AH Fox A grade x 32 Inch

[Larry Stauch]

I was lucky enough to run across this A grade with 32 inch barrels.
It appears to be all original. Nice shooting old gun.
I almost forgot the most unusual feature on this gun; the left tube is a #2 and the right tube is a #3 weight!
See the photo.

[Daryl Corona]

Nice Larry. Can you see the barrel weight stamps on the barrels?

[Larry Stauch]

I almost forgot the most unusual feature on this gun; the left tube is a #2 and the right tube is a #3 weight!
See the photo.

[Patrick Lien]

Larry,
Why are those weights unusual? The only thing I know about fox guns is you can sell them to fox nuts and buy more Parker’s. So I am hoping to learn something with my question.

Patrick

[Bill Murphy]

Patrick, most Fox guns, if marked, are the same on both sides.

[Frank Srebro]

For a given barrel length there's typically about a 4 ounce difference in struck weight (mass) between a set of 2 and 3 wt. barrels in 12-gauge It's possible the 2 stamped tube on this Fox was heavily struck to make it closer to 3 wt. profile/mass. Or the barrel assembler wasn't paying attention, etc.

[tom leshinsky]

to me it looks like the 2s were reversed when stamped

[Steve Cambria]

I concur with "CHE." Me thinks that gun was stamped the morning after the AHFGC annual Christmas party blowout at Buffalo Wild Wings!!

BTW,nice, honest Fox!

[Brian Dudley]

Maybe it was the day after the forst Wing Bowl in Philly.

[Tom Kidd]

CHE's thoughts got my interest peaked, so I have been playing with the photo. If one blows up the number stamps(the photo has enough resolution) and plays with the photo via a Photoshop type program they will see that it is indeed a '2' and a '3' stamp. I have been fooling with these Fox Guns for quite some time and don't believe I have ever have never seen/handled a set of bbls with two different weight stamps?? And that is exactly what this 32" A Grade has! Just an aside; Fox did build a fair number of #4 weight 32" bbl'ed guns. Remember they were designed by and built by shooters, not business men, and that has resulted in subtle differences! One thing I have learned the hard way is; never say never, or someone will surely present proof that will result in yet another of life's Ahhhhh Shit Moments.

Remember these smoke-poles were, for the most part, hand built and unfortunately people make mistakes, at least I do. I stand in awe of the people who profess to rarely making mistakes. My life time average must be somewhere around 1 per hour, luckily most are minor ones. Maybe they are a bit senile, forgetful, or just a bit reckless with the truth??

No argument as to the build quality of Parker vs Fox Guns, and I do spend a LOT of time shooting one of my Parker 28s and my Parker double trap gun. But, I would like to put a short coupled, well balanced 'lively' Fox Gun in the nay say'ers hands for a day out in the covers. No, I am not senile(at least not yet) and am not offering to ship any Fox Guns anywhere; I am just saying!(although I did leave a rather famous Becker out with a friend in the Mississippi Flyway for most of last year) Catch me out shooting sometime and anyone is welcome to give the comparison a try.


All the Best during the New Year, Regards, Tom (Now to hide from the flack!)

[Daryl Corona]

No flack from here Tom. I'll admit I was a Parker snob for many years and still love the guns from Meriden but the 20 gauge Foxes as well as many of the 12's I have are in a class by themselves. From my 32/12 B PAC gun to my all time favorite my 30" 20 SW they are in a class all by themselves as far as handling. I just wish I had jumped on the Fox train much earlier.

[Mark Beasland]

It would be interesting to compare the barrel wall thickness of the tubes.

[Larry Stauch]

It would be interesting to compare the barrel wall thickness of the tubes.

I have thought of that, but unfortunately I do not have the equipment to do it.