Investments or tools for shooting?
Interesting questions. I bought a AH Fox 20 Sterlingworth last Fall in fine condition; 26" IC/M, std DT and extractors, original stock and blueing, 55% case coloring, very fine gun indeed. It was made in Utica NY. Many Fox collectors seem to prefer the Phila. mfg. Fox guns, just as some Parker collectors prefer Meridian mfg. over the later Ilion, NY Parkers.
You might check the Fox Collectors Assn. Forum for their opinions. The Sterlingworth has the same basic receiver shape as do the "graded" Fox guns. If you consider the Sterlingworth and the Parker Trojan to be the basic Field grades respectively, of course the Trojan differs cosmetically from the "graded" Parkers.
Mechanically they are both quality boxlocks with coil mainsprings and reliable in function to the nth. degree. The Fox, with the LC Smith and Ithaca NID, have the same basic rotary top bolt lock, the Parker an underbolt.
A few months ago I bought a Parker perhaps similar to the GH 16 you are looking at. The only double I have purchased from a gun shop in many years. The store specializes Mr. Zumbo's "EBR's" and didn't know Parkers- it was described as a Trojan 16 with unsafe barrels and I picked it up for even 4 figures OTD. It is a sweet PH on the O frame with 26" Twist barrels, made in 1908 (lettered by PGCA) and in balance, handles as sweetly as the 20 Fox, which cost me 40% more.
The ammo cost is a "trade-off". I order RST 2.5" 16 7/8 No. 8 from PGCA member Morris Baker for the PH- after I had Brad Bachelder OK it for barrel wall thickness- something you should do first with ANY Damascus barreled shotgun.
If you go for the 20 Fox, you might want to get the chamber length checked as well. I like the RST 2.5" loads, you will too. As far as potential resale value of either fine gun you mentioned, sorry- Warren Buffett doesn't call me for advice- of course, he doesn't call E.F. Hutton either!
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