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-   -   American Arms Boston side swinger (https://parkerguns.org/forums/showthread.php?t=29163)

Milton C Starr 01-23-2020 06:18 PM

American Arms Boston side swinger
 
Ive been seeing quite a few of these for sale but have never seen anyone talk about them . Seems they had a graded system as well , didnt see any information come up when I googled them .

Is anyone here familiar with them ?
I like reading about the less known American sxs makers .

Looks like it would awkward to carry in the field since you cant break it open and carry it over your arm like a tradition sxs .

Brian Dudley 01-23-2020 07:08 PM

Sure you can, the gun just has to be sideways.

Milton C Starr 01-23-2020 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Dudley (Post 291435)
Sure you can, the gun just has to be sideways.

Doesnt sound as comfy as carrying a regular sxs .

Im guessing theres not much of a collectors market for these .

Brian Dudley 01-23-2020 07:12 PM

They are more of a curiosity and something that collectors would want who are interested in the different american makers at the time of early breechloading development.

Dean Romig 01-23-2020 07:23 PM

Are there pictures we can see somewhere?





.

Rick Losey 01-23-2020 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean Romig (Post 291438)
Are there pictures we can see somewhere?

.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/842990576

or

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/844981635

there are a couple more as well

https://p1.gunbroker.com/pics/844980...x213447856.jpg

Dave Noreen 01-23-2020 09:57 PM

There was a good article on George H. Fox's American Arms Co. in The American Rifleman, April 1970. There was an article on some of the George H. Fox side-swing hammer doubles by William Furnish and James A. Nelson in the Winter 1994, The Double Gun Journal. I have a reproduction American Arms Co. catalog, offered years ago by Dr. William Paul Smith's PRP Americana, from I believe the late 1870s. It calls the gun the Model of 1877. It shows the gun made in 12- and 10-gauge in 11 grades from $50 to $300. Their 12-gauges were said to be chambered for 2 5/8 inch shells, and their 10-gauges for 2 3/4 inch shells. They also offered heavy 12-gauges built on the 10-gauge frame, chambered for 3-inch shells.

Milton C Starr 01-24-2020 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Noreen (Post 291450)
There was a good article on George H. Fox's American Arms Co. in The American Rifleman, April 1970. There was an article on some of the George H. Fox side-swing hammer doubles by William Furnish and James A. Nelson in the Winter 1994, The Double Gun Journal. I have a reproduction American Arms Co. catalog, offered years ago by Dr. William Paul Smith's PRP Americana, from I believe the late 1870s. It calls the gun the Model of 1877. It shows the gun made in 12- and 10-gauge in 11 grades from $50 to $300. Their 12-gauges were said to be chambered for 2 5/8 inch shells, and their 10-gauges for 2 3/4 inch shells. They also offered heavy 12-gauges built on the 10-gauge frame, chambered for 3-inch shells.

Thanks I didnt see much information about them besides the company going through 3 restructures . The highest one I was the the 9 grade on gb . They have been sitting there for a few years , thought they were interesting and never seen them mentioned .

Drew Hause 01-24-2020 07:21 AM

No idea where I found these; it appears that the prices had fallen compared to Dave's catalog

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../414372254.jpg

http://pic20.picturetrail.com:80/VOL.../414372253.jpg

Dave Noreen 01-24-2020 10:56 AM

3 Attachment(s)
Slightly different price list in the catalog I have a copy of --

Attachment 79966

Attachment 79967

Attachment 79968

Dave Noreen 01-24-2020 11:12 AM

3 Attachment(s)
In addition to the George H. Fox side-swing double, American Arms Co. made "Saturday night specials", side cocker single barrel and double barrel shotguns and finally a Whitmore designed hammerless double.

Attachment 79969

Attachment 79970

Attachment 79971

Copper rivet probably not factory!!

Milton C Starr 01-24-2020 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Noreen (Post 291477)
Slightly different price list in the catalog I have a copy of --

Attachment 79966

Attachment 79967

Attachment 79968

Ah so that explains what that 9 grade is that he is selling , I would like to see a 11 grade just out of curiosity . Though for the price you can get a nice Parker for 6k .

I do enjoy seeing these old catalogs of the various lesser known American makers that was around that time period .

Dave Noreen 01-24-2020 07:38 PM

2 Attachment(s)
In 1893 there was a possibility of the company moving to Milwaukee, Wis.

Attachment 79999

but it apparently never happened. All through the 1890s American Arms Co. was moving to Bluffton, Alabama.

Attachment 80000

They had property and a building there, but much of the machinery and parts inventory was still in Boston when George H. Fox died in 1901. Most of it was sold to Marlin by November 1901. Some entity continued to pay the taxes on the Bluffton, Alabama, property until 1915.

Milton C Starr 01-24-2020 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave Noreen (Post 291526)
In 1893 there was a possibility of the company moving to Milwaukee, Wis.

Attachment 79999

but it apparently never happened. All through the 1890s American Arms Co. was moving to Bluffton, Alabama.

Attachment 80000

They had property and a building there, but much of the machinery and parts inventory was still in Boston when George H. Fox died in 1901. Most of it was sold to Marlin by November 1901. Some entity continued to pay the taxes on the Bluffton, Alabama, property until 1915.

Thats pretty interesting , this is probably to best forum to find information on old American doubles thats for sure .

Mike Franzen 01-25-2020 09:38 AM

Those are great looking guns. I’ll bet these are the Fox guns T.R. was referring to when he reportedly stated “the finest shotgun in the world”. :cool:

Rick Losey 01-25-2020 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Franzen (Post 291556)
Those are great looking guns. I’ll bet these are the Fox guns T.R. was referring to when he reportedly stated “the finest shotgun in the world”. :cool:

:rotf:

yeah it's that or his F grade AH Fox :corn:

Dave Noreen 01-25-2020 11:39 AM

3 Attachment(s)
Ansley was using "The Finest Gun in the World" well before he made a gun for T.R.

Attachment 80054

What T.R. actually said was "no better gun was ever made."

Attachment 80055

Attachment 80056


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