Fox Collectors

. . . is it me, or do you also recognize the number and frequency of posts lately concerning the acceptance of modifying, altering and customizing Fox guns? Sort of a coming-out-of-the-closet, if you will, for many around here. A bit refreshing, I would say.

Does a heart good, don't ya think?

The last 2 foxes I bought were both refurbished. A 20 gauge Sterlingworth and an A 16. Both are going to be great shooters.

I love the fact that both were considered "culls" and not worthy of space in the owners safes.

Great guns at great prices.

I've always been a fan of a gun that looks good//original from 10ft away.....

just stirring the pot for the holiday dinner..

We want to try to make room for everyone from the most serious collector to the hard core shooter. In my 51 years of playing with these old Fox doubles I've known all stripes, from shooters that didn't want anything that wasn't stocked to their exact dimensions to collectors that would look askance at a non-original recoil pad on an otherwise near mint FE-Grade 20-gauge.

Amen Dave!! There's room at the gun safe for everybody!!

I have a 16 Gauge Fox Sterlingworth 30" ejector gun that I have been having customized for what seems a long time.
I own some nice side by sides, but the lines of the Fox were so adaptable to customizing, I decided if I had one customized gun in my life; it would be a Fox. If I did it over again, I would have had the back end of the receiver scalloped, but now...who cares?
I think it will be beautiful. Some others will think it should be owned by a pimp in New Orleans. Some will think "Why, oh, why did he do that to an already nice gun?
Guess the answer is the same as Edmond Hillary when asked why he climbed Mt. Everest: "Because it's there."
For now, I shoot my old Model 31 Remington 16 gauge pump with a steam whistle on it, but one of these days guys, I'm going to have a real showpiece to carry.

Sam Ogle, Lincoln, NE

I think that every Sterlingworth out there is waiting for that engraving and highly figured wood that it never got in Philadelphia or Utica. It's our job ensure they fulfill their destiny!

Well, here's my take on the first post. Let's say you have about 15 guys who've been doing most of the postings, and conversely >95% of the active "users" are mainly readers who don't post or rarely do so, and often won't even take a moment to reply with a short thank you for what they learn. Back to the 15 gents .... if many of them are mainly focused on originality and condition (simply put, that's their thing) it's predictable and no wonder that many of their posts will be about originality and condition. Often these same gents are only mildly interested in other Foxy aspects and are not the ones to be looked to, to be doing high fives on these alternate aspects.

I'm thinking this thread might connect with those who chose/choose to sit on the sidelines. Whether with custom Foxes or any other aspect of these guns, their silence can easily carry over and be mis-read as: "stuffiness" by those who mainly post about some other area of Foxdom they happen to like.

Silvers wrote:I'm thinking this thread might connect with those who chose/choose to sit on the sidelines. Whether with custom Foxes or any other aspect of these guns, their silence can easily carry over and be mis-read as: "stuffiness" by those who mainly post about some other area of Foxdom they happen to like.

Probably so - it connects with me. I've been a member for a couple years and read the forum most every day. I don't have the depth of knowledge to post on many of the threads as most of the information requested is way beyond me. However I enjoy learning about the shotguns including their history. However I also really enjoy the custom Fox posts. I don't see a thing wrong with taking a beat up older gun and restoring it to glory and/or making it more shootable/appealing to the owner. Now - putting thin walls in a mint condition graded small bore seems just stupid - but a lot of the things that bother some of the folks here wouldn't worry me at all.

OK; I'll weigh in. I think there are several terms at play here. Loosely defined:

1) "Refurbishing", which to me would indicate doing what is necessary to bring a gun back to useable and presentable condition. That could be as simple as a thorough clean up, or might include thing like touching up finishes, replacing small parts, refreshing checkering, etc.
2) "Restoring", which would be returning a gun to original new or nearly new condition, Re-bluing, re-casing, refinishing wood, maybe replacing wood but to original style, et al.
3) "Altering". This to me is changing a gun to fit the desires of the shooter: restocking, lengthening chambers or opening chokes, adding tubes, etc.
4) "Customizing". This includes making what you start with into something different, "upgrading" a gun, etc.; could be custom engraving all the way up to reshaping actions, making a rifle action from a shotgun action, etc.

Then of course, there are cross-overs between any or all of the above!

My interest is in largely original "working" guns; I can appreciate Sterlingworths and XE's as long as they go afield. I understand some guns are highly collectible and therefore using them would be silly; that's why I wouldn't own one, but good for those who do. Honest wear doesn't offend me in the least; in fact, I rather prefer it. With this in mind, I understand that 1) and 2) are often necessary or preferred, and if it gets a gun in the field I'm all for it. As for 3), I prefer my guns unaltered, but it's your gun and you should do what makes you happy. I'm not much interested in 4); I appreciate the skills it takes to do it, and I know the results are often quite striking, but it's just not my cup o' tea; I'd rather have an original Ford roadster than a street rod.

Sorry if this is too wordy; one of my shortcomings. And, as Dennis Miller would say back when he used to be funny, "That's just my opinion...I could be wrong."

Personally I like them all. Most of mine are now restored or refurbished with new stocks. I think very very few are in the collector category for original condition and I cant afford them so I dont worry about it. I have a little 16 ga CE getting restored right now as we speak. Why? Someone along the line removed all the case coloring to a high shine. IMO original is gone at that point and I would rather restore the gun to original and wear off the new case colors over the next 30 years and make my own memories.

To each their own but I enjoy them all.

Phil

It appears that only Researcher, seconded by Mike, that actually got the point I was making. I'll leave it at that.

I agree with your original post, stating that more of us are appreciating upgraded or refinished Fox guns. I have both, as well as a sprinkling of originals. Yeah, it's refreshing.