New Member - Pre Fox

[Strick]

Recently inherited what I believe a Pre Fox? from my father in law. Stamped Philadelphia Arms Co on top rail and FOX on side plate. Interestingly the butt stock shows Parker Brothers. Serial number is 1631. Condition could be better given the rust that’s present on the barrel.

1) is this a Pre Fox? Manufactured in 1906?
2) 16 gauge?
3) first steps for cleaning it? Best way to remove the rust without removing the blueing?
4) what Grade?
5) is Parker Brothers butt stock wrong? Assume so?
6) missing the bead sight?
7) any idea as to value in this condition?

Glad to have found the forum and thanks in advance for any insight.

[Strick]

Another pic

[fox-admin]

You have a Philadelphia Arms gun I believe it's a Grade A the lowest. Check out this link for more info. Value is what you paid for it, the gun in that condition has almost zero collector interest, sorry. Craig
https://www.foxcollectors.com/pre-fox-g ... lphia-arms

[Researcher]

Your gun was likely made in 1905. Philadelphia Arms Co. was in receivership by March 1906. If it is a 16-gauge, it is the first Philadelphia Arms Co. 16-gauge to surface. The two known PAC catalogs only mention 12-gauge. From the 1905 catalogue --

Then again, the 1905 to 1911 A.H. Fox Gun Co. catalogues only mention 12-gauges and we do know of a couple of early Ansley H. Fox guns with 16-gauge barrels on the regular 12-gauge frame.

I suspect that sometime in 1631's 117 years it was restocked and the stocker used a Parker Bros. butt plate.

[Stan Hillis]

As Craig said, the value of your gun is in it's family history, and the fact that it has stayed in the family.

Best way to remove that surface rust is with a Frontier pad. It will not scratch the bluing, as it is made of an alloy that's softer than the steel. Also works great to remove surface rust or leading from the bores, by wrapping a piece of it around a bore brush and chucking the cleaning rod in a hand drill.

Good instructions are also on their site, about how to use it properly.

https://www.big45metalcleaner.com

[eightbore]

A 12 gauge shell will not fit in the chamber? Even with the rust cleaned out?

[67galaxie]

That was quick! Glad ya made your way over! Enjoy!
Keith Sirmans

[Strick]

Borrowed some shotgun shells from my neighbor today and it is a 12 gauge. Thanks to all that has replied this far. I will work on cleaning it up per the recommendation and will enjoy it as a keepsake.

[eightbore]

OK, it's a 12 gauge. A neat gun. Good luck cleaning it up. Frontier pads and oil.

[Brian Dudley]

The Philly arms guns were only made for a couple years. They are interesting in that the guns are a little bit of a mashup between Parker, LC Smith and what ended up becoming the AH Fox gun.
The buttstock on your gun is not original. And of course the rest of it is in poor condition due to neglect. But it very well may be perfectly functional.