After several years waiting a Fox AE 20 Ga, popped up in the local market. I bought it with a quail gun project in mind. Its stock and fore-end are not original and the 26" N3 barrels were reblued at least once. The barrel ribs need resoldering. Bores at 0.620, chokes Skeet/IM, wall thickness 50 thou at 9" and 35 thou beyond 15".. Barrels not pitted but need polishing. The action had lost 90% of its color case, its engraving is in 95% condition. Some screws are not original. The gun in on face and fires/ejects OK. It was made in the mid 1920s to the best of my knowledge.

A decision was adopted to refurnish it locally, sending it abroad, would mean spending as much as twice its resale value. A local gunshmith and stockmaker familiar with Fox guns were selected (they have repaired/refurbished at least three foxes recently). Gunsmith and stockmaker work under the same roof in Santiago. The tasks are:
1. Two small barrels dents will be levelled out with lead plugs and then reblued with ten baths, no previous carding needed. Barrel bores: hone-polishing made on demand.
2. The action will be stripped, cleaned and oiled. Since there is no reliable case hardening in town, French gray color seems a feasible option. Breech face and watertable to be polished. Screws will be obtained from a Fox A broken action own by the workshop. Engraving to be retouched in very few places.
3. Stock and Forend: custom made to my gun-fitting dimensions using locally grown Juglans Regia class XX or XXX provided by owner. Stock will be hollowed to get proper balance and will have a half grip in accordance to the trigger guard length/curve. Forend style as a standard Fox AE. Checkering at 24 lines per in., unless advised otherwise. Finish: London Oil. Several DGJ articles and the Hugess books be will used as reference for style and wood quality.

Refurbishment cost:
1. US$200; 2. US$150; 3.US$450+100. Total: US$900

My request: professional advise and directions are most welcomed. Some changes are likely to be considered as selecting a straigt grip if a proper trigger guard is obtainable or alternatives to French Gray on the action and so forth. Pictures will be provided as it progess.

Thanks in advance.

Last edited by ejsxs; 03/29/11 01:04 PM.