Super Fox questions

Silvers · Post by **Silvers** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:59 pm

I am trying to come up to speed on Super Foxes and have some questions:

1. McIntosh's book says the "not guaranteed" stamp was first applied in 1924 and was probably done to all guns made afterwards. Do any members have post-1924 HE without the stamp?
2. Do any members have an HE that letters with 3" chambers that is not stamped 3"?
3. Lastly, is this still the best guess of Super Fox production stats?

about 300 HE guns were made
60 were 20 bore HE's, therefore the remaining ~240 were 12 gauge guns
30" and 32" barrels are about equally seen, therefore
~120 12 gauge guns were each made with 30" and 32" barrels

Thanks for any replies this prompts. Silvers

Researcher · Post by **Researcher** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:02 am

From my observations over the years, it seems like I've seen many more 32-inch HE-Grade Super-Fox 12-gauge guns then 30-inchers. Also, a few frames and barrels that were already stamped with graded gun serial numbers in the 35xxx range were finished up as Fox-Sterlingworth Wildfowls. The ten Fox-Sterlingworth Wildfowls I've recorded are all 32-inchers.

bbman3 · Post by **bbman3** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 1:55 pm

I have owned an HE 32"marked not guaranteed and stamped 3" shells. Also near mint Sterlingworth wildfowl 32"stamped 3". They were just too big and heavy for me! Bobby

birdawg · Post by **birdawg** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 4:27 pm

Bobby,
Do you still own the wildfowl gun? I am just wondering if it could be the one I picked up with the extra barrels.
It is 32" marked 3 inch

jim neyman · Post by **jim neyman** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:16 pm

Frank, I have a 1929 HE that does not have the "barrels not guaranteed" stamp. It's 32x2 3/4. Jim

Silvers · Post by **Silvers** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 9:00 am

Thanks everyone who replied so far. Jeff, that's the point of my question, why some HE's were stamped "NG" and others weren't. It seems once Fox stopped advertising guaranteed patterns there was no need to use the stamp. But why are some later guns stamped NG? One of the mysteries of the company and hopefully others will answer with info on post-24 guns.

Jeff, I haven't been at Elk Creek since Delta stopped its weekend Get Away coupon deals, $75.00 each way from my local airport. Not much chance of that happening again.

Will you be at the All American? Are you getting that sporting Fox restocked? Email directly on the shooting stuff. Thanks.

Jim, I sent you a PM. Frank

Researcher · Post by **Researcher** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 11:31 am

My gun, started February 23, 1927, shipped July 31, 1928, and letters with 3-inch chambers, is marked Barrels Not Guaranteed - See Tag.

waterman · Post by **waterman** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:37 pm

I have super fox #27826 that is stamped not guaranteed

loggy · Post by **loggy** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 6:22 pm

I have a 346xx early Utica CHE gun that is stamped and letters as a 3". It is not stamped guarenteed. There was an earlier post concerning barrel engravings and the McIntosh book. McIntosh said he knew of only one Super with the barrels engraved. His book pictures both the Crossman and BWII with engraved barrels. My gun has engraved barrels and if my memory serves me there have been several Supers in the DGJ with engraved barrrels.

Researcher · Post by **Researcher** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 8:15 pm

The McIntosh book was being written 20 years ago. We've discovered a few things since then. It is time for TK to get his Fox book on the market.

FOXIST · Post by **FOXIST** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 10:58 am

Researcher I had heard that TK was close to being finished with his book some years ago but dont know what came of it. Has anybody been in touch with Mr kidd Recently? Paul

waterman · Post by **waterman** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 3:24 pm

Hello guys which is the most rare on the super fox 3" chambers or 2" 3/4" I think my super is 2" 3/4"

Researcher · Post by **Researcher** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 4:04 pm

Purely a guess, but my feeling is that there were less HE-Grades that left North 18th and Windrim Avenue with 2 3/4 inch chambers, and my hunch is, from the guns I've observed, is that many of those that started life with 2 3/4 inch chambers have been lengthened to 3-inch over the years.

Silvers · Post by **Silvers** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 7:55 am

Does anyone have a 12 gauge Super Fox that letters as 3 inch but is not marked 3 in on the barrel flats? Frank

DGKaas · Post by **DGKaas** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 9:04 am

I have owned 6 HEs. Two,now gone, both early guns, lettered with 3" chambers but were not marked. My current mid 1920s gun letters with 3" chambers also but is not marked. One thing, many bona fide 3" guns as mentioned in MM's book will not measure 3" with a normal chamber gauge having rather tight chambers.

To me the most interesting bit of HE lore is how many of the 300 or so 12 ga HEs were made on "standard" #1 frames rather than the bigger #0 frame???