Fox Collectors

Posted: **Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:33 am**

Hi I was just looking at McIntosh book AH Fox what kind of gun is he holding on the back cover? Whatever it is it's nice look at the slim for arm what a nice gun thanks.

Posted: **Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:21 am**

Wilkes?

Posted: **Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:33 am**

That is MMcI's John Wilkes sidelock ejector 12 bore as restocked by his bud, Trevallion. He wrote a piece on it. As I recall, the serial number is out of Wilkes sequence so it was likely "made by another" and bought in by Wilkes to fulfill an order. I've owned 8 Wilkes guns and 2 double rifles. It was a fascinating little family operation and I have many fond memories of hanging out at their former shop at 79 Beak St. in London since my first visit there in 1976. Buying a few pints for John and Tom Wilkes at the local pub was a graduate course in the history of British gun making. My English Setter, is named "Wilkes".

Posted: **Wed Sep 17, 2008 11:01 am**

Well it is a nice gun I have several fox doubles and other doubles some drillings and I have to have a Wilkes now where woud be the best place to look and how much "I like the gun not having a kick pad" .

Posted: **Wed Sep 17, 2008 11:06 am**

I don't have all the information that Don does, so I read the name off the sideplate.

Posted: **Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:22 pm**

Cabela's has 3 Wilkes boxlocks for sale including a nice little 28 bore. Wilkes sidelocks are harder to find but Vintage Doubles (Kirby Hoyt) has an early Wilkes hammerless (but not stocked to the fences). British game guns with chequered butts are quite common. Wilkes favored horn buttplates so many original guns are found with them.

Posted: **Wed Sep 17, 2008 1:47 pm**

My attempts at humor are usually wasted on Don. Some day I'll tell him about the pair of Wilkes boxlock .410s that I didn't have the gusto to pursue at a estate sale in Hagerstown, MD. Somewhere I have a gun list for that auction. I hope I never find it.

Posted: **Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:27 pm**

MMcI wanted to have a stock that fitted his"Aging Frame" The gun I restocked for him to the new Dims.(He had Aged somewhat from his 'Fitting at Hollands several Years before) Worked out "Well & Good" I shot Photos of him killing Geoff Gaebe's Best Pheasants for the Mitchell/McIntosh Video using the "Best Quality London Sidelock" His photo with the "BQLS" is (Was) on the Original Video Sleeve. Its now on a DVD, Sporting Classics have them. I have many Photos from the 5 days we "Cavorted" with Guns ,Cameras, Naked Dogs, Barbour Coated Beauties,(Jack Mitchell,Geoff Gaebe, Brian Hays,The Barbour Boys")I will ask MMcI if he knows the whereabouts of the"B.L.S-Lock".. FoxedChisels..

Posted: **Mon Oct 06, 2008 11:50 am**

Foxed Chisels thanks for showing looking at my ad and trying to help just got to have one of those sidelock guns. Do you no MMI well if so you are a lucky man I always wonted to meet this man and ask about super foxes did Bert Becker oversee all boring on super foxes I have #27826 and it is a beauty. Foxed chisels thanks for trying to help me again on the sidelock gun my name is Donnie Reels and I live in Kentucky please tell old MM I am a big fan thanks.

Posted: **Mon Oct 06, 2008 12:18 pm**

Donnie,
Those english guns are cool and we should all have a couple or more.

While I enjoy MM's writing and sense of place I think you will find more information on Fox guns here where some of the people who compiled the data for MM's Fox book post on a regular basis.

Now if we can just get the collected knowlege on this board and the members other contacts in print we will be able to understand even more about all Fox guns.

Fox Collectors

Michel McIntosh

Michel McIntosh

McWilkes 12 Bore.