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EDIT: I forgot to mention that this is a 12 gauge. Here are some pics.
Hello,
I've been reading on the forums about a data base for the Philadelphia Arms guns and I would like to offer my gun to the data base. The gun is marked Philadelphia Arms Co. in small letters down the center of the rib,barrels are 28" long. It has A. H. FOX on both sides of the receiver with August 16, 1904 on the flat of the frame and a serial number 56. The number 56 is also on the rear of the trigger guard, the forearm metal and the tower on the barrels that pivot on the frame. There are no cracks and good checkering on both the forearm and the buttstock, although the buttstock has a JOSTAM pad on it. The metal has no bad rust or pits but has a grey overall look to it, most likely a very old reblue that is thinning out. The gun has a solid lockup,I shoot it from time to time, and is very tight with no rattles or nothing loose. I hope this helps with the data base and I am glad to enter it.
Thanks
P.S.
If possible I would like to post some pictures, if I can get some help from my son, I'm not to computer savy.
Looks like your son came through!! Nice old shotgun. That is now the lowest serial number I've recorded. Use to be just a receiver, serial number 59. Looks like your gun's checkering got very worn down over the years, and someone tried, not too successfully to recut it. Perhaps a good stock person could make that right. Also, the top-lever is well right of center, showing quite a bit of wear to the bolting. A bit of tig welding by a good doublegun smith could make that right. These very early A-Grades came with the metal tip in the forearm, just like a VH-Grade Parker Bros. shotgun. By serial number 324, Philadelphia Arms Co. had dropped the metal tip for the forearms of their entry-level grade --
Thank you for sharing your very early Philadelphia Arms gun with us.
First let me say I'm sorry for the double post on the pictures, that little doing was on my part. I really like this old gun. I had never noticed the difference in the checkering before,I just assumed it was the way it was done. I'm glad to hear it has such a standing in your records, it'll get a little better spot in the gun safe. Thank you for letting me share my old gun.
Here is an ad from April 22, 1905, for the A-Grade PAC gun --
Only the first 130 or so PAC guns had A.H. Fox on the sides of the frame. Serial #127 is the highest I've recorded with A.H. Fox on the sides. Serial #152 and above all just have Fox on the sides. Ansley Herman Fox departed Philadelphia Arms Co. in December 1904, and moved a few blocks away and founded the A.H. Fox Gun Co.
Is there any clue why they changed the name on the side of the receiver so early in production? I'd read hear that they produced about 15 guns per day,at #152 thats probably less than two weeks.
A friend of mine owns gun serial number 51... I have seen and handled it in person though its nothing more than a project that he bought in a huge lot of projects and parts from a gunsmith estate. He has the barrel, receiver and internal parts of the receiver but was missing the forearm, trigger guard and a few other parts.
I consider myself pretty lucky to have the gun in its present condition. For it to have survived with all its major parts intact for so many years seems to be a fairly rare deal. When I got it years ago I just liked it for what it was, a nice old Fox double.
Rick
That's exactly what they are, "nice old Fox doubles". An effort at a partial restoration will be well worth it. The most difficult guns to restore are those with wood that has lost its connection with the metal through sanding or disassembly. Your gun does not seem to suffer from that problem.
I'll most likely leave the old gal just the way she is for now. I now know the checkering is not proper and the finish is not factory but it presents well and functions fine . I'm glad I decided to check out this site, I've learned alot,and I will be more apt to check out the double gun rack a little closer at the shops now.
Rick
