Help Identifying/Valuing this AH Fox B Grade

[Bountied]

I have an AH Fox B grade shotgun that has been in the family for a long time. It was my great grandfathers. I have been having trouble finding a value on it since it isn't in the BBGV or at least nothing matches what I have in that book. I have seen prices range from $1400 to $14,000. I'd like to see what anyone might know here. From what I can see it's a 1916 make in 12ga according to the serial number.

 

[Augie]

From what I can see looks to be a very nice unmolested Fox, I'm pretty sure it's an A grade and not a B. Link to Fox Collectors site showing the various grades, they had different engraving depending on year and grades.

BE Grade Directory | Fox Collectors Association

www.foxcollectors.com

Do you have any pictures of the entire gun so I can see stock and butt, also what length barrels? Generally a nice 12 gauge A grade is around 800.00 to 1500.00 unless the factory build card has some unusual features listed. Subgauge Fox shotguns 16 or 20 is where the values really climb, a nice graded 20 gauge can bring 10 to 20,000.00 easily.

Pictures of my restored XE grade, my favorite sporting clays gun.

 

[Augie]

Serial Number/Grade Stamps | Fox Collectors Association

www.foxcollectors.com

The A before the serial number on the barrels indicates A grade but what is confusing is the B after the serial number on the receiver flats indicate a B grade, the engraving is definitely A grade engraving.

 

[JasonD67]

If you ask over on the Classic Shotguns section of Shotgunworld someone will know. There's a Fox expert who posts on everything Fox: https://www.shotgunworld.com/forums/classic-shotguns.107/

 

[Bountied]

This is why i've been confused. The markings indicated B grade but the engraving says otherwise. I'll get some more pics.

 

[Bountied]

It has 28" barrels, right is full, left is modified. Lyman ivory beads mid and front. The grip cap may not be original, can't tell. Pachmayr butt pad.

 

[Augie]

It has 28" barrels, right is full, left is modified. Lyman ivory beads mid and front. The grip cap may not be original, can't tell. Pachmayr butt pad.



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Thanks for the additional pictures. Looks like it may have been restocked, the checkering is not right for a B grade and looks a little coarse, wood is a little plain for B grade, Fox tended to use finer checkering on graded guns, the pad is much later than the guns time frame, original reproduction pads are available such as the Silvers on mine.

One option for you is to try to obtain the factory build card, they used to be available through the A H Fox Collectors site, Fox would do special orders such as XE checkering on a B grade gun or C grade engraving on B, etc. If the gun was special ordered the factory build card will have the information on it. I'm thinking the B on your receiver is just a factory mistake but I could be wrong.

An example of a factory build card, nothing special on this one, just ordered for stock by the E K Tryon Company in Philadelphia.

 

[Bountied]

Thanks for the additional pictures. Looks like it may have been restocked, the checkering is not right for a B grade and looks a little coarse, wood is a little plain for B grade, Fox tended to use finer checkering on graded guns, the pad is much later than the guns time frame, original reproduction pads are available such as the Silvers on mine.

One option for you is to try to obtain the factory build card, they used to be available through the A H Fox Collectors site, Fox would do special orders such as XE checkering on a B grade gun or C grade engraving on B, etc. If the gun was special ordered the factory build card will have the information on it. I'm thinking the B on your receiver is just a factory mistake but I could be wrong.

An example of a factory build card, nothing special on this one, just ordered for stock by the E K Tryon Company in Philadelphia. View attachment 403816

Thanks I'll look into that.