SPE Skeet #34813

[Foxnut]

I recently acquired a nice example of a fully optioned 12 gauge SPE Skeet gun SN# 34813. I’m very fond of the SP/SPE’s and look forward to trying this gun out!

[Jeff S]

That’s a very good looking gun. Congratulations.

[Foxnut]

Addl. Pics

[DarylC]

Really nice Brett.

[loggy]

Nice gun!

[fox-admin]

All the bells and whistles!!! Straight stock, beavertail, single trigger, checkered butt and condition. It doesn't get any better. Nice addition to your Fox collection.

[Researcher]

Great Gun, Brett. Congrats!

Mine is 34891, probably not quite as nice.

I mark my getting this gun in May 1977, on a spring trip thru New England, at Capeway Sport Center along the road out Cape Cod, as when I move from being a guy who hunted with a couple of Ansley H. Fox doubles to a "collector/historian." The very first A.H. Fox catalog I bought was one of the Savage catalogs with the SP-/SPE-Grade Skeet & Upland Game Gun center-fold.

When the AHFCA got the photocopies of the production cards from R.W. Harris I discovered Roe had looked at the wrong card when he did the letter for me! No mention of a recoil pad in Roe's letter. My gun was apparently returned from Babcock & Hinds and reinspected by Wright on DEC 1 - 1936.

Then it has a later "FOX SPECIAL" card showing it being fitted with a recoil pad to fill an order --

It had a very deteriorated leather-faced pad in 1977, but I had it replaced with a Silvers by my Southern Maryland pad guy.

[loggy]

Dave, You have another great gun. Thank you for all of the additional information. John

[Upland Hunter]

Those 26" 12 gauge guns are fine skeet guns plus useful in uplands.

[Researcher]

After my previous post, I've been thinking of writing something definitive about SP-/SPE Skeet Guns. While eating my breakfast this morning, I've been scrolling around the production cards in the 347xx and 348xx range. "Something definitive" is a joke!!

The first mention of a skeet gun built on the SP-/SPE-Grade was in the March 1, 1934, Wholesale Price List --

While not shown in the Retail Catalog it is listed on the March 1, 1934, Retail Price List --

Serial number 34792 is a gun that has surfaced that matches up with the description --

One card for 34792 says "Trap SPE" and the other says "SPE Skeet" --

Between this gun and Brett's, I find three serial numbers marked SPE Skeet and five marked SP Skeet. How many are the plain or engraved style? I found earlier cards marked SPE Skeet and "Latest Style"? Serial number 34742 is marked "SPE Skeet & Quail Gun"?

Sorting Fox skeet guns out may take a Data Center!! My head hurts!

[Foxnut]

Dave, thanks for the preliminary details from what you were able to find. When Craig posted about his SP and lack of any mention of Fox nomenclature on the gun it also got me thinking of doing a little research. As of now I have several SP/SPE’s that have various levels of engraving along with my SPE Skeet & Upland guns. I’ll go through them and try to identify which ones are sans any Fox nomenclature and what level of engraving they have.

Also of note is the number of Fox SPE’s that have both a “standard” card and the Savage era “Fox Special” card and the levels of detail that vary on the respective card for the same SN’d gun.