A Fox Redemption
 

About 25 years ago, I was intent on getting a C grade Fox 16 with a straight stock and two triggers. I bought one from a dealer that I now know was not always the most forthcoming in his descriptions. When I received the gun I discovered it had no safety. It looked new. I kept the gun, but beyond making sure it functioned using snap caps, I never used the gun. It sat in the back of the safe as a reminder of my folly.

A year or so ago I got the work order card for the gun and discovered that the barrels had been cut, and the stock reworked from a pistol grip. I decided that this gun needed to be hunted, so I had the chokes bored to my liking, a leather covered Silvers pad added to meet my dimensions, and an automatic safety added to make it suit my needs. I had paid a premium price for the gun when I bought it, but was offered a sizable amount more from a dealer when I took it in to discuss the desired work.

What started as a fiasco of a purchase, has become a "redeemed" gun, one that shoots where I look, and handles like a Fox. I blooded this gun yesterday on some wild Iowa Bobs. Not all stories end like this...

all storeys should end like this...that's a fine looking gun and old bob is looking good too...charlie

I have a C grade Fox that is in rough shape at the moment. Hopefully it will have a happy ending like yours

The barrels were cut but still had enough choke that they needed opened? What were they shortened from and to?

Reggie, they were originally 30” cut to 28” and the left barrel was still so constricted that my bore gauge would not fit in the muzzle. They are now .020/.004.

Good story, with a good ending, Garry. Your choke selection isn't far off from what I had my 20 ga. Fox Sterlingworth Ejector quail and woodcock gun honed to. I went with .006" right and .016" left. Since having it done and hunting it I've found no reason to do much different.

Well done......... Stan

Garry years ago i bought a 16 CE from Steve Barnett and found out before it was shipped that the barrels had been cut from 30 to 28 inches and he refunded my payment. May be the same gun. Bobby

Well, Bobby, if it is indeed the same gun, thanks for turning it down. There's a lesson or two in the owning of this gun. I'm still studying, though.

Garry, love that you were able to turn it into a gun that is serviceable. Great choke constriction for hunting as well. Nice!!