Fox Collectors

Stan Hillis wrote:

Researcher wrote:How about a 20-gauge SPR-Grade Skeet & Upland Game Gun?

That's a configuration I have little interest in. I never cared for the "flat-sided guns". I'm probably too narrow-minded.

Ditto!

Stan Hillis wrote:

Researcher wrote:How about a 20-gauge SPR-Grade Skeet & Upland Game Gun?

That's a configuration I have little interest in. I never cared for the "flat-sided guns". I'm probably too narrow-minded.

While one might think the SPR-Grade would be a vent ribbed version of the SPE-Grade Skeet & Upland Game Gun, it appears it is a Skeet & Upland Game Gun version of the Trap Grade from 1932-3 --
with the smaller beavertail forearm and a checkered butt. The SPR-Grade Skeet & Upland Game Gun only appeared on the 1936 retail price list --
and was pictured in the 1936 Wholesale - Retail Price List --
Jim Thynne brought a 16-gauge over to our AHFCA table at the Las Vegas Gun Show in I think about 2009. Unfortunately if I did take pictures of it, they are lost on a dead lap top somewhere. The only known picture of the only known SPR-Grade Skeet & Upland Game Gun is at the bottom of page 11 of the Fall 2011 issue of our Newsletter.

A CE 16 with 26" tubes and double triggers would be nice.

Spot on again Researcher. The SPR has the standard bullet point sided frame like conventional Fox guns and is beautifully case colored & engraved like the Trap Grade. No resemblance to a flat sided blued frame of the SP/SPE grade guns. I've handled 3 SPRs, The 16ga you mention in Vegas, a 20ga 2bbl set that went thru Mitzie Bielen's "upgrades" (2nd set of barrels wouldnt lock-up) and was here in Utica for awhile in the 70s and a very rough 20ga that appeared at the Baltimore show maybe 4 yrs ago now.
tjw

Wow, I never knew that. Mixed up again. Thanks once again, Dave, for the educational correction.

One question ........ is it not pictured with a recoil pad in the picture showing it beneath the SBT? I can clearly see that the other pic of it in the 1936 Wholesale-Retail catalog, but the first one looks like it's wearing rubber.

CE or XE 20 gauge with round knob and 28" barrels that fits me and that I don't have to sell both my kidneys to purchase.

The Trap Grade I owned at one time had been furnished with a 6-slot Jostam pad. I had it for sale here at what I thought was a really good price and along with the DGJ article reference to the Grade for those that didn't know just how rare they were, but just had a few tire kickers. Probably some waiting for "let's try this" (increasingly lower price) as seems to be the norm on another collector site. That's something I don't do. Anyway I cancelled out the WTS and then took the Trap Grade to the Southern SxS where the late Steve Barnett took one look at it at + $3K over what I'd asked here and it went right into his trailer never to be seen again. A straight buy deal, no trade. Sometimes our collector contingent gets me to scratch my head.

frank

Stan Hillis wrote:

Researcher wrote:How about a 20-gauge SPR-Grade Skeet & Upland Game Gun?

... I never cared for the "flat-sided guns". ....

Thanks Researcher and Marsh for the clarification on the model. I still concur with this part though .

is it not pictured with a recoil pad in the picture showing it beneath the SBT?

Yes. As the Trap Gun or Trap Grade it had a recoil pad. The Trap Grade first appears in the January 25th, 1932, Wholesale Price List --
and the undated Retail Price List that equates to the January 25th, 1932, Wholesale Price List. The Trap Grade is pictured again in the March 15th, 1933, Wholesale Price List. The only place it appears in 1934 is on the Retail Price List. In the 1935 and 1936 Retail Catalogs the Trap Grade double is listed at the bottom of the single barrel trap gun page but apparently only as a Trap gun --
probably because in 1935 Savage introduced the SP-/SPE-Grade Skeet & Upland Game Gun and the Fox-Sterlingworth Skeet & Upland Game Gun. The Trap Grade doesn't appear in any Wholesale Price List after 1933, but is on the Retail Price Lists through 1936. I haven't found any listings of the Trap Grade after 1936.

I'm still looking for a 16 gauge CE preferably 1/2 or straight grip and a HE 3" Super 12 or 20

A small bore vent ribbed gun or an XE small bore or after seeing Jolly Bill’s HE 20 one of those!!!