doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com A new Fox in the henhouse

I went to Tulsa two weeks ago intent on finding an A (or possibly B) grade Fox double. Ideally I wanted a 30" barrel gun with as little stock drop as I could find. I spent all day Saturday searching for likely candidates. I found a few. Most were beyond my price range. The few I found within my budget all seemed to have issues. And then there was the stock drop question.

In the end, I settled for a gun that I wasn't sure I wanted. I guess I just was determined to come away with something for my efforts. Probably not a good decision, but it is what it is.

The gun I bought is a 1911 A grade (early engraving). It has a replacement stock. The good news is the stock has modern dimensions with only 2-1/2 inches of drop at heel. The bad news is that it has a cheek piece. I was pretty sure I didn't like that but I told myself that I don't mind the cheekpieces on the several German/Belgian guns I own. The stock is THICK, but nicely fitted. It has a checkered butt and some sort of white cap on the pistol grip. The more I look at it the more I think it's actually ivory.

Barrels are 28 inches and choked mod/full by gauge. I shot two rounds of skeet with it last night and it pulverized targets I hit. On the pattern board, the left barrel is super tight. Both barrels shoot a bit left. I wonder if this is a result of the cheekpiece. The gun included an extra set of Fox barrels that sort of fit the gun (takes a bit of effort to snap it closed).

Bluing appears original on the barrels (lettering/stampings are sharp). The receiver has been refinished and the engraving is faint on the receiver. Gun is tight, numbers match, bores are good, though not perfect.

Anyway, it is what it is. I was determined to buy a gun and I did. I'll probably have the barrels opened some after shooting it a bit more. Or, I'll move it on down the road after I find a more original A Fox that fits me.

Maybe somebody here recognizes this gun or knows something of its history. My sense from talking to the seller is that it has changed hands a few times . . .

That's a beauty!!! You did well.

Enjoy, enjoy
Shoot her LOTS
Mike

I like it. Bobby

Except for that grip cap, easily replaced, that looks like a superb restocking job, with classy checkering too. It obviously fits you and your shooting style. What's not to like?

I'm getting used to the white cap.

Beautiful gun!

How is the Tulsa show these days? I heard it was epic back in the 90's, but I haven't heard much about it since. Still take 7 hrs just to walk through?

I've only been twice, both times in the past couple of years, so I can't compare it to how it used to be. It's pretty incredible, though. It's definitely an all-day, if not two day, thing.

If the butt cap is Ivory - you'll see small rings/veins in it.

If it's Delrin, a plastic material which came out in the 1950's and is used on Swiss Army Knives...advertised as a substitute for Ivory, it will melt at around 200 degrees and has no veins. (don't try boiling your Swiss Arm Knives to clean them....they will be handleless in no time). (and if the cap is Delrin, don't hold a cigarette lighter up to it).

There is a substance called "Alternative Ivory" which came out in the 1990's that looks so much like real ivory that knife makers such as Randall, specifically identify it so as not to fool their buyers.

Randall Knife with "Alternative Ivory" handle:

Definitely not plastic. I removed the cap and held the tip of a hot soldering iron to the back. Pretty much nothing happened. It does have a structure/grain. The thing that throws me is that it really white . . . hardly any fading or yellowing.