I think i hit the jack pot?

[spartan55]

I inherited a A.H. Fox double Barrel from my wifes father.....I will never sell.....However curiousity is getting the better of me and I need to know the value! I researched the fox's and found that it could be worth from a couple hundred to possible over $10,000. marking on barrel show" made by A. H. Fox gun Co. Phila. PA. U.S.A" has lots of ingraving, auto ejectors, two triggers, safety lever above grip, five digit serial number, 12ga, hammerless. I would rate it 60-70%, my father-in-law did not collect firearms but bought to use to put food on the table. I could only imagine how many birds or rabbits were taken with this gun. How can I tell what grade it is. Please help!

[Dave McCracken]

Fox shotguns are nice. Congrats on yours. A couple things....

Ejectors mean it's not the Sterlingworth, the utility grade version that sold the most of.

What gauge, barrel length and decoration?

Collectors are mostly interested in more pristine specimens, but there's a lot of shooters out there that would like yours.

Prices are all over the place, but this is probably not high end.

What it is is a fine shotgun and family heirloom.

Enjoy....

[hoghunting]

A more specific forum for your information:

http://www.shotgunworld.com/index.html

Just enter their forum as there are many shotgun gurus there.

[Stachie]

Nice Gun. Sorry to hear about your father-in-law.

[JohnBT]

The Phila. PA. address was used from 1905 to 1930. I would like to see some pics, if you can.

John

[Long Knife]

What letter precedes the serial number... A, C?

The Double Gun Journal is a good source of information. Thomas Kidd is the guru.

I'd love to see some pics as well.

My condolences on the loss of your father-in-law.

[spartan55]

pics coming soon this afternoon!

12ga, 32inch barrel, and thier is not a letter before the serial number

[dfaugh]

Hard to say.....A friend inherited (with a few lesser guns) a grade A-1 L.C. Smith (738 made between 1892 and 1898). This was also a "meat on the table" gun...and had been neglected for several years. While far from pristine, it is (as far as I can find out) worth a few thousand dollars. The only other one I could find for sale (immaculate and perfect) was $18000. My best shootin' buddy and I spent hours just looking at this gun, as the workmanship is incredible. There is NO peice on the gun that isn't hand engraved, including the screwheads!

We took it to Doug Turnbull Restorations (right down th road from me), for a serious appraisal. I suggest you may contact them (with lots of detailed pictures) to get an idea of the value.

When you get into some of the "high end" shotguns (Fox, L.C Smith, Parker) they are experts at valuing these items, as well as giving you an idea of restoration costs. Many will tell you NOT to do any restoration work, but their work is of such quality, that a gun they've restored is worth as much, or more, than an original. Mmy buddy has had lots of restoration work done there over the past few years, and its nothing less than spectacular. Note they have L-O-N-G waiting list, and they do get top dollar for their work. But if the gun is worth it, its worth having done right. And they are dead honest, and will tell you whether its worth doing or not.

[Mr Kablammo]

There is a book written on the Fox Shotguns called something like "The Finest Shotgun in the World". Try a search at Amazon.com. The book is a specialty and more than you will want to pay, but maybe a library has a copy or can do a loan from another library. Good luck. My Dad has one and it was NICE. He sold it because he thought that I would not be interested in guns. Sigh.