GUN FALL 2017
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2017
EXCEPTIONALLY RARE (ESTIMATED 9 PRODUCED) FOX "M" GRADE SINGLE BARREL TRAP SHOTGUN. A. H. FOX M GRADE 400346 12GA MODERN; C&R; ESA Cal. 12 ga. 2-5/8" Chamber. 32" Bbl with raised, ventilated, matted rib, are hand engraved "CHROMOX FLUID STEEL" "MADE BY A. H. FOX GUN CO. PHILA. PA. U.S.A." either side of rib, red front and white ivory mid-bead. Varying sized well cut open, shaded, scroll, along with some standard scroll adorn the breech section, which also has arcaded and geometric gold wire inlay. Bbl flats are engraved with grade, SN and stamped with Fox proof. Sides of flats along with cocking slide are engine turned. Unique case hardened action with gold plated top lever release button on left side, is fitted with gold plated trigger having checkered finger blade, and has SN and grade engraved on water table, which also has some scroll engraving and wiggled triple line borders. Action is engraved with near full coverage exceptionally well cut shaded intertwined medium scroll with acanthus highlights, within gold inlaid arcaded and geometric borders. This treatment is counterpoint to other gold inlays, some in two color, including 2-color gold fleur-di-lis at point of action sides, light and yellow gold olive branch on right side, as well as gold foliage on top of action, and foliate and floral branch on top lever. "FOX" is in gold in arched rectangle on both sides of action, and 9-petal gold flowers are on ends of hinge pin. Bottom of action depicts low relief pair of well detailed gold pigeons in flight. Trigger plate continues theme of scroll, within geometric border. Case hardened trigger guard has matching scroll flanking gold initials "CWS" in geometric gold border. (Build card indicates gun was made for Charles W. Steiger). SN is in gold at grip. Finely marbled European walnut straight grip buttstock measures 14-1/8" over open sided brown white line pad. Side panels are checkered with fleur-di-lis and ribbon intrusions. Fancy pattern checkering with fleur-di-lis and ribbons is at grip. Matching long reverse tapered beavertail ejector forend with exceptional checkering including ribbons and fleur-di-lis, has Fox's Deeley type release. Interior of iron is engraved with SN and grade. Bore diameter: .730. Bore restriction: .036 (full). Wall thickness: .032. Drop at heel: 2-1/16", drop at comb: 1-1/2". Neutral cast. Weight: 7 lbs. 13 oz. LOP: 14-1/8". PROVENANCE: Factory build card confirming specifications, and indicating gun was originally made with full pistol grip for E. K. Tryon Co. This name is scratched out and Charles W. Steiger is written in, and it should be speculated that he specified change of grip before delivery. This very gun is pictured on page 188 of A. H. FOX; THE FINEST GUN IN THE WORLD by Michael McIntosh, Revised edn. Estate collection of Dana Tauber. CONDITION: Excellent. Bbl retains over 95% orig blue. Action retains perhaps 80% orig case hardening color, which was never very strong, as evidenced by coloring on water table. Actual percentage very difficult to determine because of extensive engraving. Case color on trigger guard shows only some thinning and silvering at grip. Forend latch retains most of its orig color. Trigger and top lever latch retain most of their orig gold plate. Stocks retain nearly all of what appears to be their orig hand rubbed oil finish, with only a few very light handling marks. Checkering very lightly worn and dark. Bore is excellent. Action is tight. Mechanically excellent. An exceptionally fine example of this very rare Fox gun. It is estimated that fewer than 570 single bbl traps were produced, only 9 in this highest and tastefully executed grade. 51980-28 MGM15 (30,000-50,000)