Fox? Parker? Combo? What is it?

[James Kuzilik]

GB Auction # 511338968 Fox - Philadelphia Arms A Grade 12ga 28" 3-Digit #

I Don't know much but this gun does not look right, Appears to have Similar to Parker Frame ( No Screws) Parker splinter forend Or latch anyway? Fox Krupp Barrels???

[Daryl Corona]

Yes James, your not seeing things. It's an early Fox that looks exactly like a Parker from a distance. Not many out there as not many were made or survived. Maybe Dave Noreen will chime in with the history of the model. I have a PAC, B grade and many have mistaken it for a Parker.

[Rick Losey]

Philadelphia Arms was a company Ansley Fox was involved in and resigned from prior to starting the A H Fox company

[Brian Dudley]

These guns have intrigued me greatly. So much is like a Parker. Heck, the forend latch looks like it came right out of the Parker parts bin. Even the rib matting and makers mark is the same. No doubt Ansley was trying to build a Parker Lookalike with these.

Macintosh speculated that the frames from the early Sterlingworth pin guns were made from left over rough frames from the philly arms operation. But I do not know about that since the trigger plate shape is completely different. Unless they were using very rough forgings.

[James Kuzilik]

There is nothing in the blue book about this firearm that I could find. No other on GB. How would this gun be appraised. It would surely not be same as early A Grade fox???

[Dean Romig]

Here's one that sold at Julia's Spring Auction.



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[Dean Romig]

There is nothing in the blue book about this firearm that I could find. No other on GB. How would this gun be appraised. It would surely not be same as early A Grade fox???

You can say that again!





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[James Kuzilik]

http://www.foxcollectors.com/ah_fox/content/philadelphia_arms.html
I just read this and I wonder if Ansley did not resign due to the fact they were basically coping Parker Guns???

[Dean Romig]

Tough telling... There was a time when he shot a Parker in competition.





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[Brian Dudley]

I have seen at least 4 of these Phily Arms guns on Gunbroker in the past 3 years or so. They usually do not go for much less than $1,000 and they go up from there. Well, I think that Ed the torch had one that was totally roached out for a lot of money at one time too. They are scarce. But of course condition has a lot to do with it too. I still kick myself for passing on a very nice original one a few years back for what I know now to be a reasonable price.

That one from Julia's is a Beauty! Likely a grade 3 or 4. Not many of those around.

[Dave Noreen]

The Philadelphia Arms Co. Fox was a lot simpler gun then those coming out of Parker Bros. in 1904-06.

The one sold by Julia's recently is the only D-Grade to come to light so far. One of the two known E-Grades is coming up at Cowan's --

http://littlejohns.cowansauctions.com/auctions/item.aspx?id=164535

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/Philadelphia%20Arms%20Co/AdforA-GradeAmericanFieldApril221905.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v316/Ansleyone/Philadelphia%20Arms%20Co/AdshowingC-Grade.jpg

[Brian Dudley]

The similarities to a Parker were only cosmetic. Yes, the Phily Arms guns were simple. And the AH Fox guns as we know them even simpler. They truely are the ultimate in few parts that just plain work.

[Steve Cambria]

43931

[Brian Dudley]

Hey, I can give credit where credit is due. :)