doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com American Classics - Your Take

Hi all, just throwing this out for discussion. I'm not into American classic SxS (yet!!) but I was wondering if one were to look into getting one. What are the merits and shortcomings of the following makers/models in 16ga:

A.H. Fox, AE Grade

L.C. Smith, Ideal Grade (with ejectors)

Parker, VHE

Thanks for your comments!!!

All the best!

Greg

Not modern stock dimensions. The Parkers are an unnecessarily complicated design. All should be glass bedded if using the original wood. When a picture of a blown up gun appears here, or, elsewhere, it strange how often they show early Fox guns.
Using old doubles as high volume shooters is a bit problematic, in my experience. Imagine using a 1948 Ford for daily transport, and you are on the right track. Lots of fun, but, keep it limited in use.
Best,
Ted

Maybe they don't get "classic" status, but two of the most useful are the NID and the M-21.

gjw, what are you intending to use the gun for?

tim

The Remington 1894 & 1900 model SxSs should also be considered American classics. Because Remington made a lot of mass produced pumps and auto loaders, their fine quality doubles have been overlooked by many. The 1894 & 1900 exhibited fine workmanship and fleet design.

From a European perspective, of course, the LC Smith is the preeminent American classic because of its sidelock mechanism. On the other side of the pond sidelocks are considered to be in an entirely different and superior class from boxlocks.

J.K.B. von Falkenhorst

"From a European perspective, of course, the LC Smith is the preeminent American classic because of its sidelock mechanism"

Of course Not bad for an "agricultural non-entity"

well you forgot the best of the best.........LEFEVER!

Let's make it apples to apples- of the American boxlocks made prior to 1930 (Depression era Kick-Off date) I would take a early AE Fox- with 28" Krupp barrels- straight hand stock with double triggers choked imp. cyl. right- imp. mod. left and with 2.75" chambers (even though 16 gauge shells were 2 & 9/16" then, I'm planning ahead) and I would have a fine upland bird gun, albiet in the "bastard gauge" that weighed aprox. the same as a 20-

If we are staying with boxlocks post 1930- same exact specs. but in a Winchester Model 21 (which will be a tad heavier than the Fox-but will last forever), or a Ithaca NID- prefer later series w/o the "snail ears" cocking indicators- If we are comparing sidelocks, there is no comparison- the L.C. Smiths rule that roost-Bakers were a "flash in the pan" and the Uncle Dan LeFever Syracuse sideplated graded guns were in a class by themselves--

Parkers are overrated, albiet IMO, as the early ones with the 18 pc.action design and before the 12.5% tool steel bolt plate are complicated, ejectors get out of whack-and production control with so many frame sizes and gauges that over-lapped those frames- sure kept the shiny-assed seat of the pants office clerks busy with their ledgers- Now, as I don't own, nor plan to-any 16 gauge, why make that choice over a light 12 bore- where I live and shoot, the 16 gauge shells are at a premium (as are the 18 gauges)?? Just curious, like all foxes apparently.

Falkenhorst,

So you're saying "across the pond" they'd think more of a Crescent than a high grade Parker? American guns are not well thought of over there no matter what name is on them.

Destry

Not impressed with Baker guns either Destry