AH Fox “A” ?

[6pt-sika]

Just picked up a Fox today that’s marked as an A on the water table and was made in 1910 but the engraving and checkering are not commensurate with an A or B for that matter . It is a bit roughish . The thing is a 12 and 30” tight and tight . Has a rather hard Jostam pad and the finial is missing from the forend . Also as you can see in the pics the head of the stock is pinned . Inside the barrels are spotless and they ring true .

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[gamekeeper]

Quite a fancy looking gun in its day. I have never seen or handled a A.H.Fox but I assume they have a good reputation for being well made.

[6pt-sika]

Quite a fancy looking gun in its day. I have never seen or handled a A.H.Fox but I assume they have a good reputation for being well made.

Actually Ansley H. Fox started out as a shooter/salesman for Parker Brothers then later started his company . I’ve owned several Fox Guns but mostly Sterlingworths all 12 and 20’s and an A grade 16 that was a later Utica gun . This is the first “graded” Fox I’ve ever owned that was made in Philadelphia .

[Pete44ru]

My Grade AE 20ga A.H.Fox didn't have that checkering pattern or engraving - Yours looks like it's a higher C-grade.

The receiver being marked as an A-grade leaves IMO two possibilities:

* An A-grade receiver was used to made a C-grade, with commensurate engraving & checkering

* A C-grade receiver was mis-marked as an A-grade


Some of the differences can be seen here: https://www.foxcollectors.com/fox-gun-g ... -directory



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[6pt-sika]

My Grade AE 20ga A.H.Fox didn't have that checkering pattern or engraving - Yours looks like it's a higher C-grade.

The receiver being marked as an A-grade leaves IMO two possibilities:

* An A-grade receiver was used to made a C-grade, with commensurate engraving & checkering

* A C-grade receiver was mis-marked as an A-grade


Some of the differences can be seen here: https://www.foxcollectors.com/fox-gun-g ... -directory



.

Yeah before I bought it I went to the Fox collectors website . I’m about 300% sure this thing was privately upgraded later in life most likely restocked as well . This wood has way better figure than any A Grade I’ve ever had in my hands and better than any of the early B grades as well . While I prefer Parker’s hands down I like AH Fox Guns as well and have several . The only thing I have against Fox is the fact that they never saw fit to make any 10 or 28 gauge guns

[Pete44ru]

The only thing I have against Fox is the fact that they never saw fit to make any 10 or 28 gauge guns

Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Company of New Britain, Connecticut are proud to announce our production of the higher grades of the original A.H. Fox 16, 20, 28 and .410 Gauge Double Barrel Shotgun.

I even handled a .22LR SxS made by Tony on the Fox frame...

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[6pt-sika]

The only thing I have against Fox is the fact that they never saw fit to make any 10 or 28 gauge guns

Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Company of New Britain, Connecticut are proud to announce our production of the higher grades of the original A.H. Fox 16, 20, 28 and .410 Gauge Double Barrel Shotgun.[/img]

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It’ll be a cold day in well you get the picture before I buy from Tony Galazan Besides I view stuff like those the same as I do the Parker Repros . They aren’t originals period . They’re nice enough but they aren’t for me .

[Jay Bird]

Yea...a Philadelphia Ansley Fox is hard to beat. In my opinion they rival the best of Parkers.....I used to run into these quite a bit in the seventies but in those days I had trouble getting two pennies to rub together. Sterlingworth Fox's were nice too....and then finally, the J-U-N-K Fox's, boxlock Stevens......well, they were not junk, just a field workhorse.

All the great gun manufacturers slowly but steadily loosened up their quality control as the years went by. Single action Colts and Winchesters (my gig) were the finest from the late nineties to around 1912 or so , coinciding with the beginning/gearing up of WW1. During this period manufacturing tolerances, quality of the steel and craftsmanship were the highest of any other period. Lots of nice stuff before and after this period were made but was no where near as widespread.

Then after WW1 quality started to nosedive and as far as I'm concerned not much of anything from any of the gun industry is worthy of leaning it in the corner of a barn.....a barn with holes in the roof.

Your Fox is better than money in the bank......I tend to agree with you on the after market upgrade on your Fox. Factory engraving on the Philadelphia Fox's were more finely engraved with more intricate detail but all in all, still a nice snag.---6

[Pete44ru]

FWIW, Tony makes both the A.H. Fox & Winchester 21 doubles on the same machinery as the originals, purchased from the respective factories.

YMMV, but in my mind, that's not much different than Winchester or Fox employees being replaced when they leave or retire.

.

[Old No7]

Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Company of New Britain, Connecticut are proud to announce our production of the higher grades of the original A.H. Fox 16, 20, 28 and .410 Gauge Double Barrel Shotgun.

I even handled a .22LR SxS made by Tony on the Fox frame...

Yes, I've handled that Sxs 22 as well -- VERY sweet! With a price to match! ($12k, I think it was...)

If I recall, the last time I was there they had a beautiful (4) gun set of A.H. Fox shotguns -- all matching and high-grade everything -- that was only $125,000.00

My wallet was a little bit light that day.......................

Old No7

[6pt-sika]

Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Company of New Britain, Connecticut are proud to announce our production of the higher grades of the original A.H. Fox 16, 20, 28 and .410 Gauge Double Barrel Shotgun.

I even handled a .22LR SxS made by Tony on the Fox frame...

Yes, I've handled that Sxs 22 as well -- VERY sweet! With a price to match! ($12k, I think it was...)

If I recall, the last time I was there they had a beautiful (4) gun set of A.H. Fox shotguns -- all matching and high-grade everything -- that was only $125,000.00

My wallet was a little bit light that day.......................

Old No7

Galazan has the original Parker J. Cliff Green 2 gun 4 barrel skeet set BHE #1 frame with 24" 12 and 20 gauge barrels and a #00 frame with 24" 28 and 410 barrels . I saw it in person for the first time in Galazans tent at the Southern Side by Side two years ago . If I'm not mistaken he was asking 250 G's , it hit the block at Morphy's last auction and only got up to 160 G's not meeting the reserve . Herschell Chaddick had this same set back in the 70's 80's if I'm not mistaken he was asking about 500 G's at that time . FWIW J. Cliff Green was a skeet shooter from the Eastern Shore of Maryland back in the late 30's and had this gun built . Based on the condition when I saw it I doubt he shot it a whole heck of a lot .

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[6pt-sika]

The first two pics of that set I took at Sanford NC two years ago the third pic was from Morphys latest auction .

[GunnyMack]

I agree, that was most likely returned for up grading. Very nice, ya done good!

[JRD]

I'm a fan of both Foxes and Parkers with a a slight preference for Foxes based on sentimental reasons. My grandfather's main hunting gun was a 12 ga Sterlingworth,
I've done hobby level gunsmithing projects on both brands to either restore them to mechanically shootable condition or to keep them shooting.

While beautiful guns were made in both brands, I give Fox the mechanical edge. Remember that the Fox action is a whole generation newer than Parker. The hammerless Parker action came out in the 1880's while the Foxes were in the late 190X's. Foxes have fewer and more robust parts and use coil springs while Parkers have more parts and v springs.

I've been to Tony Galazan's shop once before. While they are out of my price range, the reproduced Foxes are beautiful guns. I wouldn't kick one out of my safe it it wanted to come visit.

A couple Sunday's back at our club pheasant hunt, we did a three generation Fox Sterlingworth theme. I carried my great uncle Milton's 12 ga Sterlingworth while my son carried his great grandfather's 12 ga Sterlingworth and my dad carried his late friend Henry's 20 ga Sterlingworth. That's where my sentimental attachment to Foxes comes from.

[6pt-sika]

I'm a fan of both Foxes and Parkers with a a slight preference for Foxes based on sentimental reasons. My grandfather's main hunting gun was a 12 ga Sterlingworth,
I've done hobby level gunsmithing projects on both brands to either restore them to mechanically shootable condition or to keep them shooting.

While beautiful guns were made in both brands, I give Fox the mechanical edge. Remember that the Fox action is a whole generation newer than Parker. The hammerless Parker action came out in the 1880's while the Foxes were in the late 190X's. Foxes have fewer and more robust parts and use coil springs while Parkers have more parts and v springs.

I've been to Tony Galazan's shop once before. While they are out of my price range, the reproduced Foxes are beautiful guns. I wouldn't kick one out of my safe it it wanted to come visit.

A couple Sunday's back at our club pheasant hunt, we did a three generation Fox Sterlingworth theme. I carried my great uncle Milton's 12 ga Sterlingworth while my son carried his great grandfather's 12 ga Sterlingworth and my dad carried his late friend Henry's 20 ga Sterlingworth. That's where my sentimental attachment to Foxes comes from.

I’ll be 59 next July as far back as I can remmember there have been Parker , Fox and Smith guns in the house . My fondest memory of any SxS is of my dearly departed maternal grandfathers circa 1881 W&C Scott hammerless 10 gauge and of course I have it now .

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. My second fondest memory of a SxS is of a little Parker VHE 20 gauge that at the time belonged to my fathers friend and owner of the local gunshop . Think I saw that gun the first time around 1968ish , he had gotten it as a gift while in college . His dad purchased it from the original owner . I think from the time I was 8 or 9 up until about the age of 50 I asked quite often if he wanted to sell it . Long about five years ago he brought it to the shop and told my buddy to give me first crack at it , and it ended up in my possession .

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[6pt-sika]

Some more visual aids of my new to me old beater Fox

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[6pt-sika]

Few more !

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[GunnyMack]

It sure has seen some time on the range! But if it's on face I see no reason why you shouldn't try some of your buckshot !

[6pt-sika]

It sure has seen some time on the range! But if it's on face I see no reason why you shouldn't try some of your buckshot !

The levers left of center I wanna let my buddy tighten it back up a bit and put a new pad on it . Later I’ll get my friend that does stock work to fix the finial .

[Jay Bird]

Usually the fine grades of guns wind up in nice condition a hundred years later...don't think I ever saw a well used Deluxe 1886 Winchester.....one thing for sure, when you see any gun that has lots of wear/use it means they shot good.--6

[6pt-sika]

Usually the fine grades of guns wind up in nice condition a hundred years later...don't think I ever saw a well used Deluxe 1886 Winchester.....one thing for sure, when you see any gun that has lots of wear/use it means they shot good.--6

There’s been some speculation on the Parker forum that this Fox could possibly be a Bert Becker worked gun . While I’d be quite happy if it were I doubt that’s the case I think it’s just a gun someone got then after awhile wanted it embellished .

[6pt-sika]

Received a copy of the Fox factory card little while ago . Gun was definitely restocked drop at heel and comb changed noticeably. Also said it left the factory as an A grade .

[6pt-sika]

My unfounded opinion on this gun is that some well off sport bought it new and later wanted it embellished . I also believe the sport hunted in AR , MS or LA for waterfowl the guns 30” F&F . I also believe at some point the sport gave it to someone possibly the guy I got it from’s grandfather . I doubt that this guys grandfather bought it based on the fact that I asked the fellow how he ended up in Virginia and he told me he had moved here looking for work . “Generally” all the well heeled folks I know or have met from the Deep South didn’t move for work . Anyway that’s just my opinion .