NOTE: Even though the seller has listed this gun as an XE, it appears to be a CE-grade Fox Shotgun. My mistake.
Knowing when to stop is crucial to embellishing a shotgun. Too much engraving, fancy checkering, cakey wood, or gold ruins a SxS or O/U. Too little leaves a gun looking dull and unfinished. Getting it just right is the trick.
Fox’s XE grades were higher grade doubles in their day, not the very best, but very, very good, and quite expensive. They featured Automatic Ejectors, a Silver’s Recoil Pad and Lyman Sights. The stocks were made of Circassian Walnut and oil finished with a full pistol, half pistol, straight grip, or Monte-Carlo style grip. They were offered with Chromox Fluid Steel in 26 “, 28″, 30″ & 32” barrels. Like all Fox shotguns, they came in 12 gauge, 16 gauge and 20 gauge.
From A.H. Fox, via the A.H. Fox Collectors Association website:
“The XE is the result of the increasing demand for a gun which shall be as nearly perfect for the purpose as it is possible to be made. Each gun receives and elaborate amount of handwork, which.. is still the only way to produce a really accurate and high grade gun.”
Here’s more about the one you see here from the seller:
Ansley H. Fox, 12 Gauge, 28″ Barrels: Bores in Excellent Condition as is the Whole Shotgun, Mfg. in Phila. PA, Double Trigger, Half Pistol Grip, #4 Barrels Weight, Chromox Fluid Compressed Steel, Metal Bead, Ejector, LOP 14 7/16″, Choke Modified & Full. Hand Engraved Scroll Work and Game Scenes. Serial #30827. Price: $8950
