A perfectly proportioned bird gun: Philadelphia A.H. Fox 16g A-grade …

A.H. Fox A Grade Pre-Savage 28" Full/Mod 16 GA SXS Double Shotgun, 1921
A.H. Fox A Grade Pre-Savage 28″ Full/Mod 16 GA SXS Double Shotgun, 1921

This 16g A.H. Fox A Grade is on Gunbroker.com now. The online auction listing ends this Sunday,10/2/2022, @ 8:26 PM.

A.H. Fox A Grade Pre-Savage 28" Full/Mod 16 GA SXS Double Shotgun, 1921
A.H. Fox A Grade Pre-Savage 28″ Full/Mod 16 GA SXS Double Shotgun, 1921

This A-grade looks like it has lived its life as a go-to bird gun. While it’s in nice shape, it doesn’t have the color-case hardening and condition collectors want.

A.H. Fox A Grade Pre-Savage 28" Full/Mod 16 GA SXS Double Shotgun, 1921
A.H. Fox A Grade Pre-Savage 28″ Full/Mod 16 GA SXS Double Shotgun, 1921

That’s great if you’re looking for a classic American bird gun. It will keep the price down on, and it will make you feel like you can take this shotgun into the field without worry.

To me, the A-grade has always been the sweet spot of A.H. Fox shotguns. Sterlingworths are a bit plain. The second-style engraving that sets it apart, plus a round-knob, half-pistol grip stock make it special.

A.H. Fox A Grade Pre-Savage 28" Full/Mod 16 GA SXS Double Shotgun, 1921
A.H. Fox A Grade Pre-Savage 28″ Full/Mod 16 GA SXS Double Shotgun, 1921

“This FOX grade is a gun that the discriminating sportsman will appreciate as to price and workmanship. It is not a cheap gun, but a more than good gun at a reasonable figure, and can be built to your own specifications without extra charge. The material and fittings are of superior FOX class.” -from an A.H. Fox catalog

A.H. Fox A Grade Pre-Savage 28" Full/Mod 16 GA SXS Double Shotgun, 1921
A.H. Fox A Grade Pre-Savage 28″ Full/Mod 16 GA SXS Double Shotgun, 1921

A.H. Fox A Grade Pre-Savage 28″ Full/Mod 16 GA SXS Double Shotgun, 1921

Serial Number: 301339 Year of Manufacture: Ca. 1921 Gauge: 16 Gauge, 2 9/16″ Shells

Weight: 5 lb., 13.4 oz. Finish Originality: Original

Action Type: Top Break Side by Side Box Lock Hammerless Shotgun with Extractor

Markings: The top of the right barrel is marked “CHROMOX FLUID COMPRESSED STEEL”, the top of the left “MADE BY A.H. FOX GUN Co. PHILA. PA. U.S.A.”. The barrel flat is marked “A”, “301339” and with a Fox proof. Each side of the receiver is marked “ANSLEY H. FOX” in banner and the receiver and trigger plate have Grade A scroll engraving. The water table is marked “301339” and “A” on the right. The bottom tang is marked “301339” as is the top of the forend iron.

Barrel Length: 28”, Choke: Left: Full, Right: Modified, Both Fixed

Sights / Optics: There is a silver-colored bead mounted to the front of the rib. The top of the rib is finely serrated to reduce glare.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with splinter forend, round-bottom pistol grip, straight comb and ventilated orange rubber Jostham recoil pad. The stocks have some scattered light nicks, scuffs and scratches. The forend has a repaired chip-loss on the top edge on the left-rear with a filled loss below this. There are a few tiny losses around the front edges of the wrist. The checkering is well defined. The LOP measures approximately 14 1/4″ and 13 3/8″ from the fronts of the triggers to the back of the recoil pad, 13 3/8″ and 12 1/2″ to the back of the wood. The drop at comb is approximately 1 3/8″, drop at heel 2 1/2″. The pad is shows wear and discoloration, but is still fairly supple. The stocks rate in about Very Good condition as refinished.

Type of Finish: Blue & Case Color

Bore Condition: The bores are mostly bright. There is no erosion in the bore, but there is some stubborn fouling.

Overall Condition: This shotgun retains about 90% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at most edges. The barrels’ finish is generally strong with a few light nicks and scuffs, most at the breech-end. The receiver’s case color has muting toward the bottom-front with stronger color toward the top-rear. The guard has light handling wear and some scattered minor surface oxidation. The action shows light operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this shotgun is in Very Good condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The barrels lock up to the receiver with no play. The safety engages automatically when the action is opened. We have not fired this shotgun. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None

Our Assessment: Ansley Fox was one of the earliest American innovators with internal hammer double guns. In 1894, at the age of 19, he was issued a patent on a system of cocking the internal hammers of a break-action gun using leverage from the barrels with his design actually containing nineteen patentable features, according to the U.S. Patent office. Fox would continue on, making it his life’s work to produce “The finest gun in the world” (as well as the finest car in the world and a few other manufacturing ventures). He even gained the praise of Theodore Roosevelt who wrote to Mr. Fox in a letter “The double-barreled shotgun has come, and I really think it is the most beautiful gun I have ever seen. I am exceedingly proud of it. I am almost ashamed to take it to Africa and expose it to the rough usage it will receive. But now that I have it, I could not possibly make up my mind to leave it behind. I am extremely proud that I am to have such a beautiful bit of American workmanship with me”.

The A.H. Fox Gun Co. would continue producing shotguns of various grades and chambered for various gauges through the late 1920s, when they fell victim to the Great Depression and were acquired by Savage Arms. This example is a 16 gauge A Grade, produced in 1921, the heyday of A.H. Fox, during the Roaring ’20s when post-war America was booming and Fox guns were selling as well as ever. Today, A.H. Fox shotguns are quite collectible. As Fox’s reputation was built on quality, their success didn’t necessarily mean that a huge number of guns were made. For the dedicated Fox collector, this A Grade would make a great addition to a collection. Better still, with its good bores and tight lockup, this shotgun can still serve, more than 100 years later, to take down flesh or clay birds in style. Please see our photos and good luck!

Do you dare? MacNab Challenge in Scotland with Delaney & Sons …

Discover Delaney & Sons: European shooting specialists
Discover Delaney & Sons: European shooting specialists

“The challenge is simple, but very tall; land a salmon on the fly, put a grouse in the bag, and take a red stag off the hill…all between dawn and dusk on the same day.”

How do you make three great sporting adventures more exiting and memorable? You complete them in a single day. That’s what Delaney & Sons’ 2022 Macnab Challenge gives you the chance to do.

Based out of  Amhuinnsuidhe Castle on the the Isle of Lewis and Harris in Scotland’s Hebrides island, Delaney & Sons’ 2022 Macnab Challenge is a unique way for you to experience the ultimate in traditional British country sports–and the sporting trip of a lifetime.

Delaney & Sons has been hosting American shooters in the UK, Spain, and Morocco for years now. In this video, you can see why their trips have such a hit. If you’ve ever wanted to shoot overseas, their fully-outfitted adventures are a great introduction to authentic British shooting.

MACNAB: Take a stag, bag a brace of grouse, land a salmon on the fly…all between dawn and dusk.

Watch: Successful MacNab Challenge Scotland – Grouse, Stag, Salmon Video

Successful MacNab Challenge Scotland - Grouse, Stag, Salmon Video
Successful MacNab Challenge Scotland – Grouse, Stag, Salmon Video

 

MacNab Challenge in Scotland with Delaney & Sons ...
MacNab Challenge in Scotland with Delaney & Sons …
MacNab Challenge in Scotland with Delaney & Sons ...
MacNab Challenge in Scotland with Delaney & Sons …
Location of Delaney & Sons 2021 MacNab Challenge. Amhuinnsuidhe Castle is a 55,000 acre sporting paradise.
Location of Delaney & Sons 2022 MacNab Challenge. Amhuinnsuidhe Castle is a 55,000 acre sporting paradise.

SEPTEMBER 17 – SEPTEMBER 24, 2022

7-day adventure
Cost Per MacNabber: $13,550
Cost Per Companion: $1,750

INCLUSIONS:

Three days of MacNab attempts including trophy fees

Stag, Salmon, Grouse over pointers

Accommodations in a historic Castle

Gourmet cooking featuring local seafood, produce and game

All meals and wine with dinner

Vintage & Modern Shotguns and Rifles plus shells

Ground transportation to and from Stornoway Airport

Visitor Permits and Insurance while in the field

Two days of fishing when not a MacNab day

5 things you’ll love about the FABARM Autumn SxS shotgun …

FABARM Autumn SxS shotgun
FABARM Autumn SxS shotgun

We’re back. Stitch and I just returned from a few weeks of grouse and woodcock hunting up in Maine. We had a great time and we found a lot of birds.

While the 12g I had with me did the job, here’s a SxS I wish I had had with me:

The FABARM Autumn SxS

Last spring Caeser Guerini sent me one of these shotguns in 20 gauge to look over and bang some rounds through. It was a great gun and a blast to shoot. Here’s what impressed me most about it:

5 things to love about the FABARM Autumn SxS:

20g FABARM Autumn SxS shotgun
20g FABARM Autumn SxS shotgun

1. IT’S EASY ON THE EYES

20g FABARM Autumn SxS
20g FABARM Autumn SxS

My FABARM Autumn was a great double to admire with a rounded, color-case hardened action, some interesting scroll engraving, and nicely figured, oil-finished wood, While it had a vintage vibe to it, its clean, pinless action gave it a sleek, modern look.

2. IT’S BUILT TO SHOOT TONS OF ROUNDS AND KEEP GOING

Unusual lumps on the 20g FABARM Autumn SXS, part of its unique locking system
What the?!? Unique quad lumps on the FABARM Autumn SXS, part of its extra durable locking system

On the outside, the FABARM Autumn looks like an old-school, Anson & Deeley style boxlock shotgun. But it’s not.

Instead, the gun mounts the lockwork on its triggerplate and uses sliding rods to cock the hammers.

Hybrid boxlock / triggerplate cocking and firing system on the 20g FABARM Autumn SXS
Hybrid boxlock / triggerplate cocking and firing system on the 20g FABARM Autumn SXS

Then there’s the real interesting part of the FABARM Autumn: its quad-lug system.

Another look at the unique split hinge pin, quad-lump locking system on the 20g FABARM Autumn SXS
The unique quad-lump locking system on the FABARM Autumn SXS

These 4 lumps  are designed to increase the longevity of the barrel/action connection and help you deliver quicker, more accurate second shots. How?

Even though we worship SxSs like Parkers and Purdeys, those guns, and others like them, have their weaknesses. One’s the way the barrels mount on the action.

These shotguns connect to the action with two lumps. The front lump has the hook. This catches the hingepin. The rear lump has a bite. This receives a sliding bolt that comes in from the back to lock down the barrels (most British and European SxSs also have a bite on the front lump, but it doesn’t always do much to secure the bbls).

Hook on a set of Purdey shotgun barrels
Hook and bites on a set of Purdey SXS shotgun barrels, from Hallowellco.com

When you fire a SxS, the barrels twist horizontally and flex vertically, trying to pivot on the hinge pin. Even though the bolt, bites and action secure the barrels and resist this twisting and flexing, these forces pulls you off your target. And over time, they cause wear which can lead to a SxS’s barrels going off face and become loose on the action.

(For a nerdy dive into what this mean, read this article by Delbert Whitman Jr.).

Unique split hingepin, quad-lump locking system on the 20g FABARM Autumn SXS
Another look at the unique split hinge pin, quad-lump locking system on the 20g FABARM Autumn SXS

The FABARM Autumn quad-lump design displaces this twisting and flexing over more surface area. This helps cut down on wear and increases the longevity of the barrel/action connection.

The quad-lug system also stabilizes the barrels and cuts down on horizontal flexing. This is an idea borrowed from competitive pigeon shooting and the thinking is that it helps you deliver a quicker, more accurate shot with the left barrel.

3. IT FEELS GREAT

A few years ago I shot a 12g Purdey Trigger Plate OU. It was big gun that came in at just over 8 lbs, but it had a lively feel that belied its weight and encouraged me to shoot it all day.

A few months later I was I hunting with a new 20g Italian OU. It was a field gun, and even though it weighed 6 3/4 lbs, it felt heavy and dead, like a target gun. I wanted to get rid of it as soon as possible.

I thought about those guns the first time I shot the 20g FABARM Autumn. How would it feel — dead or alive?

FABARM Autumn SxS shotgun
FABARM Autumn SxS shotgun

My gun had 28″ barrels and weighed 6 lbs, 6 oz. — a good weight for an all-around bird gun. But it also pistol grip stock and a beavertail forend. Those said “target” to me — and had me worried.

After a lot of clays and a flat of 2 3/4″, 7/8 oz loads (which were a PITA to find), I had my answer: alive and very lively.

Like that big Purdey OU, the FABARM Autumn snapped to my shoulder and and picked up the clays with little effort. The more I shot it, the more I wanted to shoot it. I think its lightweight barrels were a big reason for this, but not the only one.

I liked the pistol-grip, beavertail forend setup, too. They gave me a lot to hold onto and more control over the gun more. This made the gun easier to mount and move to target.

The selective single trigger was crisp and with just a of whisker play in it on second shots. And even though I pulled it as fast as I could and tried to make it fail, it fired round after round without a problem.

4. IT’S ALL YOU NEED FOR UPLAND HUNTING

With choke tubes, 3" chambers and steel-approved barrels, the 20g FABARM Autumn can do it all in the uplands
With choke tubes, 3″ chambers and steel-approved barrels, the 20g FABARM Autumn can do it all in the uplands

With  3″ chambers, choke tubes and barrels/choke tubes that are steel-shot safe, the 20g FABARM Autumn I had could handle all the bird hunting I did (or hoped to do).

If you’re an upland hunter, it could do the same for you.

5. IT’S BACKED BY A 5-YEAR WARRANTY

I’ve had old guns, older guns, and really old guns. They can be a PITA to maintain and repair. So I appreciate new, trouble-free new SxSs and OUs.

But of course, things do break. When they do, it’s good to know the gun is backed by a warranty, especially one with repair centers in the US.

The FABARM Autumn’s 5-year warranty gives you this kind of protection and peace of mind.

Of course, while I loved the gun, I thought it could use some tweaks:

  • The fences could use a bit of styling, especially on ahead of the toplever.
  • The pistol grip needs some refinement. I would like to see it look more like round-knob
  • They need to add an automatic safety. It’s a must have on a bird gun. I’ve owned guns without them, and it’s too easy to forget to slide it to “safe” after opening and closing the gun.

Ready to buy? Here are a few dealers on Gunsinternational.com who can help you out now:

Fabarm Autumn Pistol Grip Side by Side Shotgun | 20ga 30″ | For Sale at Cole Guns

Fabarm Autumn 20ga For Sale at Gordy and Sons Outfitters

Fabarm Autumn 20 gauge Side by Side 30″ For Sale at Pacific Sporting Arms East

Fabarm Autumn 20ga 28″ English Stock For Sale at Silver Creek Outfitters

Fabarm Autumn 20ga 28” barrels English Etock SST For Sale at the Iron Cowboy Gun Shop

Auction alert: AYA No. 2 sidelock 16g, NO RESERVE …

AYA 16g No. 2 Sidelock SxS Shotgun
AYA 16g No. 2 Sidelock SxS Shotgun

This nice looking 16g AYA shotgun is on Gunbroker.com now. It’s listed at NO RESERVE and the sale ends Wednesday, 3/24/2021 @ 3:21 PM EST.

The seller’s calling this side-by-side a No. 2, which AYA says is its “affordable sidelock double gun”. To me, it looks like a great grouse gun. It has a longish length of pull (14 3/4″) and it weighs just 5lbs 13oz. If I were bidding on it, I would ask for some more pics and info on it — specifically, I would want to see the proof marks, and I would want to know if the gun is tight, on the face and fully functional. I would also want to know if there are any issues with the barrels (bulges, dents, repairs).

AYA 16g No. 2 Sidelock SxS Shotgun
AYA 16g No. 2 Sidelock SxS Shotgun

I would ask about seller’s inspection/return policy, too. Sellers should give you 3 days to inspect a gun and allow you to return it within that timeframe if it has issues.

I’ve always heard good things about AYAs. Michael Yardley reviewed an AYA No. 1   for The Field back in 2008 and liked it. I guess the No. 2 is one step down from that gun.

AYA 16g No. 2 Sidelock SxS Shotgun
AYA 16g No. 2 Sidelock SxS Shotgun

AYA 16g No. 2 Sidelock SxS Shotgun: 28” barrels. 14 3/4 LOP. Choked at IC/M. 5 lbs 13oz’s. Balances and swings great. Costs 8k new ! FREE SHIPPING.

BTW: The same seller is also offering this 20g AYA No. 3, which is worth checking out.

Auction alert: 16g L.C. Smith Field Featherweight, NO RESERVE…

NO RESERVE: LC Smith field FW Featherweight 16 ga 28in SxS
NO RESERVE: LC Smith field FW Featherweight 16 ga 28in SxS

This one is on Gunbroker.com now. The auction started out a penny and there’s NO RESERVE. It ends this Friday, 3/5/2021, @ 8:19 PM.

NO RESERVE: LC Smith field FW Featherweight 16 ga 28in SxS
NO RESERVE: LC Smith field FW Featherweight 16 ga 28in SxS

Back in the day, L.C. Smith was one of America’s most successful gunmakers. According to this timeline from the L.C. Smith Collector’s Club, the first “L.C. Smith” SxS shotguns appeared in 1884. The company went out of business in 1950. The name was revived in 1969 and retired for good in 1971. In that time, LC Smith built 250,000+  guns in several configurations and grades (learn more about them here).

NO RESERVE: LC Smith field FW Featherweight 16 ga 28in SxS
NO RESERVE: LC Smith field FW Featherweight 16 ga 28in SxS

The 16g you see here is a Field grade, the most basic SxS Smith offered from 1912-1950.

The Field-grade Smiths came in 10g, 12g, 16g, 20g, and .410. Regular and Featherweight (FW) models were offered. LC Smith built around 199,384 of them — 38,678 in 16-gauge alone.

LC Smith field FW Featherweight 16 ga 28in SxS: Wood finish is well worn, barrels have lot of blue with some wear spots, 2 9/16″ chambers, 14in LOP with drops of 1 11/16″ and 2 7/16″. imp mod and full.

NO RESERVE: LC Smith field FW Featherweight 16 ga 28in SxS
NO RESERVE: LC Smith field FW Featherweight 16 ga 28in SxS

Online auction alert: A 16g Fox Sterlingworth to stare at …

A. H. Fox Sterlingworth 16 ga SxS Shotgun
A. H. Fox Sterlingworth 16 ga SxS Shotgun

If I had a $1 for every time someone said to me “I would like find a nice, original Fox Sterlingworth”, I’d have enough money to buy nice, original 16g Sterlie you see here.

A. H. Fox Sterlingworth 16 ga SxS Shotgun
A. H. Fox Sterlingworth 16 ga SxS Shotgun

It’s on Gunbroker.com now and the online auction ends 2/21/2021 @ 8:33 PM.

While Fox Sterlingworths are far from rare (more than 150,000 were built), ones in solid, original condition are hard to find, especially in 16 gauge.

A. H. Fox Sterlingworth 16 ga SxS Shotgun
A. H. Fox Sterlingworth 16 ga SxS Shotgun

A. H. Fox Sterlingworth 16 ga SxS Shotgun: This is a A.H. Fox Sterlingworth 16 ga and this gun is a jewel. Weighing in at 6 lbs (feels like a lot less) the LOP is 14 1/“ DOC 2” and DAH is “3 this little gun comes up like a dream! It has on little tiny chip on the edge of the forearm but other than that this is a super ALL ORIGINAL gun. The case color is 95% and the wood 85+ Only bc of the chip. The barrels are 28” imp modified/ Full.

A. H. Fox Sterlingworth 16 ga SxS Shotgun
A. H. Fox Sterlingworth 16 ga SxS Shotgun
A. H. Fox Sterlingworth 16 ga SxS Shotgun
A. H. Fox Sterlingworth 16 ga SxS Shotgun
A. H. Fox Sterlingworth 16 ga SxS Shotgun
A. H. Fox Sterlingworth 16 ga SxS Shotgun
A. H. Fox Sterlingworth 16 ga SxS Shotgun

Good gun alert: 20g Orvis/Arrieta Uplander SxS….

Orvis "Uplander" by Arrieta in 20 Gauge
Orvis “Uplander” by Arrieta in 20 Gauge
Nice grouse gun, nice price. That’s what I thought of when I saw this 20g Orvis Arrieta Uplander. New England Custom Gun in Claremont, NH, has it, and this true sidelock shotgun looks fairly priced at $2,795.

I remember seeing these shotguns in Orvis’s catalogs years ago. Their no-frills looks just feels right for upland hunting in New England. They’re basically 557’s with a plain, blacked finish, which I prefer over the engraving and color-case hardening Arrieta applies to their other guns.

Orvis "Uplander" by Arrieta in 20 Gauge
Orvis “Uplander” by Arrieta in 20 Gauge

Orvis “Uplander” by Arrieta in 20 Gauge: 27″ barrels choked .005″ & .005″. 14 1/2″ Length of Pull. Has some character marks but a great grouse gun. Price: $2,795

Orvis "Uplander" by Arrieta in 20 Gauge
Orvis “Uplander” by Arrieta in 20 Gauge

A closer look: Not your normal 12g Fox Sterlingworth ….

A. H. Fox/Savage Sterlingworth Deluxe Brush Model SxS Double Barrel American Shotgun
A. H. Fox/Savage Sterlingworth Deluxe Brush Model SxS Double Barrel American Shotgun

As I’ve said before, the Fox Sterlingworth is the gateway drug for a lot of people who become addicted to vintage shotguns. These side-by-sides were rugged, reliable, and great deals when they were introduced and they still are today — especially when they’re in this kind of condition.

A. H. Fox/Savage Sterlingworth Deluxe Brush Model SxS Double Barrel American Shotgun
A. H. Fox/Savage Sterlingworth Deluxe Brush Model SxS Double Barrel American Shotgun

Even though there are lots of 12g Sterlingworths on the market today, few of them are as nice, or as unique, as the one you see here.

A. H. Fox/Savage Sterlingworth Deluxe Brush Model SxS Double Barrel American Shotgun
A. H. Fox/Savage Sterlingworth Deluxe Brush Model SxS Double Barrel American Shotgun

This is a 12-gauge Fox Sterlingworth Deluxe Brush with automatic ejectors and it appears to be in excellent original condition.

A. H. Fox/Savage Sterlingworth Deluxe Brush Model SxS Double Barrel American Shotgun
A. H. Fox/Savage Sterlingworth Deluxe Brush Model SxS Double Barrel American Shotgun

Back in the day, standard Sterlingworths came in four models: Trap (32″ bbls), Standard (30″ bbls), Field (28″ bbls) and Brush (26″ bbs). “Brush” guns were the lightest Sterlingworths available and they came standard with the most open chokes (Cylinder & Mod). I’ve always thought of them as the perfect Sterlingworths for upland hunting, especially if you’re into grouse and woodcock.

In addition, because this one is a “Deluxe” model Sterlingworth, this gun came with twin ivory beads and an original pad. Automatic ejectors were added as another feature.

Sterlingworth page from a 1930 Fox Shotgun catalog
Sterlingworth page from a 1930 Fox Shotgun catalog

Here’s the link to it: A.H. Fox/Savage Sterlingworth Deluxe Ejector Brush Model: Price $1,950

A. H. Fox/Savage Sterlingworth Deluxe Brush Model SxS Double Barrel American Shotgun
A. H. Fox/Savage Sterlingworth Deluxe Brush Model SxS Double Barrel American Shotgun

More info about this one from the seller: My personal benchmark gun. Decided after it being in the safe for several years that someone else needs to own it. Will start it out here for a week and see what happens. Specs are 26″ barrels choked .013 and .020 and bores of .729 per my Skeets, and 2 3/4″ chambers and ejectors. LOP to end of wood 13 1/4″. To end of Antiflinch Pad 14 1/4″. DAC 1 5/8″, DAH 2 7/8″. Weight and this is downright lovely is 6 lb 9 oz. A 12 bore made for bird hunting as they say. Serial Number. is 122114. Call this my benchmark gun because the case colors are just about mint. Slight fading on the underside, but they are all there. Blueing is 100 percent except for some small spot right around the top rib where Dan Rossiter from Custom Stocks and Steel, believed there may have been a bit oil or whatever missed when the factory did the barrels. Gun has been apart one time and that was by Dan when he checked the internals. He added the Antiflinch pad (forgot what was on it). Bought this at a small in Va from a collector. Gun’s bores were covered in cosmoline and per the house the gun had not been fired for over 50 years (who knows). Wasn’t fired much if at all. Some flaking on the finish in spots. I’ve done nothing to the gun and its time to move it on. Serial Number: 122114, Barrel Length: 26″, Chambers: 2 3/4″, Ejectors: Yes, Condition: Excellent, Metal Condition: Excellent, Wood Condition: Small bit of flaking, Bore Condition: Mint, Gauge: 12, Butt Pad: Jostam Anti flinch, Weight: 6 lb 9 oz, Choke Left: Mod, Choke Right: IC. PS.  This is a Savage marked gun with all the best Philly Fox features.   Also had twin Ivory beads (front and rear).

A. H. Fox/Savage Sterlingworth Deluxe Brush Model SxS Double Barrel American Shotgun
A. H. Fox/Savage Sterlingworth Deluxe Brush Model SxS Double Barrel American Shotgun

Goodbye Bob, Master Maine guide, gundog guy, friend…

Bob Foshay passed away last week. He was as a Master MaineGuide, a lover of bird dogs, and my friend. I’ll miss him.

Goodbye Bob, Master Maine guide, gundog lover, friend...
Goodbye Bob, Master Maine guide, gundog guy, friend…

I think the first time we hunted together was in October 2006. Bob took me to classic grouse and woodcock covers — old apple orchards, dairy pastures reclaimed by alders, poplar stands blocked off by rock walls — and to unlikely spots like stands of pines and pockets of young maples. The first lesson Bob taught me was that those kinds of unlikely covers could hold birds.

Master Maine Guide Bob Foshay
Master Maine Guide Bob Foshay with his GSP Nellie

Bob also taught me about bird dogs. He was one of the first guys in New England to hunt with a field-bred English Cocker (named Trigger), and at one time he ran and field-trialed a lemon-and-white Pointer. By the time I was hunting with him, he had moved on to an English Setter and GSPs. Bob taught me the merits of the different breeds and what mattered when looking for a pup.

I had my pointer Puck back then, and Bob loved to watch bolt through the woods and spring over fallen logs. “She does everything with gusto!” he said — and he was right.

The first video below is from October of 2012. That may have been the last season I hunted with Bob. I helped him sell off his shotgun & dog training gear when retired from guiding and bird hunting. I also helped him find a new home for his last bird dog, a close-hunting little GSP named Nellie. I tried to take him out a few years later so he could watch my pointers run, but it never happened. I don’t remember why.

BS..ing with Bob Foshay, Maine Hunting Guide…

Spring time is dance time for these Sharp-tail grouse…

To kick off spring, 2020, check out the Dancing Springs Ranch Sharptails Dance.

Go here to learn more about these fascinating birds: sharp-tail grouse

Dancing Springs Ranch Sharptails Dance
Dancing Springs Ranch Sharptails Dance

Watch: Flushing Grouse – A Ruffed Grouse Society Film ….

I’m a pointing-dog guy, and for me, the sight of a dog locked up on a grouse or woodcock is crucial to the upland-hunting experience.

But some guys would disagree, including Fritz and Ric Heller. They star in this film, produced by Project Upland in association with the Ruffed Grouse Society.

Exploring the World of Ruffed Grouse Hunting with Flushing Dogs

“The primary reason I go (grouse hunting) is to get away from everything and to be in that moment. It’s really special to be 100% completely present and committed, and it probably talks a lot about the flushing dogs. You know, you’re not listening to a beeper or a bell in the distance waiting for it to stop, you’re 100% focused on what’s going on in front of you the entire time…”

Watch: Flushing Grouse – A Ruffed Grouse Society Film ....
Watch: Flushing Grouse – A Ruffed Grouse Society Film ….

You need to see: Public Grouse, a film on Grouse Hunting in America…

If you like bird dogs and bird hunting, here’s a preview for a film. The film playing across the country this February. I’m going to see it on the 12th. Here’s more about it from the Project Upland site:

“Earlier this year, Project Upland Magazine in collaboration with Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, joined together to tell the story of our beloved #PublicGrouse. The idea was simple: capture the people, places, and birds that make the story of grouse and public lands in North America so important to us. We sought to celebrate the truth that without public lands we would not know any of the grouse species in the capacity we do. They are a part of our culture, the fabric of American grouse hunting…”

Learn more about Public Grouse and see when & where it’s playing near you 

#PublicGrouse – A One-Hour Feature Film on Grouse Hunting in America
#PublicGrouse – A One-Hour Feature Film on Grouse Hunting in America

How to shoot a ruffed grouse: One pro’s opinion…

Cal Robinson is one of Maine’s great guides. In the summer, he chases striped bass along the coast. Come fall, he heads up to the Rangeley area where he sets his pointers loose and chases grouse and woodcock.

In the video above from Bird Dogs Afield, Cal explains the key mistakes most guys make when shooting ruffed grouse — and what you need to do to be a more effective shot.

Find out how to shoot like this

Will climate change kill off sharp-tailed grouse?

Sharp-tailed grouse, photo by Glenn Bartley/VIREO, from Audubon.org site
Sharp-tailed grouse, photo by Glenn Bartley/VIREO, from Audubon.org site

The more I hear about temperatures rising across the globe, the more I worry about how these changes will impact the upland game birds we love to hunt. This piece from Project Upland touches on how on what’s might happen to one species to sharp-tailed grouse. It’s worth checking — and keeping in mind when it’s to vote for local, state, and national politicians.

HOW CLIMATE CHANGE IS AFFECTING SHARP-TAILED GROUSE: A Look into the Factual Science of Sharp-tailed Grouse and their Future

Sharp-tailed grouse, photo by John Cancalosi/VIREO, from Audubon.org site
Sharp-tailed grouse, photo by John Cancalosi/VIREO, from Audubon.org site

The author writes: “I reviewed several studies from prominent sharp-tailed grouse researchers and agency reports to get a clearer picture of this very real issue. I encourage you to keep an open mind and read through the whole article below before making any preliminary judgments.”

Photo by Brian E. Small/VIREO, from Audubon.org
Photo by Brian E. Small/VIREO, from Audubon.org

Read the entire article now: HOW CLIMATE CHANGE IS AFFECTING SHARP-TAILED GROUSE: A Look into the Factual Science of Sharp-tailed Grouse and their Future

Auction alert: 20g Beretta 686 OU, Ruffed Grouse Society model…

 

Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon 20 GA NO RESERVE 26" 3" Ruffed Grouse Society 25th Anniversary
Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon 20 GA NO RESERVE 26″ 3″ Ruffed Grouse Society 25th Anniversary

Here’s a great grouse gun, made even better by being a Ruffed Grouse Society 25h Anniversary model. While it has some dings and hunting use, it looks like it’s still in great shape and ready to be taken to your favorite cover.

Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon 20 GA NO RESERVE 26" 3" Ruffed Grouse Society 25th Anniversary
Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon 20 GA NO RESERVE 26″ 3″ Ruffed Grouse Society 25th Anniversary

It’s on Gunbroker.com now and this NO RESERVE listing end 3/22/2019 @ 2:46 PM.

Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon 20 GA NO RESERVE 26" 3" Ruffed Grouse Society 25th Anniversary
Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon 20 GA NO RESERVE 26″ 3″ Ruffed Grouse Society 25th Anniversary

Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon 20 GA NO RESERVE 26″ 3″ Ruffed Grouse Society 25th Anniversary—NO RESERVE—NO CC FEES—NUMBER 33 OF 100—Shotgun shows some signs of use. Stock and forearm have various marks. Blueing looks good, one small spot on roll stamp where it has light freckling (pictured) Blemishes in stock behind the receiver. Rib has a small “divet” half way down, however is not noticed when shouldered. Fixed Modified and Improved Cylinder barrels. Clean bores.

Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon 20 GA NO RESERVE 26" 3" Ruffed Grouse Society 25th Anniversary
Beretta 686 Silver Pigeon 20 GA NO RESERVE 26″ 3″ Ruffed Grouse Society 25th Anniversary

Good gun alert: 28g Gamba Principessa SxS …

Renato Gamba ~ Principessa ~ 28 Gauge SxS Boxlock
Renato Gamba ~ Principessa ~ 28 Gauge SxS Boxlock

Here’s what I call a can’t-go-wrong double. It’s a Renato Gamba Principessa 28 gauge built on a rugged Anson & Deeley action. It weighs six pounds and it looks pretty much new. Price — a very reasonable $1599.

Renato Gamba ~ Principessa ~ 28 Gauge SxS Boxlock
Renato Gamba ~ Principessa ~ 28 Gauge SxS Boxlock

Renato Gamba is Italian maker better known in the US for their Daytona OU target guns than their SxS game guns. I’ve seen a few of their boxlock SxSs. Each one has been a nice double, and I’m sure this one would be a great upland gun.

Renato Gamba ~ Principessa ~ 28 Gauge SxS Boxlock
Renato Gamba ~ Principessa ~ 28 Gauge SxS Boxlock

Renato Gamba ~ Principessa ~ 28 Gauge SxS BoxlockExcellent condition overall. Price: $1,599.99 
Manufacturer: Circa: 1981
Caliber: 28 Gauge
Chambers: 2 3/4″
Metal Condition: Excellent
Wood Condition: Excellent
Bore Condition: Excellent
Barrels: 26″ Blued Steel with Tapered Rib
Triggers: Single Non-Selective Trigger
Stock: Checkered Deluxe Walnut Straight Grip Butt Stock
Stock Dimensions:
DAC: 1 1/2″, DAH: 1 3/4″, Cast off: 3/8″, LOP: 13 1/4
Fore End: Checkered Walnut Semi-Splinter Fore Arm
Butt Pad: Leather Covered Butt Pad
Weight: 6 lbs.
Sights: Single Bead
Chokes: Fixed: Modified & Improved Cylinder

You’ve got to go to Maine’s Chandler Lake Camps…

One Maine's finest sporting camps. 6hrs from Boston in the North Maine Woods
One Maine’s finest sporting camps. 6hrs from Boston in the North Maine Woods

Roughing it is for suckers. I know of that, now.

I’m not used to nice accommodations, and on past hunting trips I’ve curled up with my Pointers to stay warm, eaten Beefaroni out of the can, and gagged while using outhouses ranker than rest-area porta pottys.

This year I wanted something better. So I headed Chandler Lake Camps in the North Maine Woods.

Chandler's: A 5-Pointer experience
Chandler’s: A 5-Pointer experience

The North Maine Woods are 4-6 hours from Boston, 3Xs the size of Rhode Island, and more populated with moose than people. Once you’re in them, a dirt-road empire rolls out before you in every which way.. It’s lorded over by logging trucks, crisscrossed with brook trout streams, and spotted everywhere with grouse and woodcock cover.

Some success after after a few days at Chandler's
Some success after after a few days at Chandler’s

Chandler Lake Camps is an outpost of comfort and graciousness amongst all of this. Built in 1902, it was an abandoned family retreat when current owners Jason and Sherry Bouchard bought in the ’90s. With hard work and grit, they rescued it from decades of neglect and turned it into one of Maine’s finest sporting camps.

For uplanders, Chandlers is a place to get into lots of birds, whether you do it by hiring one of the camp’s Registered Maine Guides or by grabbing a Delorme map book and asking Jason to highlight some likely looking spots like I did.

Lexi, Sky and I averaged 2-3 birds an hour — solid numbers considering it was our first time in the area. We hunted overgrown logging roads and shot into the woods to explore deep pockets of birdy-looking cover and the furthest cover we hit was only 15 miles away from the camp.

Guest cabin at Chandler
Guest cabin at Chandler

On top of great bird hunting, Chandler Lake Camps also has great accommodations. Guests are treated to their own hand-peeled, spruce log cabins, each with a wood stove, electric lights, complete indoor facilities and charging outlets for things like remote collars and GPSs.

Meals are served in the main lodge, and everyone eats together around a large, wooden table. Breakfast is to order, lunches packed for you, and dinner family style. There’s a different menu each night, and everything is homemade in the lodge’s kitchen–even the bread and bagels.

And while Chandler Lake Camps is far away from civilization, it does have internet connection to the outside world. So anyone who needs to stay in touch with home or work can check in.

Located southwest of Ashland, ME,
Located southwest of Ashland, ME,
An access point to the North Maine Woods. Dirt roads, moose & grouse cover lie ahead.
An access point to the North Maine Woods. Dirt roads, moose & grouse cover lie ahead.
Sunset at Chandler Lake Camps
Sunset at Chandler Lake Camps
Sky's first grouse of 2017, at Chandler Lake Camps
Sky’s first grouse of 2017, at Chandler Lake Camps
View from the front porch at Chandler Lake Camps
View from the front porch at Chandler Lake Camps
Guest cabin at Chandler
Guest cabin at Chandler
Classic wood cabins at Chandler
Classic wood cabins at Chandler
Classic wood cabins at Chandler
Classic wood cabins at Chandler
Boathouse at Chandler Lake Camps
Boathouse at Chandler Lake Camps
Deck off main lodge at Chandler Lake Camps
Deck off main lodge at Chandler Lake Camps
Classic wood cabins at Chandler
Classic wood cabins at Chandler

Buy this gun! 20 gauge Beretta 686 Onyx OU, 2-bbl set …

Beretta 686 Onyx 20 gauge Over Under 2 Barrel Set
Beretta 686 Onyx 20 gauge Over Under 2 Barrel Set

Here’s one of the finest double-barrel shotguns you’re going to find. These Beretta 686s handle like OUs costing many times more. They’re also reliable, easy to fix, and with this kind of Onyx finish, just plain sexy. For grouse, woodcock, and quail, they’re just about ideal.

With two set of barrels, 26.5″ and 29.5″, and a price tag of just $1699.99, this one is extra special. That’s why I’m saying someone needs to buy this gun. If someone else doesn’t snatch it up soon, I just might be the one to do it.

Beretta 686 Onyx 20 Gauge Over Under 2 Barrel SetThis is a very nice Beretta 686 Onyx 2 barrel set. The pictured barrels are 26.5 inch matte black and the second set are 29.5 inch blue, both have vent ribs. The walnut stock and matching forearm are a nice grade of wood with a small hairline crack on the left side of the forearm. All in all a very nice shotgun at a very nice price.  Price: $1699.99
Caliber: 20 Gauge.

Beretta 686 Onyx 20 gauge Over Under 2 Barrel Set
Beretta 686 Onyx 20 gauge Over Under 2 Barrel Set

Chambers: 2 3/4 and 3 inch Over/Under with ejectors.
Metal Condition: Excellent.
Wood Condition: Very good with a small crack on the left side of the forearm.
Bore Condition: All are bright and shiny.
Barrels: 26.5 inch matte black and the second set are 29.5 inch blue.
Triggers: Single silver color.
Stock: Nice mid-grade walut with a checkered pistol grip.
Stock Dimensions:
15 inch LOP
Fore End: Matching checkered walnut with finger grooves.
Butt Pad: Replacement black rubber butt pad.
Weight: 6 Lbs 3 Oz with the 26.5 inch barrels.
Sights: Vent ribs with single front beads.
Chokes: Screw in, comes with 9 total chokes.
Extras: Comes with the second barrel and extra chokes.

Partridge Country, a video from Dangerous Cow Publishing …

Dangerous Cow Publishing is an interesting outfit. It looks like they’re media/branding company committed to promoting hunting, conservation, and sustainable practices. They caught my eye because of the cool videos they produce and post online. The one you see here is a great example of their work. Check it out — if you’re into upland hunting, you’ll enjoy it.
PARTRIDGE COUNTRY- A NORTHWOODS HUNTING VIDEO “Partridge Country is a cultural exploration of the traditions of Ruffed Grouse and Woodcock hunting in northern New England without the use of dogs.”

Partridge Country from Dangerous Cow Publishing on Vimeo.

PARTRIDGE COUNTRY- A NORTHWOODS HUNTING VIDEO from Dangerous Cow Publishing
PARTRIDGE COUNTRY- A NORTHWOODS HUNTING VIDEO from Dangerous Cow Publishing