Help ID a Rescued Savage Fox

[hardscrabble]

Hi, all.

I just completed a fast cleanup of a Savage-Fox double in 16ga. This shotgun belongs to my neighbor. She had inherited the gun, it was poorly stored and needed a few hours of TLC.

I’m hoping to get a bit more information. There is no model number on the gun. Here is a brief description:

SN 30380X.
Mid-grade wood in good condition.
Some minor engraving on the case-colored action.
Engraving on the trigger guard, no engraving on the barrel.
The barrel is roll marked “Made by Savage Arms Corp Utica NY USA” and “Chromox Fluid Compressed Steel”.
There is no caliber mark, nor indication of barrel choke.
Single non-select trigger.
Ansley H Fox in a banner on the action.
“The Sportsman Store” on the rubber butt pad, white line and black line spacers.

The wood is sound and nicely figured. The case colors are somewhat dimmed and some surface rust was removed with fine steel wool in one spot. The bluing is fair with several patches where some surface rust was removed with fine steel wool. The bore is perfectly bright. The action is tight. I would rate the overall condition conservatively at 90%.

I may purchase this gun and I’m interested in some generous valuation estimates (the lady could use the cash). If valuation estimates are frowned upon here, I’m well able to deduce one from Gunbroker past sales, etc, but I need to know what I have first. I have spent a couple hours and I’m not getting closer to an answer. It does not appear to be a Model B, because of the engraving and the upgraded wood. I am aware that the Utica address at least narrows the mfg date to 1947 or before.

Thanks for your attention.







https://ibb.co/wh9V5TD
https://ibb.co/jH3M12T

[setterspell]

Welcome to the Fox world!
Hard to make any valuation from the 2 pictures, but what we Can see is a Utica "A" grade 16 ga.
The forend wood shows separation from the forend iron in pic2. This is obviously repairable.
unknown barrel length (hey ,might be 32" !)
best of luck,
Steve

[Stan Hoover]

hardscrabble,

What you have is an AH Fox A Grade, this is the lowest graded model, just above the AH Fox Sterlingworth model which would have been comparable to other manufacturer's Field grade.

2 questions, what is the length of the barrels and does it have ejectors or extractors?

More pictures would help and taking a picture of the forend removed would answer the question of ejectors or extractors.

Stan

[JasonPeck]

You have a 2nd generation A-grade with the late style engraving.

https://www.foxcollectors.com/fox-gun-g ... -directory

The serial number is very late, and would place it about 1939.

Only 2,712 were made in 16 gauge.

A factory card lookup could help tell the story.

[hardscrabble]

Thanks!

Ejectors and 26”barrels.

[hardscrabble]

[Researcher]

The gun is an A-Grade, 16-gauge, or AE-Grade if it has automatic ejectors. What is the length of the barrels? More/better pictures are needed to really assess the gun.

The recoil pad appears to be a "trade branded" either Fray-Mershon or Mershon Co., Inc. "Whiteline". I have one "trade branded" KERR'S, BEVERLY HILLS, CALIF. on a Browning Superposed.

[hardscrabble]

Thanks very much. SN 303269 and it has auto ejectors. It is shooter grade for sure. There aren’t any structural issues but probably 25% bluing loss on the barrel, the case hardening is faded, etc. The recoil pad info is recorded in the original description. I can’t see it as I type this.

[Researcher]

Seeing the new pictures since my first post, it appears that at some time in the past the barrels were buffed and reblued, and I suspect they were hot salts blued. If they were, the salts are attacking the solder holding the ribs and barrels together. Properly relaying the ribs and cold rust bluing the barrels is likely a thousand dollar job.

[hardscrabble]

The roll marks look buffed. What is the expected outcome of the solder problem? I’m not going to spend much on repairs and I’m really only interested in owning it if it’s a viable shooter. Otherwise I’ll advise her to use gunbroker, etc and be happy with whatever that brings. Thanks for the warning.

[vaturkey]

The roll marks look buffed. What is the expected outcome of the solder problem? I’m not going to spend much on repairs and I’m really only interested in owning it if it’s a viable shooter. Otherwise I’ll advise her to use gunbroker, etc and be happy with whatever that brings. Thanks for the warning.

IMO bluing salts would cause rust in hidden places. You don't really know until you have the good barrel guy who knows classic doubles take a look at it. As noted, it could be a fairly expensive repair.

[hardscrabble]

The roll marks look buffed. What is the expected outcome of the solder problem? I’m not going to spend much on repairs and I’m really only interested in owning it if it’s a viable shooter. Otherwise I’ll advise her to use gunbroker, etc and be happy with whatever that brings. Thanks for the warning.

IMO bluing salts would cause rust in hidden places. You don't really know until you have the good barrel guy who knows classic doubles take a look at it. As noted, it could be a fairly expensive repair.

All this has been extremely helpful. It appears my neighbor lady has more coming than we originally thought. The gun had much surface rust from being stored in a zip-up case and the wood was black with accumulated gunk. For its shortcomings, it appears to be worth a bit after all. She will be thrilled.

vaturkey, in a not very relevant nod to your handle, see the photo below of a pretty Middle Tennessee tom taken on my farm this spring. It is probably notable I don’t hunt with a classic shotgun, the 20ga Benelli with optic being more my style in my latter years.

[vaturkey]

The roll marks look buffed. What is the expected outcome of the solder problem? I’m not going to spend much on repairs and I’m really only interested in owning it if it’s a viable shooter. Otherwise I’ll advise her to use gunbroker, etc and be happy with whatever that brings. Thanks for the warning.

IMO bluing salts would cause rust in hidden places. You don't really know until you have the good barrel guy who knows classic doubles take a look at it. As noted, it could be a fairly expensive repair.

All this has been extremely helpful. It appears my neighbor lady has more coming than we originally thought. The gun had much surface rust from being stored in a zip-up case and the wood was black with accumulated gunk. For its shortcomings, it appears to be worth a bit after all. She will be thrilled.

vaturkey, in a not very relevant nod to your handle, see the photo below of a pretty Middle Tennessee tom taken on my farm this spring. It is probably notable I don’t hunt with a classic shotgun, the 20ga Benelli with optic being more my style in my latter years.

Nice bird. I have more then a few turkey guns. My regular go to turkey guns include a Benelli Nova in 20 gauge and two 870 20 gauges. The Benelli actually shoots the best patterns and I've killed a few birds at distances I don't even want to mention. Actually passed on a 45 yard shot at a beautiful Merriamans turkey in Nebraska about 5 years ago because I thought it was a tad far. My hunting buddy who called the bird in couldn't believe I didn't shoot as he knew with that gun, that bird was stone dead. Is what it is. I do however like to see if I can take one with a Fox every year. Sort of flashback and old school as they say.