first generation B engraving ?

bbman3 · Post by **bbman3** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:55 pm

Anyone know of a book that shows detailed pictures of first style B grade engraving? Thanks Bobby

jolly bill · Post by **jolly bill** » Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:16 pm

Bobby,

Some pretty nice pictures of the early style B on this web site. Here is the link to the early BE:

http://foxcollectors.com/b%20grade%20early.htm

Jolly

eightbore · Post by **eightbore** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:38 am

Oddly enough, I have seen as many "early B" engraving patterns on Philadelphia Arms Company guns as I have on the rare and unusual A.H.Fox guns. My PAC B Grade is very similar to the one Dave pictures in the Fox Collectors file. Dave Noreen and I both stuttered and stammered over my old PAC B when it was for sale. It was overpriced and Dave had his high condition PAC C Grade pigeon, so I bit the bullet and bought the B. Now I'm glad I did. I think it was Ansley's pigeon gun. At least that's my story and I'm sticking with it. Serial number 873.

Researcher · Post by **Researcher** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:00 am

That one pictured on our web site is a very late "early style BE-Grade". Some of the very last early style Bs even had an oval around the little bird. The very earliest B-/BE-Grades had just a tad more engraving then the A-/AE-Grades. It seemed their main feature was nicer wood and the checkered stock cheeks. My guess is the early Bs weren't selling well and the AHFGCo kept sprucing them up in hopes of increasing sales.

Once upon a time, at a MACA show, Eightbore and I both had our chances on B-Grade serial number 8. It had the heavy weight Krupp barrels, and was just a pretty plain old 30-inch 12-gauge. So, we both demured. Ahhh... Hindsight....

bbman3 · Post by **bbman3** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:21 pm

Thanks to all. A gunsmith called me yesterday and needed pictures so an engraver could use them as a pattern to recut early B grade. Bobby