why is my Fox a Parker?

[todd allen]

The longer water table makes a stronger lock-up. (everything else being equal)

[Keavin Nelson]

As I have just finished restocking a Fox-Parker,(bottom gun) thought I would provide pictures for comparison. The Parker is a 2 Frame, by my direct measurements the Fox action tangs are a bit longer, about 1/2". The action length measured from breach face to end of the knuckle is essentially identical. Breach width is almost identical. The for-end tang on the Fox is longer by about 3/8" and as you can see the latch sits forward a bit. Picture for comparison.

[RickR]

Thanks again all. I'm especially glad Bruce chimed in. To the action length and Parker copy thoughts, yes when I was going through the old photos, there was a shot of my gun rack from 1976, and my first thought was "I don't remember that Parker" then oops, it was my Philly "B". If I could figure out how to get an old B/W photo to print here, that picture also shows my early "A", and the different length of the longer action on the Philly gun is very obvious and its easy to see why the AH Fox action weighs less than a like sized Parker.

Aside, mine has the J spring forend, and one of the known issues was the seller said the forend was a little loose. (This is gonna feel great if the problem and my fix isn't known.) The forend iron was bent slightly and so would rock a bit when the J spring pushes the tang tight against the barrel lug (it was very easy to miss the problem as the bend can't be seen with the wood in place. I only caught it because I attacked the problem with the forend wood removed.) While the forend iron's tang is pretty massive, the cut out for the J spring makes it weak at that spot and easier to bend, but also easier to straighten. A couple of raps with the tang spread across open vise jaws did the trick.

RickR

[Bill Murphy]

I have a Model 21 with a snap on forend, but by 1930, I think all the forend attachment drama was over. But then, why didn't Winchester stay with the snap forend if it could have saved them some money. The Model 21 was a $57.50 gun, or less, at its introduction. Saving a buck or two on each gun would have meant something.

[James L. Martin]

I have never seen a model 21 with a snap on forearm? I know the early ones had a slightly different release.

[Big D]

Don't know the proper term, but I find the roller-type latch on my M21's awkward

[James L. Martin]

The model 21 latch is different and it takes getting used too.