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AE with special engraving, 12 gauge, 32 inch barrels, full/full chokes, ejectors, Lyman front and rear
beads, oil finish, and stock dimensions to match a supplied sample when
it was shipped from the factory on November 1, 1912, for a Mr. F. C.
Hutton. While we cannot confirm the identity of F. C. Hutton, a likely candidate is the F. C. Hutton of the Baltimore, MD, area, a prominent cattle breeder of the period. Built with blued steel barrels featuring dual white bead sights on the matted concave solid rib, “KRUPP FLUID STEEL MADE BY” and “A. H. FOX GUN Co. PHILA. PA.” marked on the right and left tubes respectively, a band of engraving at either muzzle, 2 inch wedges of scroll engraving with gold inlaid flowers at either breech, “SPECIAL” marked on the left flat, and 2 5/8 inch chambers with automatic ejectors. The barrels are mated to a fantastic coin finished boxlock action which displays beautifully scroll engraving with gold inlaid flowers interspersed throughout and surrounding a golden pheasant cock on the left, a golden quail on the right, and a golden pointer on the underside. The scroll and gold flowers extend to the toplever, triggerguard, and both tangs along with “ANSLEY H. FOX” in gold on either side
of the action and “SPECIAL” marked in fine gold inlay on the watertable. The gun is marked “ENG. W. K. GOUGH” beneath the triggerguard ahead of the triggers for the highly regarded Master Engraver William Gough, one of the most esteemed engravers of his
day and now highly sought after. Gough is most well-known for his work with Colt, engraving pieces for personalities such as Ty Cobb and President of Mexico General Jose Huerta, though he also worked for Savage and did other custom work from his shop in Utica, New York. The gun was built in
1912, during the timeframe which Gough was redesigning the engraving patterns for A. H. Fox. The gun features a set of double triggers and a tang mounted automatic safety with gold inlaid “SAFE” marking. The gun is mounted with a highly figured and fancy fleur-de-lis checkered splinter forend with engraved shoe and Deeley style release along with a pistol grip stock with checkered flats, three letter monogram “FCH” carved at the bottom of the pistol grip, and a leather wrapped recoil pad. Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): bore diameter nine inches from the breech .725/.725 inches; choke
constriction .021/.033 inches; minimum wall thickness .029/.032 inches; 1 11/16 inch drop at comb; 2 1/2 inch drop at heel; 14 1/4 inch length of pull; weight 7 lbs. 9 oz.
CONDITION: Very fine as upgraded, retaining 99% blue, coin, and gold finishes with minor handling evidence. The wood is very good with a few dings and scratches, some smoothed checkering on the
forend, and crisp checkering on the stock. Mechanically excellent. Estimate: 12,000 - 18,000
LOT 469
William Gough Marked Master Engraved and Gold Inlaid A. H. Fox Grade AE Special Upgrade Double Barrel Shotgun with Factory Letter - Serial no. 20181, 12 gauge, 32 inch solid rib bbl., blue/coin finish, walnut stock. The word “special” can
mean a few different things in the world of Fox guns, anywhere from slight changes to a standard grade gun being denoted as special all the way up to a fully custom engraved gun built entirely to the customer specifications. The included
factory letter lists this serial number as a Grade