Fox Collectors

LB, you answered my questions/concerns about the gun without me even asking. Sometimes pics tell several stories. Nothing like holding the gun in your own hands.
My TG comment was in jest for others... forgive me.
Thanks for posting the additional photos, what a wonderful find.

R.R.
I've searched all over the engraving with magnification to possibly find the engraver's initials. It's a shame they didn't somehow mark thier work. Thanks for the info. regarding it possibly being Glahn. Do you know if he did work for LC Smith? I Wish thier was more information available on these PAC guns .
Jared V.

Thanks for sharing all the great pics of this wonderful gun. Could I impose for one more? Of the butt plate?

Butt plate and a better picture of the stock figure:
1
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn10 ... G_0667.jpg
2
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn10 ... G_0666.jpg

Seriously, I have no idea who engraved your gun. But the short answer is, yes, some of the Glahns were active for L.C. Smith. I thank you for looking for a name. I've stared at it over and over and have changed my mind several times. Spangler may be a strong choice. I've seen little to no speculation regarding early Fox engravers, don't know why.
So many of these early engravers (1880-1915) bounced around from company to company. Often, they weren't employees of the gunshop, so there is little info in company records. Some engraved complete guns, other times, just the 'difficult' parts, sometimes just the high grades. How many unknown apprentices could there have been? I think that some of these 'unknowns' make it difficult to tell who was engraving, where, and what particular time. The area contained between Fulton, Syracuse, Ilion, Ithaca, and Batavia shared many skilled gunmakers and engravers. The Glahns, Spanglers, Loy, Laytham, Masons, Runge, Arthur, Delunsch, Kornbrath, all did work for several companies including Syracuse Arms, Lefever, Remington, Smith, Ithaca, Baker and many others.
Little has been written on the subject and some particular guns are proof of some fallacies in current written sources. I just can't afford all of the guns needed to prove my theories, often just pictures. Once again, thanks for sharing your pics.
Some day I'll be able to head up to the area to hopefully put some of the story together. For now, I'm just burning my vacation time chasing birds, over dogs, with old doubles.....with a trout or two between.

Rick,
You are a wealth of knowledge. A book on the subject sounds like a good idea in your future. I'm sure the guns would be made available to you for your research if you would request information & pictures on the forums.

Jared, thanks for the compliment, but most of what I say has already been written. Some right, some wrong. Just accumulated a bit from others that are kind enough to share with words or pictures. Sharing your gun with us is part of the whole puzzle. If there wasn't something new to learn everyday.... maybe I'd be golfing. Many of the members here know much more than I will ever know about Fox's guns, my focus is a bit more diverse, but I always have room for the 'finest'.
I was only hoping for an article or two in the future, can't imagine finding out enough for a book, nor the time.
Rick

Again, thank you for the pictures. It appears that #348 has a straight butt plate with the wood cut flat at the butt. The reason I asked about the butt plate is that my C-Grade has the wood cut in a curve with a widows peak at the comb. When I got my gun from Herschel, 19 years ago, it had a hidious pad screwed on the butt. Bill Harvey bent to the curve and properly fitted a Silvers pad with the peak.

You are correct, there is no widows peak on the butt plate.
Thank you also for all the fine information regarding other PAC guns you have recorded and your value estimate. It's hard to believe that no more D grades have turned up. I guess its possible they only made a few. Perhaps just 1?

I've just noticed that the Fox administrator has added my Philadelphia Arms D grade to the directory on the home page. I am honored to have it pictured there. If possible, I would be pleased to have my name appear with it.
Regards,
Jared Valeski

Jared: I will put your name on the pictures. Thanks Fox-admin