Fox Skeet and Upland Wood Finish

[Adam Steinquist]

Hi all,

I just picked up what I believe to be a Fox Skeet and Upland Game gun (research letter already order and am yet to receive). It’s in decent overall condition, though it was definitely used, not pampered.

I’m curious if anyone knows what finish might have been used on these guns. I’ve read that the Philly guns had lacquer - does anyone know if the process changed once Savage took hold of the reins?

My gun appears to have a shellac or alcohol based finish and in my testing on a discrete location of the gun there does not appear to be a lacquer finish beneath the current one.

The finish that’s on the gun looks un-professional and “glommy” but due to my limited experience with Foxes I’m wondering if someone can tell me whether or not there’s a chance the existing finish might be original.