Fox Collectors

In my search for a nice A. H. Fox S x S shotgun, I have noticed lots of them for sale with 30 inch barrels. Can someone explain this? Are they popular, or the opposite?
Inquiring minds want to know.

Thanks.

Far and away the most common barrel length for 12-gauge American doubles during the classic period was 30-inch. I don't have specific numbers for A.H. Fox Gun Co.

Looking at The Parker Story the tables of each grade section consistently show 12-gauge 30-inch the most common. Trojan Grade 11,966 of the 33,005 guns made were 30-inch 12-gauges. Next closest was 28-inch 12-gauge coming in with 8220. In the VH-/VHE-Grade 31,227 were 12-gauge 30-inch. The next closest was 28-inch 12-gauge at 13,660. Of the 14,249 Twist barrel PH-/PHE-grade guns made, 8072 were 12-gauge 30-inch. On up to the 79 A1-Specials made of which 35 were 30-inch 12-gauges.

How about numbers on 20 and 16 gauge Foxes with 30" barrels . I'm assuming much less then 12's .
They do command more money for sure .

I have been recording observed Sterlingworths for a bit over 30 years now. Of the 120 16-gauges I've recorded 28 have 26-inch barrels, 81 have 28-inch barrels, 8 have 30-inch barrels and 3 have 32-inch barrels. Of the 104 20-gauges I've recorded 47 have 26-inch barrels, 48 have 28-inch barrels, 7 have 30-inch barrels and 2 have 32-inch barrels.

Thanks for your stats Dave

Yes, thank you very much, Dave.

I went the distance this morning and tabulated the 12-gauge Sterlingworths.

Out of 73 "Pin Guns" 2 with 26-inch, 13 with 28-inch and 58 30-inch.

Out of 237 smooth pin guns, 49 26-inch, 59 28-inch, 104 30-inch and 25 32-inch. Also, twelve Fox-Sterlingworth Wildfowls with 32-inch barrels.

Good work, Dave!

Dave , thank you . One more question , of the Graded guns 16's and 20's , how many 30" barrels of each ?

Researcher wrote:I went the distance this morning and tabulated the 12-gauge Sterlingworths.

Out of 73 "Pin Guns" 2 with 26-inch, 13 with 28-inch and 58 30-inch.

Out of 237 smooth pin guns, 49 26-inch, 59 28-inch, 104 30-inch and 25 32-inch. Also, twelve Fox-Sterlingworth Wildfowls with 32-inch barrels.

New one on me. What is a Smooth Pin Gun?

What is a Smooth Pin Gun?

Any Sterlingworth that is not a "pin gun."

Researcher wrote:

What is a Smooth Pin Gun?

Any Sterlingworth that is not a "pin gun."

I get it, as opposed to a recessed pin gun.

Those 30 inch and longer 20 gauge sterlingworths are scarce! Bobby

bbman3 wrote:Those 30 inch and longer 20 gauge sterlingworths are scarce! Bobby

Don't recall even seeing one at auction or for sale. I have owned at various time 3 different 30" 16 gauges including one 30" ejector Sterly which I still own. Also owned an ejector Pin gun with 30" barrels. Was going to turn that into something really special, but at the last minute sold it off. _

I've got two 32" 16 ga. vintage S X Ss, and one 32" 20 ga., but none are Foxes. The longest barreled Fox small bore I own is 30".