My little A H Fox is on its way

[Brian Hornacek]

About a year ago I cam across this 20 gauge Fox Sterlingworth for sale with no wood. The gun is as solid as a rock sporting 28" barrels and extractors. I called Chris Dawe and asked him if he was interested in a project putting together a custom Fox? He was very interested in taking it on but as always was extremely humble and reserved about the work as he had never done any significant metal reshaping for a custom. My comment to him was "if it doesn't work out just chuck it in Ocean", which is walking distance from his house, and we can salvage a few bucks out of the barrels. Two months ago Chris found the time to get things going and with very little direction from me on what i wanted started removing metal creating the gun you see below. I can tell you this gun will not be found in Seal Cove!

The blank came from Cecil in AZ and will sport a Prince of Whales grip, horn heel and toes clips, horn forearm tip and a silver shield. The measurements we decided on are 14 5/8" 1 1/2" and 2 1/4" with a few degrees of pitch to keep it on my shoulder for the second shot.

I hope you enjoy the photo's as much as have.

[Jim DiSpagno]

Nice Brian. Chris is a true craftsman who does extremely fine work and is way too self critical. He has produced work that rivals the best in the business. Too bad he is north of the border. Thanks for the pics. Jim

[Angel Cruz]

Can't wait to see the finished work.

[Rick Losey]

Brian- i can complement you on your taste

and very high complements to Chris -you north of the border guys are very lucky to have him

can't wait to see the finished project

[Phillip Carr]

Very nice metal work and a knockout piece of wood to complement it. I would love to own that gun. Chris is finishing an upgrade checkering job on my CSMC A-10 Deluxe. Turning out incrdible. Chris is a true artist.

[Brian Dudley]

The metal alterations to the frame are very nice. Nice work on the bolsters. This is an area that does
Not get worked over much on a lot of custom foxes.

[Bill Davis]

Wow--that's going to be a very special shotgun. Please continue to share the journey with us.

[chris dawe]

Thanks for all the kind words guys ,it is no doubt a fun project

[Mike Franzen]

Yes please keep those pics coming. I never get tired of seeing Chris Dawes work.

[chris dawe]

Yes please keep those pics coming. I never get tired of seeing Chris Dawes work.
Very kind of you to say Mike ....I see it every day , but I must say - at about 8:30 each evening i'm pretty tired of looking at it;)

[Bill Kekatos]

Great transformation!
BillK

[Brian Hornacek]

Wood taking shape.

[chris dawe]

still alot to come off ,better pics at the end of the day....its a great project

[Brian Hornacek]

Things are coming along nicely........Mr Dawe has outdone himself!!

Horn heal and toe clips with widows peaks
Custom steel inlay made from a toggle bolt in forearm
Horn spear point inlays on the cheeks
Horn forearm tip with raised contour.

All these things were Dawe's ideas with only nodding yes from me. I will say Chris is equally excited about this custom Fox.

Engraving layout has begun in Quebec City at Lemieux Armuriers

[Phillip Carr]

STUNNING !!! I love those Spear Points, and heel and toes inlays.

[Dean Romig]

That horn inlay and heel and toe plates are a very nice touch!

oh, and the forend tip too.




.

[Brian Dudley]

Looking good Brian! Some of the features are very Lefever-esque. Elegant.

[John Mazza]

Amazing !!!!

[Frank Cronin]

Looking good Brian! Some of the features are very Lefever-esque. Elegant.

I agree Brian. I thought the same thing as well when I first saw the pictures.

Very nice project. Looking forward to seeing when it is all complete.

[Brian Hornacek]

A quick update, coming right along.

[Brian Dudley]

That trigger plate is exceptional!

[Eric Estes]

Wow, those folks at Lemieux Armuriers really know what they doing. Beautiful.

[Dave Noreen]

Wow!! Looks like something Ansley wished he could have been building.

[Tom Wyraz]

Absolutely top of the top shelf. Stunning, both metal & wood. Congrats.
tjw

[Brian Hornacek]

Woodcock and lightening bolt are done

[Jim DiSpagno]

Gorgeous Brian. Can't wait to see the completed project.

[Dean Romig]

Very nice engraving but I'm really impressed with the sculpting of the bolsters and other areas of the frame.

Was that done by the gent in Calgary?





.

[Brian Hornacek]

Very nice engraving but I'm really impressed with the sculpting of the bolsters and other areas of the frame.

Was that done by the gent in Calgary?
.
No the guy in Calgary is good with scroll but has very little experience with animals and animal anatomy. This engraving was done in Quebec City. http://www.lemieuxarmuriers.com. They studied in Liege Belgium at the gun makers school.

The majority of the metal shaping was done in Newfoundland, that was mentioned in the start of this.

I am very happy with the progress.

[Brian Hornacek]

More detail was added to "liven up" the Woodcock and my California Quail has taken flight! I like the dime to give you an idea of size.

Have a great night everyone.

[Jim DiSpagno]

OUTSTANDING��

[Dean Romig]

That's no dime.... that's a six cent piece. :rolleyes:


Beautiful Bulino engraving and wonderful scroll too.

Actually I guess it's not really Bulino (the quail) but it is as nice!





.

[Brian Hornacek]

ha ha ha, yes about 7.6 cents US today Dean

[Brian Hornacek]

Needless to say I am quite happy with the progress.

For those of you that have not messed with engraving, just pick out a picture! Realism comes from reality!

Have a wonderful evening everyone!

[Brian Dudley]

I really like how that bottom scene melds right into the surrounding scroll work instead of being segregated from it.

[Eric Eis]

That floorplate is beautiful and I agree with Brian on the engraving. Now are you going to case color the receiver or do a French gray? I think you are going to lose a lot of detail if you case color it or maybe you could case color it and the rub down the colors so the detail isn't lost. Just wondering............ But the main thing is it is one wonderful gun !

[Brian Hornacek]

Since the gun was annealed it will be hardened and then any color will be taken off with french gray being the end result.

[Dean Romig]

Good choice Brian. That engraving is wonderful!





.

[Brian Hornacek]

It has been a fun project, hard to believe this started out as a 20 ga Sterlingworth in a box for $225. I think its good for those interested in a project like this to understand that the Parker and Fox gun platforms are fantastic starts for a custom guns. Sterlingworth's, VHE's and even the DHE 157766 I listed yesterday bought very reasonably are the best start to build what you want. DON'T START WITH JUNK, junk yields junk. Collecting original guns is wonderful but to get into the really good stuff you will be north of $8000 with the sky being the limit, also you may be afraid to shoot it. You can also go to CSMC and pay $15,000 with the sky being the limit. Depending on your taste a 1st class custom can be done with a $10000 budget, the stock dimensions you want, the chokes you want, your design and shooting a new classic that will be something generations of your family will be proud of! Custom guns do not typically yield profit though, you are building this gun for you and make sure it is something you will enjoy and shoot!!

My next project, a 16 ga 32" VH 1 frame with excellent metal, not in the record book and the wood is a mess. A perfect start to a great gun.

[chris dawe]

Truer words could never be spoken in regards to donor guns for projects ...I've literally torn my hair out making junk work ,in the end I will always know its there it haunts me under all the lipstick ......like that late night rendezvous,just as the bar was closing ,you say what the hell no one will know .....then shes finds your phone number :knowbetter:

[Brian Dudley]

Yes Brian, a great custom gun can be built for $10,000 - $12,000. And figure about half of that budget being eaten up by engraving.
The most important thing is having a sound donor gun or more so, sound barrels. And that can usually be had for under $1,000 depending on what it is.

[Brian Hornacek]

Here is the finished product of the Fox custom. Weight is 6lbs 2.5oz.

[Bill Davis]

Spectacular! Thanks for sharing.

[Kirk Potter]

Wow, beautiful gun.

[Dean Romig]

One word comes to mind Brian: Masterpiece.

Each artist displays the apex of his talents in that gun. And I couldn't help but notice the tiny 'talons' cut into the triggers' blades. No stone was left unturned in that project.

Wait a minute... did I say that about a Fox? :shock:






.

[Jim DiSpagno]

Double WOW Brian. Nothing left to say.

[Brian Hornacek]

It was a fun project for me with not too many bumps in the road. Next up is a 32" 16 gauge VH 1 frame. It is not in the book and lost its originality years ago through poor ownership. I am looking forward to its transformation.One word comes to mind Brian: Masterpiece.

Each artist displays the apex of his talents in that gun. And I couldn't help but notice the tiny 'talons' cut into the triggers' blades. No stone was left unturned in that project.

Wait a minute... did I say that about a Fox? :shock:






.

[Steve Cambria]

[QUOTE=Dean Romig;216542]

Wait a minute... did I say that about a Fox? :shock:

Haaaaaaa, we all knew it would only be a matter of time. No worries Dean-O, umteen pillars of Parkerdom have crumbled long before you! I gather fondling that Super Fox was like rubbing your hands on the genie's lamp??? :whistle::bowdown:

54103
54104

[Dean Romig]

Hey Stevie.... Can you imagine if that HE had been my very first Fox???

You would never hear the end of it

Heck, with THAT much choke it could even be a contender for the Bo-Whoop trophy... :whistle::corn::shock:


.



.

[Rick Losey]

Hey Stevie.... Can you imagine if that HE had been my very first Fox???

You would never hear the end of it

Heck, with THAT much choke it could even be a contender for the Bo-Whoop trophy... :whistle::corn::shock:

.


And Gracie would need to learn to retrieve ducks

[Dean Romig]

She was retrieving sticks I threw into the Shawsheen River today. She likes the water just fine. ;)





.

[Rick Losey]

I have never had a setter that liked to swim

A couple would jump into water on a hot day but it was in and out