Fox Collectors

Greetings.
I'll ask the question first, then add my comments for the inquiry.
I'm just curious if anyone owns or has seen a 16 bore engraved in the early A or B grade style?
Perhaps I'm just forgetting a gun or two as my full files are still locked up in a faulty computer, but I don't recall seeing one previously. Maybe a B???
I was under the impression that the 20 and 16 were introduced at the same time. It seems odd that early A&B's can be found in 20's occasionally, most often in 12, but why not the 16?
For the fun of it..... was the 10 bore considered obsolete by the time that Fox started making guns?
Thank you for taking the time to reply.

I've got the 33rd ever made 16 gauge A grade with the snap on forearm and it does indeed have the early style engraving. The Callahan letter says the following:

"This past week, I had the opportunity to search the factory serial records and located the original record card for your shotgun bearing s/n 300033. The record card tells us that it was originally made as follows:

Grade- A Grade
Gauge- 16 Gauge
Barrels- 26", choked Imp. Cylinder (R) & Modified (L)
Stock- Walnut, 14 1/8 length of pull, 2 1/2 drop at heel
Weight 5 lb., 10 oz.

Your double was completed at the A. H. Fox, Philadelphia plant and originally shipped on October 1, 1913 and shipped to Goshorn Hardware Co. It apparently was returned to the factory as it was re-sold on November 17, 1913 to Iver Johnson Sporting Goods Co. of Boston, Ma. It is fair to say this is the 33rd, 16 gauge graded shotgun built."

PS. This is one tiny 16 gauge for sure.

Double PS. A couple of pictures taken last fall in Maine:

Shot shell development had probably gotten to the point where, sales wise,it didn't make much sense to add another frame size for the limited sales of the 10 bore when 12 ga. perfomance had been improved by ammunition makers.

I have recorded quite a few A-/AE-Grades in both 16- and 20-gauge with the early style engraving, but B-/BE-Grade smallbores with the early style engraving are very scarce. Tom Kidd showed an early-style BE-Grade 20-gauge, serial number 200164, in The Double Gun Journal, Volume One, Issue 2.

Many, many years ago, when the Richmond, Virginia, gun shows were held at the Arthur Ashe Center, I passed on an early style 16-gauge AE-Grade two-barrel set 300100 with a straight grip because I was looking for a straight grip 16-gauge with the 2nd generation engraving!!! Aaaarrrrgggghhhh!!

Thanks guys,
I guess that I have been in the right place and time for the 20's, just not for the 16's.
Best thing about looking for the unusual is not having to open the wallet as often.
My condolences Dave. You can always find another...right?
Thanks again.

Dave, how did that early 16 two barrel set letter up?

i have a 16 AE with first style engraving and snap on forend. Bobby