doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com What are the best early 19th century American SXSs

Fit and finish goes to Parker Bros. Simplicity and durability of design to Fox. Cool factor is solid with Lefever...Geo

Parkers had to be well finished. They are so Rube Goldberg complicated they have to well finished. Only gun I know of that hold the top lever on with a screw so small you need eye glasses screwdriver to take apart.

Stan,
I stand by my comments. My definition of sloppy when it comes to guns....pins or screws with the slots cut off center. Parts that are not polished, crudely fitted and finished. Slop in pin fit when it comes to trigger pins and sear pins. Stock inletting that is also crude & rough. Ive seen all of this with Foxes.
Glad you like and enjoy your Foxes, Stan. I enjoyed mine too.
A Fox simpler than a Lefever?? No.

No problem, Dustin. And I stand by mine.

Three moving parts in a Fox action. How can it get simpler?

SRH

The same for Ithaca and Remington. I love my Parkers but they have too many moving parts for what needs to be done. The Fox or two I've owned and had to work on didn't really impress me all that much. Same with a LC. I like the Remington with a Lafever and Ithaca second, then Parker. Parker made some of the most beautiful high grade hammerguns.

I will say that the "Poorest" finished American Double inside which I have ever seen was a 20 gauge A grade Syracuse Arms Co with the ejector cut-off switch in the forend. My understanding is that SAC gun quality went down hill near the end of their production. This was a very late gun in their line. I have not seen inside an earlier one for comparison. This one literally looked as if the parts had been cut out with a Cold Chisel. It had 28" Krupp barrels with full choke in both barrels. I never carried it hunting but shot a few clay pigeons thrown from a Trius trap & could well enough with it in spite of the chokes. After seeing its guts though I let it go down the road. Also as it was not designed around heavy loads I really had no use for a 7 lb gun which should not be used with more than an ounce of shot in a mild load with two full chokes.

Several days ago I did examine what was tagged as Grade E Lefever. There was plenty of good craftsmanship and nicely shaped stock though poorly suited for mating with heavy 32" Krupp Special Steel barrels. No reason this would not make fine upland gun with light weight steel barrels. I will stop by their display booth at the Southern to see what range was available.

I have to agree that on the insides Foxes are very industrial looking, and that's putting it mildly. I thought entry level American guns were pretty good until I bought a Model 51 Husqvarna hammer gun. As well finished on the inside as a graded Parker. Excellent wood to metal fit. Mine has "been around" and is still tight and works well. My Swedish hardware store gun puts all the American makers to shame for level of finish, design and aesthetics.
Jeff

This looks like the beginning of yet another of Jagermeister's gun buying fantasies. I'm sure the guys at the Lefever Arms Collectors booth will be very excited to know that they are about to be bothered by an internet fake and tire-kicker who doesn't own any doubles.

Early 19th Century would be prior to 1850. I assume you are talking about early 20th century guns? I would have to put Charles Daly at or near the top of the list. Remington made some nice guns in the 1890s.

I have (and have owned) Fox guns. I like them, but would never agreed that they are "The Finest Gun in the World".