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

Tom, I understand your reasoning, but I wouldn't change a thing on that gun. It's as beautiful as Abby is.

Thanks for the kind comments. Here's picture of the barrel wedges I hadn't posted before. Jack has a gift for scroll like few others out there for sure.

http://pic60.picturetrail.com/VOL172.../404809331.jpg

All I can say is DAMN....:)

Tom - the Abby gun looks great with the CC and stockwork. I've drooled over it some over on the Fox web site. Fine looking piece of wood you selected. Great way to pay tribute to a great dog!

Forgot to put the pictures over here as well.
 

Ok. A few pictures. Was supposed to pick up the gun on Monday but there was an issue that needs to be resolved with the barrels. Should have those sent to me in the next week or so. In the meantime here's a picture or two in advance of getting the entire gun together for pictures:

http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL59.../405887125.jpg

http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL59.../405887120.jpg

http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL59.../405887124.jpg

http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL59.../405887123.jpg

http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL59.../405887122.jpg

PS. Took these with a bad camera in bad light. I'll take better pictures when there isn't a bunch of snow outside. PS. We decided to flip the blank in order to get the best possible layout in the wrist. The blank is just about perfect. It is 100% quartersawn and the streaking is very consistent whether one looks from the left or right side.

What a beautiful gun, makes me want to start a project!

Wow had to look at this thread again. SWEET, I called about getting my Fox 16 ejector gun started today. My engraver is Robert Strosin. He will get back to me in January and get started in the spring of 2015 SXS ohio...(-:

Actually exchanged emails with Dan Rossiter on my custom on Friday. It is currently out for case coloring and barrels should be returned this week from opening up the chokes and then rust bluing and twin ivory beads added. Can't wait to get it back for late season grouse hunting. Our season runs until Feb here in Va.

The fox looks great Tom!

Wow. What a beautiful heirloom.

Abby passed in August of this year at the age of 14.5. I miss her each and every day.

Her memory lives on with this special gun created a a tribute to her. Attached a picture I took last week:

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL141.../410338372.jpg

And the gobbler I took last spring with the Abby Gun:

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL141.../409804072.jpg

you are a very fortunate that a dog like ABBY was in your life..i think you have done well with this tribute to her...when you do this articule on her some of her exploits with you would be nice....charlie

I have the same problem with that gun that each of us who has commented here does, it doesn't reside in our gun cabinet. Very nice, has a lot of class.