier?? We have 1897 registered forum users versus PGCA's 5800. A fairer comparison is the the LC Smith Association which has about 600 paid members. If you compare activity on their forum to ours I think you will see our forum generates more activity.
It is impossible for the association to make the registered users respond to a post or like a certain aspect of collecting. We try to cover all aspects of Fox ownership from hunting to custom guns to CSMC Foxes in our bi-annual Newsletter. I believe our Spring Newsletter has a feature article on one member's custom project from start to finish.
Please don't get down on our fine organization and the membership because you didn't receive many positive comments on a post. Most of our registered users never post but do check the forum regularly, I am sure they appreciate your efforts posting pictures etc.

Thank you to all that have responded. I appreciate your time in answering my question. Not being new to doubleguns but relatively new to Fox guns I was hoping to get a flavor of thoughts.

Big Ten, Your 16 CE is a fabulous piece and is a gun that is becoming high on my radar. I current own 5 Fox guns in all three gauge. I'm really liking the 16s

FNJ, glad to have you on board with the AHFCA! Keep posting those pics of Foxes, SW's or graded, doesn't matter, both are "The finest gun in the world." As admin said, most of the BOD use one form or another of Fox guns. I have plenty of SW's and a few graded too. I'm also in the process of having a custom D grade done for me by local artisans. Hopefully I can record the transformation and write it up for the newsletter too. Everyone has likes and dislikes so don't be offended if you don't see any/many replies. As admin stated, many read, but few post. Now go hunt 'em up!!!

I am relatively new here but have noticed the low level of activity on this board. I will try to add what little I know about Foxes. I am enthusiastic! Almost no factory stocked guns, even new ones, fit me so I have to modify or restock almost all of my guns. I have 2 Foxes - my AE 12 gauge sports a new buttstock as the original was broken and had a ton of drop.


t[img][/imgI. ] I think it turned out okay.

I have a 30" 20 gauge Sterlingworth that is being mechanically set right at the moment. When it gets back I'll shoot it a bit to make sure all is well and then that one will be off for a restock. I'm not a collector - I'm a shooter. I just like shooting classic SxS guns. If they aren't reliable, balance the way I like or do not fit me they are useless in my eyes. When I'm done having a gun refurbished and restocked I am pleased with the fact that it will now be shot. That's what they are for! Ansley was a shooter. His guns didn't sit in the safe to be gently fondled with gloves on. Collecting is fine, but truth be told there are very, very few guns that have not had something done to them in their lifetime. There's enough room here for all who appreciate and enjoy Foxes. I love seeing collector grade guns, but if I owned one I'd put a recoil pad on it and go shooting.

fnj, I really enjoyed seeing your gun in action. And BFT - your redone guns are a fine example of how to keep these guns going and looking good. How did you find out about Slim? I probably saw your gun in his shop. He's about 25 minutes from me. He's so overbooked he's not taking in any more restocks so I've had to find others to do my latest projects.
Regards,
Jeff