I beg to differ, Eddie-- My favorite American boxlock, the A.H. Fox--was not made any "cheaper" after 1918 than before that time frame-- Just two things were different: (1) No more Krupp Flusstahl barrels, and Mr. Gough changed the engraving pattern, actually before WW1-- And the Sterlingworth grade had the same receiver shape as a D grade- just no engraving, and not the same wood grain and checkering. Only the Depression and the sale of Fox to Savage in 1930 brought about a gradual "lesser attention to fit-up and finish of the later Utica mfg. Fox guns.
Parker quality began to diminish after the production was moved to Ilion, NY, under Remington aegis- just as to fit and finish, as with Fox- the basic mechanism and steel grades used remained the same--
Now I can't speak for LeFever-- but I will for Ithaca- The Flues series double was doomed for failure, as it was designed by Emil Flues in the "transition era" from black powder to smokeless-
But the NID series double design that replaced it in aprox. 1926- was a "winner" as far as a boxlock gun is concerned. Only two American doubles could take the 3" Magnum load without missing a beat-- The Fox HE Magnum, and the L.C. Smith Longrange--
And when Winchester, under Olin ownership, brought out the 3&1/2" 10 gauge Magnum double, they went to Ithaca, and Lou Smith and his gang revised the NID to handle that "Roman Candle" shell.
Are Parkers "America's Finest Shotgun"?? Some will hold that to be the case, and I can understand their point of view. Something had caused their higher retail pricing, especially over Ithacas "back in that era" between 1900 and 1941, to ingrain that idea firmly in the hearts and wallets of the American gun buying public--And as long as eager buyers follow that "marketing mystique" with their checkbooks, then maybe you are correct in your assessment- just not with my bankbook!!
Last edited by Run With The Fox; 05/03/19 05:22 PM.
