Any of us own CSMC Fox guns or want too?

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

I admit that presently $35,000 is a little rich for me for one gun. Thinking about it 10 years ago I did not own any gun valued at over $4,000. Then, the thought of buying a $10,000 gun wasn’t something that I could comprehend. At least not for me. Today my safe has several exceeding that figure. Those five-figure guns are perhaps the only ones that appreciate in value! I’d be better off selling off most of my guns valued at less than $10k and investing those funds in high dollar guns.

What if today were yesterday? Let us suppose that it was the year 1900, give or take a decade. Most of us mature men would be shooting one or two DH grade Parkers or comparable grades by other makers. Those DH Parkers would have cost us the equivalent of $10,000 in 2015 dollars. Okay, I admit this is a hard comparison because there are so many economic factors to consider. For the sake of this please work with me… : )

At the pigeon or trap club there were a few gentlemen who sported AH grade Parkers which cost three times as much as did our DH. And heck, we could outshoot them DH vs. AH! Those AH shooters didn’t much care because they loved having the top of the line Parker. They let us handle and shoot their AH Parker and we think that maybe when the son has finished college and the daughter is married that maybe we would treat ourselves to an AH Parker. So a few years later we sit down with Arthur W. DuBray and lay down a year’s salary and order a custom made AHE. The AHE is delivered 6-12 months later and we shoot it on nice days for the rest of our life. Our wife may have lost her loveliness long ago, as did we, but the AHE never did. Beauty in our hands gave us pleasure as an old man as holding our lovely fiancée did decades ago.

Forward that scenario to today. We can purchase an AH, AHE, Fox DE, or other 100+ year old highest grade SMALLBORE vintage shotgun for $20,000 to $40,000. If we could find a 20 gauge AHE unfired, it might cost us $50,000.

Now, here is a guy who wants a gun made especially for him. He demands the finest wood, engraving, balance, and workmanship made to his specifications. A bespoke gun comparable to a London best. Okay, maybe a CSMC Fox doesn’t compare to a modern $100,000 London best gun but it is still a heck of a nice custom made for him gun. He orders a CSMC Fox and doesn’t look back.

For me, I do look at CSMC Foxes on the secondary market which sell for $15k and up. Maybe someday I will buy one just for its loveliness. To hold it in my hands as I slowly walk an upland field behind my aging dog. That alone for some reason will bring me pleasure and inspire memories and dreams of my younger days…

[Big Friend Ten (BFT)]

Alternatively to my last post one could buy an original AH Fox parts kit from Pumpkin Mountain and PAY a qualified gunsmith to hand fit all the parts, engrave the barrels and action, and finish to a high level. The labor alone would exceed $10k! A 20 gauge kit starts at $4,205. Add to that $700 to $1,000 for high grade English Walnut and the cost will exceed $15k!

[Wild Skies]

XXX

[C.O.B.]

I have more into Gunner's Gun than it will ever bring on the secondary market but to me it's priceless. To have a gun commissioned to your specifications is truly one of life's greatest pleasures.

I really haven't looked at shotguns much recently as I have been working on my M70 collection but seeing that Fox once again has me drooling once more. Where there is a will there is a way. If any gun ever screamed home equity loan it's this one IMHO but then again I'm a little creative when it comes to nice small bores

[Big D]

Not sure I agree with the "gross overpricing" assessment . They must sell them, otherwise they'd be outta business. You have to turn your inventory.

[C.O.B.]

Ruff Hunter the H&H is a solid $10K over the cost of the asking price of the 28ga Kenny bought. The Purdey is a 12 so it's less expensive than a small bore.

[Opening Day]

Originally Posted by Rich Anderson

Ruff Hunter the H&H is a solid $10K over the cost of the asking price of the 28ga Kenny bought. The Purdey is a 12 so it's less expensive than a small bore.

Also you better take a close look at the Purdey barrels (very possible sleeved). I have a couple of English guns and I love them and I also love my Fox FE, they are different animals.

[Ruff Hunter]

Originally Posted by Eric Eis

Also you better take a close look at the Purdey barrels (very possible sleeved). I have a couple of English guns and I love them and I also love my Fox FE, they are different animals.

There is nothing in the description that discloses sleeved barrels, and I don't see the typical vertical line that results from sleeving. What do you base your suspicion on? It would be unlike Vintage to offer a best gun for sale without disclosing something so material.

[Opening Day]

Originally Posted by Justin Julian

There is nothing in the description that discloses sleeved barrels, and I don't see the typical vertical line that results from sleeving. What do you base your suspicion on? It would be unlike Vintage to offer a best gun for sale without disclosing something so material.

Justin, I am not saying it is or not, but look at the date of the gun and I wonder how many fluid steel guns were made and the price even for a 12 ga Purdey is very low (did you call and ask). I know Jay and he prices his guns fairly so again I wonder why the low price. I am not trying to pick a fight here, all I was saying was the Fox gun by CSMC is a very high quality gun with a ton of hand craftsmanship into it, and yes it is expensive but a new Purdey is also very, very expensive. Now I am done with this thread as you seem to want to poison this thread with your feeling about how Tony runs his business and not about the craftsmanship of the Fox guns which is what started this thread.

[Ruff Hunter]

Eric,
Sorry you feel that way; and no, "poisoning" a thread is never my intent. I was merely responding to a question already being discussed by other posters. Nor do I harbor any ill will toward Tony or how he runs his business. I buy and use CSMC products frequently, and feel that we are fortunate to have a high quality double gun manufacturer in operation in the USA again. I have clearly stated my very limited observation of some of their pricing practices, and will not bother to repeat it again. As some folks apparently can't discuss a slightly opposing point of view without getting their feathers ruffled, I too am done with this thread. Sorry if anything I said somehow offended anyone.