16ga.com ~ View topic - Foxes are a slippery slope. Purchased a 16 ga Fox XE

Joined: 14 Nov 2011 Posts: 164 Location: Minnesota

People warned me when I bought my first Fox they were a slippery slope and I didn't quite believe them. Stumbled across a Fox XE 16 gauge and I could not pass it up. It has 26" barrels and I was hoping for longer but I still couldnt pass it up since you dont see many 16 ga XE's on the market.

Just got the factory card info back and it stated chokes are cyl right and mod left. Weight is listed as "Min Light" with air cushion recoil pad. Shipped Dec, 21 1933.

It has a repaired crack in the stock and I will have to examine and possibly send back out to have it inspected and possibly redone.

Ill post some more pictures when I get the gun in hand. Should be here in a couple of days.

Member Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 372 Location: Kansas

Wow! That is nice. Keep us posted on your progress on the stock. Looking forward to more pictures, especially the future ones with a brace of birds laying across it.

Thanks for sharing. For some of us that is about as close to one of those we'll ever get.

Thanks,

Ben

Nice gun and meant to be shot Smile

Mike

Joined: 16 Sep 2006 Posts: 334

Sweet, but I agree, 28" barrels would be sweeter!

Joined: 14 Nov 2011 Posts: 164 Location: Minnesota

Thanks for the kind words. I never thought I would get this close to an XE either. Never actually seen one in person. I should have it in my hands Monday afternoon and I will post some more and better pictures. I am going to have to head to the game farm next week and try to find a couple scratch birds with it.

That's quite a gun and a nice slippery slope to be on.

Joined: 12 Sep 2010 Posts: 1975 Location: Maine

One has to think there was a very Merry Christmas 1933 in the household of whomever that gun was made for.

And now it's your turn for a belated Merry Christmas, almost 80 years on.

Member Joined: 30 Nov 2011 Posts: 1700 Location: Minnesota

26 in cyl/mod sounds like a wonderful grouse/woodcock gun for here inMN. Ever talked to Slim at Slims stock shop in the Lindstrom area?he might be able to help.

Joined: 14 Nov 2011 Posts: 164 Location: Minnesota

I have never heard of him. Does he do good work?

Joined: 06 Dec 2010 Posts: 136 Location: PA

I would love to take that Fox for a walk in the woods. What a beautiful shotgun!

Joined: 24 Nov 2004 Posts: 36

Very pretty! Enjoy your walks with that shotgun cradled in your arm.

Joined: 29 Jan 2009 Posts: 207

A Very Nice Gun! Congrats!

If you don't mind my asking, what did you have to pay for it?

Joined: 14 Nov 2011 Posts: 164 Location: Minnesota

I bought the gun very reasonable but I am wondering with the gun in hand now seeing the undisclosed issues if it was low enough and if I am going to keep it or send it back in my 3 day inspection.

Hate to sent such a rare gun back but I am trying to get an idea what it is going to cost me to make this gun right and as close to original again.

Member Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 592 Location: Minnesota

What is the issue with the gun that has you considering returning it?

Joined: 14 Nov 2011 Posts: 164 Location: Minnesota

Main issues is a couple of areas of prior work to the gun were done poorly.

Went back to my gunsmith today and we checked wall thickness and found the thinnest to be .036.

I spoke with Kirk Merrington on the phone today and he seemed confident all the issues could be resolved fairly easy.

I am going to end up keeping this one and fixing as little as possible but get it closer to its original condition.