So how far left is too far? Top lever, not politics.

[foxgun]

Barrels lock up tight and are on face according to a thin paper test. I didn't smoke the receiver.

[fox-admin]

I would not be concerned if the gun is on face just keep the hinges clean after shooting and apply a little good gun grease, it will out last you. I have had a couple of pretty high condition foxes that were of face and I believe previous owners did not maintain a clean hinge. Mr Silvers may have a different opinion since he is much more knowledgeable about such matters. The Fox bolt was designed to take up some ware.

[Silvers]

The top lever in the pic looks only slightly left and it's probably still within the range of the cam that's designed into the rotary locking bolt. But, while the barrels may still lock down OK, the "lever left" condition is a perceived issue to many buyers if/when the Fox moves on to another owner. I will get that corrected on any Fox I buy.

Paper is a little too thick to check for off the face which many gents liberally define as > .003" gap between the barrels and the breech faces. Personally I don't want to see any gap at all and I use .002" steel shim stock to check, which I try to poke into the interface all around the circumference of both barrels. If it passes anywhere I'll evaluate what's up and work to get both barrels tight on the face, and with a tiny gap between the water table (frame bar) and the barrel flats to let the barrels settle in. That usually means rejointing. Such work may not be necessary on a Fox that will be lightly used but one that shoots regularly on a clays course or field will inevitably get looser.

Sometimes you'll see Foxes with the lever way right and with its back end beyond the right edge of the top tang. That's often a flag that someone has worked on the bolting system and the bolt's cam is short-engaging the locking surface in the barrel extension. Well that might look just great but it also needs to be corrected. No reason to have the top lever that far right except to make gents think that the gun has had little use, but in fact the bolting might be less secure than if the lever was just slightly right of center.

Let me underscore Craig's comments to keep the barrel hook clean and lubed after every shooting session. It's also a good idea to clean and lube the knuckle (front of the frame) along with the radius on the forend iron - to keep wear to a minimum at that interface. Same with the locking surface in the barrel extension. Gents often attribute magical properties to this or that grease but really, any good gun grease will do. I do that on all my Foxes and one just passed 13,000 rounds and the lever is still where it was after I rejointed the barrels about three years ago. Yep, I have a witness mark on the top tang to check for wear.

[foxgun]

Thanks for the good info guys. I do make it a practice to put a little grease on the hinge and locking surfaces. I've shot trap for many years and it really does keep wear to a minimum. Is there anyone you could recommend who is competent to correct the lever on this gun?
Thanks again.

[Silvers]

I can do most all mechanical work on my own Foxes but if not, I'd ask either Brian Dudley or Dan Rossiter (alphabetical order) to consider doing whatever work I might have. I've talked Fox mechanics in detail with both men and they're the real deal insofar as tech knowledge and quality of work that I've seen. I am not connected businesswise with either of the two named gents and am just providing this info here as a reference.

Contact info respectively at: bmdgunstocks.com and customstocksandsteel.com