Custom Fox
 

This almost 4 year project is getting there. This is the Abby gun with engraving added. Metal Work (and everything else) done by Dan Rossiter at Custom Stocks and Steel. Engraving done by Jack Jones in Forest, Va. Metal work my design with lots of input from Dan. I'm only going to post a few of these, because I may do an article on this project in the future.

I'll be taking it to Dan on Monday and we will do start the next phase (case coloring, blueing, assembly test firing etc).

Good lord willing I'll have a chance to take the gun with Abby to a local shooting preserve in January. She will be 13 years old in January.

PS. Every scene on this gun tells a story. Whether its Kansas pheasants or Virginia Grouse and Wood Ducks and of course Maine Woodcock. I can look at every scene and tell you a story of Abby and I being there together. Pretty cool.

PS. Sorry about the quality of the photo's, but my camera is only so good.

http://pic60.picturetrail.com/VOL172.../404578107.jpg

http://pic60.picturetrail.com/VOL172.../404578105.jpg

http://pic60.picturetrail.com/VOL172.../404578106.jpg

http://pic60.picturetrail.com/VOL172.../404578104.jpg

And Abby with her niece Gracie. This picture is the one Jack Jones used to engrave Abby on the bottom. I unfortunately had a computer crash several years ago and lost 100's of pictures of Abby in her prime. I think Jack got the profile pretty good.

http://pic60.picturetrail.com/VOL172.../375907568.jpg


And of course where this started. 12 Gauge Sterlingworth Ejector with 28" barrels made in 1913. By the time this project is completed, the gun will be 100 years old. The blank is English Walnut from California.

http://pic60.picturetrail.com/VOL172.../371016390.jpg

camera? i can't imagine it looking better Tom.

Tom have you thought of French Gray as a metal finish? With CC (which I love) you will lose alot of the detail in the engraving (which is beautiful) Just a thought

Tom , Such a nice project , Beautiful !

Case coloring
 

I believe the plan is to case color and then 95% of the case color is removed with a scotch brite pad. Just enough is left that it lays in the engraved areas and adds color and actually makes them stand out even more then just a normal french gray finish.

At least that's what I've been told. Thanks for the comments. Super dog and she deserves a special honor.

That method results in a very nice effect. However, I prefer to hunt my case colors off.

Here is a photo of a Fox HE I had engraved by Geoffroy Gournet a few years ago...

I remember seeing that engraving
 

XE engraving is cool. The fact that you had him add the ducks on the bottom of the receiver made it the ultimate HE. Would love to see the finished product today.

The ducks are taken from the cover art of the Derrydale Edition of "De Shootin'est Gent'man" but I had GG add the cypresses of Beaver Dam in the background.

Tom:
As an alternative to Scotch Brite for knocking back the colour case, you might consider Simichrome polish. Its very controllable ... but take care at first use. Best try under the tang or some hidden area first.

Best, Kensal