Fox JE Single Barrel Trap
A.H. Fox Gun Company · Shotgun · Discontinued · 1919
Also known as: A.H. Fox JE Grade Single Barrel Trap, Fox J-Grade Single Barrel Trap (JE variant)
Overview
The Fox JE Single Barrel Trap is a break-action, single-barrel trap shotgun in 12 gauge produced by the A.H. Fox Gun Company of Philadelphia. Built on a hammerless boxlock action with an automatic ejector and a ventilated rib, it was offered with 30-inch or 32-inch full-choke barrels and a figured French walnut stock. The JE grade sat near the top of Fox's single-barrel trap line, distinguished by finer English engraving and premium wood, and today ranks among the rarest and most collectible American trap guns.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3629 g (128.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1194 mm (47.01") |
| Barrel Length | 813 mm (32.01") |
| Action Type | Break Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Internal Hammer |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Muzzle Velocity | 400 m/s (1312 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 2560 J (1888 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 45 m (49 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Smoothbore |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 12 Gauge · primary — also known as 12GA, 12 Bore
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Single Shot Break Open
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Ventilated Rib, Automatic Ejector, Full Choke, Boxlock Action, Single Selective Trigger, Figured French Walnut Stock, English Engraving
Production
Estimated total produced: 571 · Production years: 1919-1936
Approximately 571 A.H. Fox single-barrel trap guns of all grades were made; about 410 were J-grade, with the engraved JE grade a small fraction of that total.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Ansley H. Fox
Discontinued: 1936
Notes
Bore diameters on surviving examples run around .731 with full-choke constriction near .037-.039 inch. Chambered for 2 3/4-inch shells. A.H. Fox produced only about 571 single-barrel trap guns of all grades, with roughly 410 of them J-grade guns, making the higher JE grade especially scarce.
Background
The Fox single-barrel trap gun was A.H. Fox's answer to the golden age of American trapshooting in the 1920s. Fox marketed it as offering 'the finest gun in the world' quality in a purpose-built target configuration, and its high-grade examples were the choice of competitive trap shooters at a time when the sport drew crowds to gun clubs across the United States.