Fox Collectors

I was visiting a friend today who's an accomplished builder of flintlock rifles. While looking at some of the firearms in his collection, I commented about a really nice, little .58/24 gauge fowler/smoothbore. I told him how much I liked the transition from octagon to wedding band to round and he said, "Oh, I didn't do that, that's a Fox barrel. I have another if you'd like it." Well, I liked it and I now own it (left it and 2 other barrels at his home because I didn't have cash and didn't want to ask to take the barrels and pay later, though he surely would have allowed it had I asked). I didn't really pursue anything else about the barrel, but is it likely an AH Fox barrel? Did the company ever make muzzeloader barrels, or is there another Fox barrel company that I've never heard of? Greatly appreciate any insight that any of the experts (or non-experts) can give.

Never heard of that one. Quite interesting.

Not our Fox. Ansley H. Fox was born in 1875, when cartridge firearms were fast becoming the norm. By the time Ansley founded his first gunmaking company, in Baltimore, in 1898. he was making a hammerless, breechloading double barrel shotgun.

Researcher wrote:Not our Fox. Ansley H. Fox was born in 1875, when cartridge firearms were fast becoming the norm. By the time Ansley founded his first gunmaking company, in Baltimore, in 1898. he was making a hammerless, breechloading double barrel shotgun.

Thanks. Keep in mind that this is a solid barrel and any touch-hole that's created for ignition, will be created by me. Because of the way the breech plug is screwed in and the tang that's present on the upper rear of the breech, it's pretty obvious that this was built and set up for a muzzleloader, but I presume the barrel could be almost identical to a modern barrel for smokeless powder and cartridges with a different breech set up.

I was honestly a little surprised when he told me that it was a Fox barrel and I didn't ask who "Fox" was or is. When I get the barrel in my possession, I'll look for stamps or proofmarks. Thanks for the comments.

I see you had some response on the Longrifle forum

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/in ... #msg619955

OH Osthaus wrote:I see you had some response on the Longrifle forum

https://americanlongrifles.org/forum/in ... #msg619955

Yes, I think we might have a winner. Might be a Curly Gostumski milled barrel. I'll know more when I get it in hand, hopefully this week.

I don't know if this is any help. This is from a book: "American Firearms Makers", Copyright 1953 By A. Merwyn Carey.


Fox, H.A. about 1845. General gunsmith at 8 Sixth Avenue, New York, New York.


Fox, Horace about 1850. Made percussion rifles at Fredensburg, Pennsylvania.

FLINTLOCKS???? Seriously??? Who on earth would ever think those old "rock-locks" are worth a hoot, let alone works of art?? Laughable.........
Soooooo many passions........soooooo little time........

going deeper down the rabbit hole Steve??