In the 1960s and flush with some disposable income for the first time, I sent a pair of early A grade Fox guns to Savage for upgrading to Fox D grade wood, extra barrels, and metal refinishing. They were beautiful, but a few years later, they had gone the way many of my doubles have gone.
As I reflect on this pair - a 16 and a 12 - the wood was almost overpowering. Roe Clark had done his best in its selection and fitting. I don't think I'd do it the same way again. Today, and with a field grade L.C. Smith, for instance, I think I'd be inclined to specify a little bit better grade wood, but leave the checkering in the field grade configuration and let it go at that.
I don't think there's any real right or wrong answer here, but now I wouldn't want to get too far out of wack with how the gun was originally constructed. Might fudge a bit on wood quality, as you've seen, but thats it.
I think I saw those guns in NE at a gun show back in the late 80s or early 90s. They were on a table with a bunch of junk, parts, pistol magazines, etc. They were the only "good guns" this dealer had, I believe he had a factory letter about the upgrades. I was more impressed by the guns - very nice - than the dealer. I felt like asking him if he won them in a game of chance or something...but silence ruled.
How did they get from CA to New England?
