An interesting Fox that could use a little love

[Dan_Tom_Greg]

Hello everyone,
I recently have joined this collectors association because I’ve been doing some research on a family piece. It’s a 16 gauge AE grade with some cool features. It has 26 inch barrels, a single selective trigger, and most interestingly, it has an absolutely gorgeous piece of wood with checkered cheeks that was custom ordered/provided. The factory tag lists “use wood they will send”. I will post some photos of the wood because it’s truly beautiful. However, my great grandfather and his descendants have put many coats of varnish over the stock/fore-end, and it’s to the point that the checkering in some areas is almost completely filled. My question is, I wish to preserve the gun and bring out the best in it rather than refinish it, what are my best options? Having it sent to a woodworker who will do their best to preserve what’s original while removing what isn’t? Or is it preferable just to leave it the way it is. It needs a new recoil pad installed anyway as my great grandfather decided to fit his own Montgomery ward pad to the gun somewhere down the line (uncut stock). The right ejector also doesn’t like to behave but that seems like a more straightforward job that a gunsmith familiar with double guns could tackle. Any input would be much appreciated!

[Foxnut]

D-T—G,

First, welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing pics of your gun!

What a great family heirloom you have and extra special as you know some of the history on the gun as far as who in your family did some of the work!

Now to try and answer some of your questions. The wood can be cleaned up and checkering recut without doing a complete refinish/stripping. A competent wood guy can thin out the years of extra added finishes and clean and recut the checkering. Usually an A Grade would not have the cheek panels engraved so that was probably done at a later date unless it was specified in the letter. The pad can be replace if so desired with a period correct butt pad or an original or reproduction Fox butt plate.

Regarding the right ejector if you could provide a little more detail someone with more technical knowledge might be able to answer your question. It might be prudent to have a competent double gunsmith who is familiar with Fox guns do a complete stripping and cleaning of the gun inclusive of the ejectors to make sure all is in good order.

We’d love to see some additional pics. I hope you get to hunt with or shoot clays with that gun! Brett

[Silvers]

The stock work can be done by many competent vintage double 'smiths but I heartily recommend having a proven Foxsmith evaluate the troublesome ejector. While the Russell patent (2nd gen) Fox ejector system is a very reliable design, there are many things that can affect its functioning. Unfortunately, good usable parts are very hard to find, and to complicate things some are gauge specific to smallbores which makes them scarce as could be. I do all my own mechanical work on Foxes (no commission work) and thus I can't recommend anyone from personal experience but hopefully one or more of our members will step up here with some names. frank

[Dan_Tom_Greg]

Thank you for your responses! For some information on the ejector, the right side will extract the cartridge but not “spring” forward and eject the shell like the left barrel will. Should I be looking for anything in specific to narrow down my diagnosis? Also, from all the info from my family, the cheek checkering has been present on the gun as long as anyone remembers, are there certain patterns of checkering that would be used on a gun circa 1924? My great grandfather purchased it directly from a hardware store in Binghamton NY, of which an Uncle of his was working. Considering it’s a custom stock, is the checkering possible? We actually even have the original sales tag from the gun as well which is neat. Any more information would be much appreciated!

[Silvers]

Thank you for your responses! For some information on the ejector, the right side will extract the cartridge but not “spring” forward and eject the shell like the left barrel will. Should I be looking for anything in specific to narrow down my diagnosis?

I'm not trying to be coy or mysterious here but there are (6) individual parts that work in conjunction with each other for the Russell Patent ejector function, and it's not possible to diagnose your situation without a hands-on inspection by a competent man. And again, if something is obviously broken or worn, some of the ejector parts are smallbore gauge specific and are very hard to find in usable condition or that don't require finish machining. For example I know of one 'smith who paid $600. for a smallbore ejector mainspring follower to complete work on a client's Fox. Sometimes the issue is that working contact points have gotten out of time but that's not something that can be resolved without experience.

Unless there's a twig or piece of random debris blocking the right ejector hammer (you can remove the forend iron from the forend to inspect) I do think the next step is to have a competent Foxsmith look at it. Again hopefully, some of our long time members will chime in with names and contact info based on Fox ejector work they've had done. frank

PS: If you're still in the Binghamton area as was your great grandfather I'll be happy to LOOK AT your Fox at the Northeast SxS Event (near Montrose PA) next year and diagnose what's wrong.

[Jeff S]

Cool hang tag.

I have never had an ejector worked on so I am unable to help. I’m sure there is some one out there that can help.