XE FOX

I've seen very few high grade AH Fox guns in my limited travels. But one at an area gun show really stood out, and it was a 16 gauge- not my favorite bore, but what an exquisite gun indeed. It was a DE grade with 28" Krupp barrels, ejectors, single trigger (selective) splinter forearm, straight grip and leather covered pad. The dealer let me handle it, even had snap caps so I could try the trigger and ejector system- Wow-- But I didn't have a spare $4750 rattling around in my Carharrt pockets so I had to pass it up.

I've only owned two Fox guns- an HE 12 "so called Super Fox" that was somewhat of a lunch box special, but deadly on passing tall geese and mallards with Federal coppered No 4 shot (prior to the steel shot laws) 32" barrels, about as heavy as a M-1 Garand but of course, better balanced.
I've replaced it with a 8 lb. LC Smith ejector 12 32" ventilated rib barrels, also F&F chokes- and it smacks the Tower pheasants and waterfowl as hard as the Fox, but at my age (70) is easily to handle.

Now other than the Fox Sterlingworth and the Parker Trojan, both fine boxlocks economy grade shotguns, with the Parker letter graded hammerless, as you move from the back of the Alphabet forward, the grades advance, vis: VH(E) to AAHE or even A-1 Special, plus the advancing numerical grade stamping as well, from 1 (PH-E) to 8 (A-1 Special) and if I have this wrong, please feel to correct.

But the AH Fox grade lettering system seems to run the other way- A(E) to F(E) I believe- here's what's confusing to me: Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta (eliminate Echo) Foxtrot and Hotel-- My former HE 12 was by alphabetical order, a high grade gun, one click past the F grade 9and the recent Teddy Roosevelt F grade sold at auction)- but it resembled more a Sterlingworth as far as minor line engraving and frame shaping- very plain walnut but good gripping checking- but nothing like your fine XE 12-

Where was the X(E) grade in the Fox line up? Did Fox offer a special order grade like the Parker Invincible?

The gentleman to whom I sold the heavy 12 HE apparently has also decided it is too heavy, and he is not as stocky in build as I am. I passed on buying it back, as my next waterfowling double will be either a DH(E) or GH(E) Parker 10- std. 2 & 7/8" chambers 32" proof steel barrels, DT- either No 2 or No 3 frame. Santa- are you listening??