Fox Collectors

I recently acquired a 1929 vintage 20 gauge AE, in very nice shape. I received the factory letter from Savage last week. It states that the gun was made with mod and full chokes. I have measured the bores with two different bore gauges, and both barrels measure .622. The full choke barrel is .583 at the muzzle, and the mod barrel is .598 at the muzzle. So, the constrictions are .039 and .024. The full choke starts about 4" from the muzzle, and the mod choke starts about 3-3/4" from the muzzle. The bores are shiny and unpitted. Being new to the Fox world, I'm not familiar with what the normal bore diameters were from Fox originally. Seeing this much constriction makes me suspect that the barrels have been honed out at some point. Any facts or opinions anyone could offer would be most welcome.
Thanks!

I own a number of Fox 20 gauges and they all seem to run .615 bore diameter. Added. PS. That's measured with my Skeets Bore Gauge, which IMO is not the most precise instrument out there.

Thanks for the information. I appreciate the quick response. I guess I'll pattern it before deciding on any particular course of action.

My 1925 vintage 20 gauge AE bores are .618/.618.
My 1929 vintage 20 gauge Sterlingworth bores are .620/.620.
My 1935 vintage 20 gauge Sterlingworth bores are .618/.625.

Your gun is fine.

UncleKP, sorry I can’t check my 20 ga. My gauge will only measure 16 and 12 ga barrels. However, I would like to see a picture of that gun with a dead pheasant.

My CE 20ga measures .617/.617

My 1913 vintage A-Grade is .615" in both barrels. As time goes on the bores get bigger with several bores in the .619" to .622" range in the late 1920s and the 1930s.

Very timely and right on - we blasted big bucks for one of John Hosford's precision bore gauges and it's given rise to my now-standard introduction of John to prospective buyers of his gauges as, "The Man Who's Saved Me Thousands."

Using John Hosford's precision bore gauge, I measured my 26" A grade 20 sn 201156 which came in at .615 true bore diameter (TBD) in both tubes with .010 and .011 constrictions, then measured the "Amish Gun" sn 202364, a 32" barreled 20 AE, which mic'd .619 TBD in both tubes with .019 and .026 constrictions. Kevin

[quote="UncleKP"]I recently acquired a 1929 vintage 20 gauge AE, in very nice shape. I received the factory letter from Savage last week.

Uncle KP, I am interested in the timeline for Savage's response to your letter request, as I've queried in several prevous posts regarding "Factory Letters." Can you share with us when you sent your request? Thanks, Kevin

A 32” 20 gauge fox...My ears perked up when I heard that. Sweet!

Barrel heavy and hard to find a case for.

Sporrns wrote:

UncleKP wrote:I recently acquired a 1929 vintage 20 gauge AE, in very nice shape. I received the factory letter from Savage last week.

Uncle KP, I am interested in the timeline for Savage's response to your letter request, as I've queried in several prevous posts regarding "Factory Letters." Can you share with us when you sent your request? Thanks, Kevin

Kevin,
I sent my request, along with my check for $65 on September 18, 2019. I received the factory letter March 11. The letter was dated March 7.
Additionally, they returned my check, uncashed. It has not cleared electronically either, so they did not charge me for the letter.
Regards,
Al

Jeff S wrote:UncleKP, sorry I can’t check my 20 ga. My gauge will only measure 16 and 12 ga barrels. However, I would like to see a picture of that gun with a dead pheasant.

Jeff,
I plan to use the Fox to create some dead pheasants and photos this fall in North Dakota and Nebraska.
Regards,
Al

eightbore wrote:Barrel heavy and hard to find a case for.

Yes, it is hell finding a case long enough to carry it in but the barrels are heavy like a bamboo fly rod. Kevin