Fox BE Grade
A.H. Fox Gun Company · Shotgun · Discontinued · 1907
Also known as: A.H. Fox BE Grade, Fox B Grade with ejectors
Overview
The Fox BE Grade is an American break-action, side-by-side double-barrel shotgun built on the boxlock action designed by Ansley H. Fox and produced by the A.H. Fox Gun Company of Philadelphia. The BE designation denotes a B Grade gun fitted with selective automatic ejectors, the 'E' suffix introduced in 1907 to indicate that added feature. Chambered in 12 gauge, it carries Krupp fluid-steel barrels, a color-cased receiver, double triggers, and a tang-mounted safety. Marketed by Fox as 'The Finest Gun in the World,' it was a mid-grade offering in the company's line of high-quality American doubles and is prized today by collectors for its Krupp steel barrels and classic straight-hand English stock.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3323 g (117.2 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1137 mm (44.76") |
| Barrel Length | 711 mm (27.99") |
| Action Type | Break Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Internal Hammer |
| Trigger Type | Double Trigger |
| Magazine Capacity | 2 rounds |
| Muzzle Velocity | 400 m/s (1312 fps) |
| Effective Range | 45 m (49 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Smoothbore |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Color Case Hardened |
Calibers
- 12 Gauge · primary — also known as 12ga, 12 Bore
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Break Open Breech
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Tang Safety
- Features: Side By Side Barrels, Boxlock Action, Selective Automatic Ejectors, Double Triggers, Krupp Fluid Steel Barrels, Color Cased Receiver, Factory Engraving
Service history
Operators
- American sporting and hunting market
Production
Production years: 1907-1918
B and BE grade guns were produced from 1907 until the grade was discontinued in 1918; total production numbers are unrecorded but the grade is considered scarce.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Ansley H. Fox
Discontinued: 1918
Notes
The 'E' in BE indicates selective automatic ejectors added to the base B Grade. B-grade guns were discontinued in 1918 and are comparatively rare among Fox collectors. Weight and barrel length varied with individual order; 28-inch barrels were standard, with 30-inch barrels also available.
Background
President Theodore Roosevelt, an avid hunter, owned an A.H. Fox shotgun and reportedly called it 'the most beautiful gun I have ever seen,' a testament to the reputation Ansley Fox built for his Philadelphia-made doubles.