Fox Collectors

Just thought I would post my latest fox find. Its amazing what these shotguns have gone thru.

OK; I'm gonna be sick.

Oh my, that is so wrong!

I hope I find one wrapped just like that someday in a little shop somewhere for $150. And, when I get it home and begin to remove the camo tape I find that it is a XE 16 with 32" barrels, completely protected from scratches and fading by the 50 year old tape.

SRH

Please! Is this some kind of Covid-19 joke gone Bad? I hope when the tape comes off it can be freshened up! I hope it's a buried treasure.

Brian

I almost have all the tape off. really sticking to the metal. Will post picture when done, its not looking to bad.
Jim

Whoever it was most likely had no idea that he had a classic in his possession and just thought it was a run of the mill double gun. Such a shame!

James Wark wrote:I almost have all the tape off. really sticking to the metal. Will post picture when done, its not looking to bad.
Jim

Jim, looks like 2nd gen A-Grade engraving. Good deal. You might try Clenzoil to soften the tape residue, let it sit for a few minutes before wiping off. Clenzoil is good for "lock, stock & barrel" and routinely used by many.

frank

I’m anxious to see the finished/unveiled product as well. Like someone said at least it was protected from scratches. I bet that it’s been a fun/interesting project removing all that tape!!

Well here she is. pretty good overall condition. This is the first Fox I have seen with the gauge marked on barrel flats. Nice numbers lightly scratched on barrel to UGH
Thanks for looking
Jim

Awesome story!!! You resurrected that bad boy!!
-Matt

That cleaned up nice!!

From my observations, on 12-gauge guns they began stamping the gauge on the barrel flats about 21000 and the practice seems to have ended by the 24000. On the graded 20-gauges they were still doing it in the 500 range but it was gone by 650. I haven't collected info for the 16-gauges.

Nice work and a nice gun. Looks like that could be a SSN scratched on there.

Nice job, James. I wouldn't worry about that barrel "engraving". On a gun that is not ever going to be restored, or tarted up, things like that add a bit of flavor to what is sometimes an otherwise common gun. My 12 ga., 32" barreled BE was restocked when I bought it, and had been subjected to having Briley S-1 series thin wall choke tubes installed in it (UGH!!). I only bought it because the price was right and I'm such a sucker for long barreled doubles. When it arrived I found that the original owner's name had been crudely engraved on the trigger guard bow. It says "W B Hart 1918". I have become enamored of the gun over the years, and have killed many limits of late season doves with it, and even won my class a couple years ago with it at a major sporting clays shoot. If the doves aren't flying I often look down and pass a finger over that crudely inscribed name and date and my mind wanders .......

SRH

Aw, I kinda liked the camo tape. Seriously, bravo!