Model Identification

[Sblack86]

Hello all,
I’m hoping you guys can help me identify which year/model I have here. I believe it is an XE model but I’m not sure. I’m hoping to not have to break down the gun to find out but I will if need be. Serial number is 35193.

[Sblack86]

2 more photos.

[Silvers]

Late serial number that doesn’t conform to the catalogue Grades. Either a factory Special or a post-factory Custom. Take off the barrels and look at the frame bar (water table) and let us know if there’s an upper case alphabet letter stamped there. Also, once the barrels are off see if there’s a proof mark stamped in the underside of the breeches. Something like a small oval with upper case letters “SP” inside the oval. Pics of the frame bar and underside of the breeches would be good.

frank

[Researcher]

Sure looks like a custom upgrade of a very late Savage-era gun to me. Might well have been made from parts that were never completed at Savage. Looks to me like a bit better workmanship than Savage was doing at the end of production, in the 1940s.

[Sblack86]

I’m not sure how to properly remove the barrels on this gun. I see a flat head screw underneath the barrels when the breach is open. I’m assuming I remove this screw? I was able to see the letter A stamped to the left of the serial number on the bottom of the barrels and also there is a stamp saying “Custom Engraving by George J Beatty, East something (it’s hard to make out with the barrels on)

[Don Ay]

If you close the gun then see the latch in the forearm in the very first picture you posted ? put your finger in the round hole and lift the latch and the fore arm will be loosened and can come off. Then open the gun again and the barrels will lift off. To reassemble just do it in reverse order barrels on receiver then forearm back on.

[Foxnut]

Sblack86,
You have a post factory custom project. From what you shared with us the gun left the factory as an A grade and was custom engraved by the individual you have mentioned. Very nice gun....thanks for sharing with us! Brett

[Sblack86]

Thanks for the instruction Don, that was a piece of cake. I know see there is an oval with SP written inside of it on the bottom of the barrels. Also I can now read it says “Custom Engraving by George J Beattie East Greenwich R. P.”

[Researcher]

I think that is R.I.

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/ ... =160781293

[Sblack86]

You’re right, it is RI. I found the guys obituary stating he was a master engraver. Looks like you found it before me, thanks for the help!

[44whiskey]

what a beauty what ga is it true work of art thank you for posting

[Silvers]

what a beauty what ga is it true work of art thank you for posting

Any A H Fox with a s/n < 50,000 is a 12-gauge Graded gun. frank

[eightbore]

Looks like the engraver may have sent the gun off to Savage to finish up the receiver and odd parts.

[44whiskey]

thank you for that info on s/n Frank. learned something today . all the best 44whiskey

[Maggiemollie]

Looks really nice.