doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com AH Fox A Grade Purchase

A friend of mine has an AH Fox A Grade 12 gauge SxS built in 1928. The gun appears to be in mint condition, however, at the end of the 26" barrel there is bare metal showing which makes me think the barrel may have been cut? I have yet to find a Fox A grade is such great condition. My friend wants to sell me the gun and we have no idea what the gun is worth. I checked on Gunsamerica and A grade foxes seem to fetch between $1K to $4K. If the price is right, I figure this will make a nice addition to my ever growing gun collection. What are you thoughts on adding an AH Fox A grade to a collection. It really is a great gun. I will post pics later tonight.


Ken

They didn't make a lot of 26" 12 bores in 1928, and whether or not it's been cut would have considerable bearing on the price.. I would get a Callahan letter if there's enough time.. MDC

If it's choked M/F and the length of the choke taper is more than 2 1/2" to 3", it's very likely to be original. MD is correct however; the only way to know for sure is with a Callahan letter:
Letters are $30 for Sterlys and $35 for graded guns.
J.T.Callahan
53 Old Quarry Road
Westfield, MA 01085

Good advice! I was told by someone on this forum that fox barrels did not always touch at the muzzle. David

Thanks for the address for Mr. Callahan. I just sent him a letter and check. I will wait and see what info I get back. I will try to post pictures tonight.

Ken

I've a 1927 AE, 28" barrels choked M/F - I couldn't be more thrilled. The A grade is the flagship of the Foxes, and would make a great addition to any collection.
Do make sure the barrels checkout tho!

Ken: have you checked out the Fox Collectors site?
http://www.foxcollectors.com/My%20Forum/phpBB2/index.php

Please correct me if I ere, but I think that the depth of the chokes on this Fox should be closer to 4 inches that 2 or 3.
In my experience, the barrels do not have to touch but most do.
My only consideration would be to try and determine the reason for the barrel cutting. If there was damage to the muzzles, it is possible that the rib may be loose in that area. I would suggest care in disproving this.
The letter will tell all.
Please send me a name and address for my bill for this opinion.
Now my cheek hurts.
Best,
John
Hope that this helps.
Best,
John

John: the following is from a thread last fall in which I sought length of choke constriction measurements from the 16ga Society, PGCA Forum, and here. Hard to determine alot from this limited sampling, but finding choke taper more than 2 1/2 to 3" suggests, but does not confirm, uncut brls.

Researcher and others from the PGCA responded to a request for information:
16g Parker guns made from 1891 to 1927 with chokes from .002 to .040 all demonstrated a choke length of 1 1/2" to 2". Dave M provided some excellent data from the PGCA showing that in full choke 12g. Parkers, the choke was bored with between .007-.010 constriction between 4 and 2 inches with the remainder of the constriction in the last 2 inches. This is similar to what was found in a limited sample of 12g. Lefever, Remington, and Ithaca guns. A single Baker 16 had a 1 1/2" choke.
It appears possible for a 16g Fox gun to have had the brls cut 2" and still have some choke. Fox 16-gauge doubles made in 28', 33', and 37' were found to have chokes about 3 1/2 inches long in the M/F choked barrels BUT a 36' 32-inch barrel A-grade had full chokes of only 2 1/2 inches. A 1937 16ga Sterlingworth choked .004 & .014 had constriction beginning 1 7/8" from Rt muzzle, 2 1/2" from Lt.