What was the purpose of the two holes on the SW lower rib, in front of the flats and cocking latch, please? The space under the rib does not appear to extend beyond the latch hole. The barrels ring lovely after six months in the North Atlantic. More importantly---and this is hard to believe---there is not a blemish in the bores. They're perfect.
From salt to a barrel of fresh water, then immersed methyl hydrate/methanal/mineral spirits, cleaned and oiled. Members here said I could be surprised by condition if the guns were recovered---and I truly am. The orange surface rust was soft. The bluing and case came off with it. The stock swelled at the butt but other than that the Fox is fine. The only way I can account for it is that the gun, cased and cared for, was in very cold water and not exposed to UV.
