Are Baltimore Arms shotguns a “FOX”

[coues]

I looked at a Baltimore Arms shotgun that is marked Fox. Just trying to understand what I looked at. 4,000 serial number range. Lots of case color. Looks good but know nothing about these.

[Researcher]

Without pictures it doesn't exist.

Baltimore Arms Co. guns are a Frank A. Hollenbeck design. Four of Ansley's partners in the Fox Gun Co., Balto, Md., U.S.A. (July 1898 to January 1900) --

formed a new corporation under the laws of the State of West Virginia, during January 1900, to make a gun of Frank Hollenbeck's design. All the Assets of the Fox Gun Co. were transferred to Baltimore Arms Co.

Meanwhile Ansley went on the road as a professional shooter representing Winchester shotgun shells, often shooting under the name LEADER, their top-of-the-line shells. First Ansley was shooting the Winchester shells in a Parker, but by August 1900, the Big W had him shucking a Model 1897, the gun he was using when he went 25 straight in the 1901 GAH and then missed the first bird in the shoot-off.

I've never seen a Baltimore Arms gun with the name "Fox" on it. Except for one gun which is probably a prototype all the Baltimore Arms Co. guns I've observed are in serial numbers 1022 to 7053. The Fox Gun Co. serial numbers I've observed go into the 900s.

[coues]

I will go have a look tomorrow. Also take pictures, possibly I have my information mixed up. It would not be the first time. Also has a Parker Lifter with a single trigger. I’m guessing something that’s not factory.

[Sporrns]

I recently purchased the prototype gun Researcher refers to made by the Baltimore Arms Company with SN "3 . 0" Other than the 1900 patent date and grade stamps on the frame bar and the name, "Baltimore Arms Company" engraved on the floorplate, there are no other markings at all on the gun.

It is a C Grade gun with very nice wood with horn inlays both on the forend tip and the ball grip, Damascus barrels 28 7/8" long with 2 7/8" chambers. Chokes are .006 right bbl. & .022 left bbl. Choke runs to muzzle are 2.75" in the left bbl. and 4.50" right bbl. The barrels do not appear to have been cut; a muzzle keel is clearly observed in the lower rib solder field but discoloration and surface damage in the upper solder field do not allow an accurate call on the presence of a keel there without surface polishing or striking with emory paper, which I am reluctant to do.

I knew next to nothing about these guns but I knew that I wanted a representative sample of the guns made by Ansley H. Fox prior to those bearing his name (e.g., Fox Gun Company and Baltimore Arms Co.). Normally these guns are numbered with the letter grade following SN (e.g. 1141 D), but this particular gun's SN 3 is followed only by a dot or period an a 0 (zero) or a capital O. This peculiar combination gave rise to speculation that this gun is a prototype or possibly a salesman's sample shown to prospective buyers in an attempt to foster investments in the new company A.H. was forming at the time.

I am indebted to Dave (Researcher) Noreen, Daryl Hallquist, and Tom (Marshfellow) Wyraz for their extended knowledge and assistance in helping to authenticate and identify this rare gun. I would be interested in hearing from anyone else who has knowledge of these very early Baltimore Arms Company guns. Thanks in advance, Kevin.

I have attached some selected pictures of the gun in this and a following post to share with all.

[Sporrns]

Here are some more pics of the Baltimore Arms Company gun. Thanks for looking, Kevin.

[Researcher]

A.H. Fox wasn't forming Baltimore Arms Co. He had left and his former partners Burr H. Richards, his son B. Howard Richards Jr., John Prosser Tabb and Joseph B. Pleasants along with J. Lloyd Tabb incorporated Baltimore Arms Co. On the incorporation papers the first four names are typed in with the fifth space left blank, perhaps to see if Ansley was going to play. Apparently, he didn't, and J. Lloyd Tabb, John Prosser Tabb's brother, was written in. The Tabb brothers were wholesale hardware merchants in Baltimore. Ansley was neither an officer nor director of Baltimore Arms Co. During most of Baltimore Arms Co.'s life Ansley was a professional shooter for Winchester. Ansley and Fentress moved to Philadelphia sometime after the July 1, 1900, death of their young son --

In November 1902, Ansley incorporated his next company, Philadelphia Arms Co. The closest Ansley came to Baltimore Arms Co. was buying a bunch of the machinery and fixtures at the Baltimore Arms Co. receiver's sale in late 1904. Equipment I suspect he used to set up A.H. Fox Gun Co in the spring of 1905.

[Sporrns]

Coues, were you able to look at and get pics of the gun you described in your OP? Thanks, Kevin

[coues]

Here are a few pictures. No Fox markings.sorry for the false alarm.

[Researcher]

Looks like an above average Grade B.

[Stan Hillis]

Looks like an above average Grade B.

Indeed.

[Sporrns]

Coues, thanks for taking the time to go back and get pics of the gun and for posting them. Looks like a nice original gun in fairly good shape. Don't get to see too many of these. Kevin

[Researcher]

Yes, thanks for getting the pictures. Did you get the serial number and barrel length? I'd like to add this Grade B to my list of observed Baltimore Arms Co. guns.

[44whiskey]

the young sons death cert states attending Dr was named Addison C Fox. was he relation?

[Researcher]

Addison C. Fox was Ansley's father. His mother was Louisa Ansley, daughter of Jesse Ansley a planter near Augusta, Georgia, who was the Ansley of the Rigdon & Ansley Confederate knock-off of the Colt Navy.

[44whiskey]

thanks again researcher.44whiskey