"The Best Gun in the World"
 

I don't recall seeing "The Best Gun in the World" on Parker advertising. Not sure when A.H. Fox Co. first started with "The Finest"

Breeder and Sportsman, 12-2-1905

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I was at a friends in Sanford, Connecticut and he showed the cased matching Purdey 12 bores he inherited from his grandfather. They were delightfully lite guns and I did not get to shoot them. At the time they felt awkward compared the the balance of the Parker's I had grown up with. I agree with the poster.

In 1909 Teddy Roosevelt took his AH Fox gun to Africa on his famous safari. It was then he dubbed it "The finest gun in the world."

Harry, many Purdeys were ordered by idiots with a bunch of money, and turned out to be miserable guns. However, my extremely late Purdey Whitworth barrel hammer pigeon gun was not ordered by an idiot and handles like a well ordered Parker. Your friend, Bill Murphy

Bill, as a follow up on those awkward Purdey's, my friend could not shoot them well. He took them to Abercrombie's with his complaint. They told him the guns were too short and added checkered buffalo horn to the stock at a cost of some $800. This was in the early 1980's. I wrote and told him it would be ok just send the guns to me and I would reimburse the $800. I never received the guns. Harry

$80,000 Purdeys are generally wonderful guns, almost as good as a nice #1 frame DH Parker.

A friend of ours had a Wendy's franchise and when he cashed in, he bought a matched pair of Purdey's in 20 and 28 gauge. Beautiful guns, although I am not sure how they shoot. Several of Dad's friends own Purdeys and it seems they are breaking down constantly

Roosevelt's Fox endorsement was apparently "No better gun was ever made."

National Sportsman 1911

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Hunter-Trader-Trapper 1912

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Foxes and Parkers complement each other well.

Mills, after owning and shooting dozens of Parkers and Foxes that I continue to shoot very well, I found, locally, a screaming very late Purdey hammer pigeon gun that I only dreamed of owning. I don't know what point I am making, but all of us should keep searching.

I might get a Purdey if the right one comes along. I am officially not searching for any guns right now, but that could change

Right from the get go in 1905, Ansley was down with "The Finest Gun in the World".

1905 Catalog --

Attachment 76836

The earliest A.H. Fox Gun Co. ad I've found --

Attachment 76837

So how did that quote become â attributed to Roosevelt?

Only in Mike's mind.

That was the story I was told when I got involved with AHFCA!

Mike, did the conversation involve writing a check for life membership?

And your point is?

It's a joke, Mike, a joke.

Maybe it did Bill, maybe it did??!!

Dave, just returned home from Maine and looked it up. I had my quote wrong. TR said “There is no better gun made.” in regards to the gun that AHF made for him. Ansley himself used the “Finest gun in world” tag. He was good at marketing, give him credit for that!

Attachment 77565

Attachment 77566

Hard to argue with Teddy, but the superlative he notes for the Fox was "most beautiful I have ever seen..." As far as quality, "no better" gun was made. That leaves room for the Parker gun to be equal to the Fox, although in Teddy's words maybe not as beautiful. I'll take that as a win-win for the Fox AND Parker gun. Ansley can advertise as he likes.:bigbye:

By the time that TR folder was put out, Ansley was making shock absorbers, at the Fox Pneumatic Shock Absorber Co. and the Godshalks were in control at the A.H. Fox Gun Co.

Do we know the maker of "Miller's 16 gauge" which was so poor?