Restored Super Fox HE

[Mark Ouellette]

I collect US classic doubles to include a few by Ansley H. Fox. Since Fox never made any 10 gauge guns I acquired the Fox answer to long range fowling. A Fox HE “Super Fox" came available at a good price but it needed a complete restoration. The head of the stock was an oil sponge and there were a few spots on the action that were pitted. Overall though the gun was salvageable.

Brad Bachelder of Grand Rapids Michigan restored this Waterfowling Wonder to the condition fitting a fowl weather veteran of many, many seasons. If only this 1927 Fox could talk!

The “Before" photos:
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/AH%20Fox%20HE%20Super%20Fox/g36634foxHEsuperfox6.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/AH%20Fox%20HE%20Super%20Fox/g36634foxHEsuperfox2.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/AH%20Fox%20HE%20Super%20Fox/g36634foxHEsuperfox3.jpg

The restored Super Fox!
http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/AH%20Fox%20HE%20Super%20Fox/HEFox_Edit_42.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/AH%20Fox%20HE%20Super%20Fox/HEFox_Edit_38.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/AH%20Fox%20HE%20Super%20Fox/HEFox-2Ed_16.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/AH%20Fox%20HE%20Super%20Fox/HEFox-2Ed_12.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/AH%20Fox%20HE%20Super%20Fox/HEFox_Edit_43.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/AH%20Fox%20HE%20Super%20Fox/HEFox_Edit_50.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/AH%20Fox%20HE%20Super%20Fox/HEFox_Edit_51.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/AH%20Fox%20HE%20Super%20Fox/HEFox_Edit_28.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/AH%20Fox%20HE%20Super%20Fox/HEFox_Edit_22.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/AH%20Fox%20HE%20Super%20Fox/HEFox_Edit_30.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/AH%20Fox%20HE%20Super%20Fox/HEFox_Edit_21.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/AH%20Fox%20HE%20Super%20Fox/HEFox_Edit_11.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/AH%20Fox%20HE%20Super%20Fox/HEFox-2Ed_11.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/AH%20Fox%20HE%20Super%20Fox/HEFox_Edit_33.jpg

http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p307/Chesador/AH%20Fox%20HE%20Super%20Fox/HEFox_Edit_02.jpg

[charlie cleveland]

make a fine turkey gun from what i see...thanks for saving and showing us....enjoy and shoot it a lot.... charlie

[Mark Ouellette]

I was asked a few questions via private messages that I think they are worth sharing.

I was also asked if Bachelder outsources the case hardening/coloring?

Bachelder case hardens in house. He does it by batch of like guns from the same period. I know that he mixes the ingredients special for each gun and period. I just sent him a EH Parker after learning that he has a batch (about a dozen) of early Parker hammerless actions going to be case hardened in the near future.

I was asked if Bachelder restocked this Super Fox?

Bachelder restored the original wood by first using a heated acid solution to pull the oil from the stock. After that he was able to restore the original wood. Previously Brad did the same for an LC Smith 10 Gauge Grade 2 with chain Damascus barrels.

Finally, I was asked about price and schedule?

I think the price Brad Bachelder charged me for this restoration was very reasonable. The time required was also reasonable. Since I do not represent Brad please ask him about price and schedule. I think you will find him to be surprising reasonable for both.

Most respectfully,
Mark

[Pete Lester]

Nice gun Mark!

Nice work Brad!

[Dean Romig]

Please tell me how a "heated acid solution" wouldn't act on the wood fibres possibly even weakening them?

[Mark Ouellette]

Dean,

I do not know the chemistry behind how heated acid draws oil from a stock but it does. So does unheated acetone and whiting compond. They just do not draw out as much oil.

Heat and steam are used to cause the bonds between wood fibers to soften allowing them to realign under pressure. The bonds are reformed when they cool. This is how one, including me, can bend a 100 year old gun stock without breaking it.

When I consider the above, plus that certain acids may destroy metal but not wood, I am happy to accept under the correct conditions, Brad is able to use heated acid to draw oil from a stock. Unlike bending a stock, this is something that I will not try at home :)

Mark

[Jeff Kuss]

Dean,
If you looked at my 6 frame 10 at Easton last fall, it had the same treatment.
Jeff

[Dean Romig]

Well, okay then - I guess if you guys say so...

I wonder what kind of acid and level of dilution (molar) ?

[John Dallas]

Wonder what you have to avoid leaving a residual amount of acid in the stock and ending up with a problem similar to the Browning "Salt Wood" problem?

[Kurt Densmore]

Fantastic !!

Looks like a great candidate to ride up front with me in the scull boat next fall. I won't forget my earplugs this time....

Kurt

[Bill Murphy]

Jeff, tell us about your #6 frame ten. I missed seeing it at Easton. Was it in the fishtail display?

[Jeff Kuss]

Bill,
It was on Jim Hall's table much of the show. It is 97430. It is a gh with 34" damascus barrels. The gun weights 11 lb 15 oz. I bought it out of Tenn. at the Louisville show last year. Unfortunately there are no records on the gun, so we don't know where it was originally sent. My 8 ga needed a friend!

[Jeff Kuss]

Brad refinished the barrels and the wood.

[Jeff Kuss]

It's ready for another 100 yrs.

[Mark Ouellette]

Jeff,

I hope you will participate in the Lapeer Michigan SxS shoot on 16 April. if you do please bring this 34" for show and tell :)

Mark

[Jeff Kuss]

Mark,
While I would love to attend, I would expect to be bouncing around on a tractor that weekend. That is too close to planting season to get away. I shouldn't be heading for Colorado next weekend, but the snow is too good out there to pass it up.
Jeff

[Mark Ouellette]

Jeff,

We will miss your 8 Gauge Parker. Oops! I mean we will miss you! :)

Did I mention our new Pigeon Ring thanks to Paul P.H. Forge Harm?

Please come to the July Lapeer SxS Shoot if you have time.

Mark

[CraigThompson]

Very nice !

I always wanted a "HE" but I never had the funds when ever I ran across any for sale !

[CraigThompson]

Bill,
My 8 ga needed a friend!

While I am certainly a 10 gauge enthusiast I would really like to see the 8 gauge Parker you made mention of !

[Destry L. Hoffard]

I'd wanted an HE since I was a kid in high school and just finally bought one this past summer. We'll have to get them out together one day this coming season Mark.

Destry

[Mark Ouellette]

Destry,

Yup, we'll put up the Parkers and unleash the Foxes!

Mark