"ANSLEY H. FOX GRADE M SINGLE BARREL TRAP GUN. SN 400476. Cal. 12 ga. One of only nine Grade M shotguns ever built at Fox in period April 1921 through June 1932. According to the book A.H. Fox, McIntosh, this shotgun was last M-Grade shipped which occurred on June 16, 1932, but note this is a Philadelphia made gun. This model of the Fox shotgun was the epitome of the American Gun Maker's art and was the equivalent of the very rare Fox F-Grade dbl bbl and contemporary of the very highest grades Parker & LC Smith shotguns. It is described as having a 32" Chromox Fluid Steel bbl with flat matted ventilated rib, half ivory front bead & ivory middle bead with maker's name & address engraved on left side over the name "JOHN L. ENNIS". Receiver is spectacularly engraved, probably by William H. Gough, with full coverage, very fine, intertwined foliate arabesque patterns. It has flat scalloped gold border inlay around back edges with dash & dot gold border with gold wire around front edge. Hinge pin is also inlaid with a spoked wheel flat gold inlay. Right side & top of receiver have flat gold inlaid acanthus leaves with maker's name in flat gold on each side. Bottom front of receiver has two flat gold flying pigeons and trigger plate has a dash & dot gold border. Trigger bow has a gold wire border in Moorish pattern. Bottom tang has serial number in gold and opening lever has a rose blossom and two buds with stems & leaves in gold. Top tang also has full coverage matching engraving as does forend iron. Sides of bbl reinforcement and about 2-1/2" of bbl are engraved to match with flat gold inlays and top of bbl, over chamber area, is hand matted. Bbl flat, water table & inside forend iron have the serial number engraved, accompanied by an "M". Mounted with very nicely figured streaky French walnut with tiger striping and has a long forearm, fully checkered, with Fleur-de-lis and ribbon carving and a straight hand stock, checkered & carved extensively with raised side panels, also checkered & carved with the front section matted. It is 14-1/4" over leather faced, solid red pad. It has a gold initial shield on bottom engraved "JLE". Water table is beautifully jeweled. Accompanied by a letter from John T. Callahan, Arms Historian for Fox Shotguns, fully identifying this shotgun basically as found with Silvers recoil pad. It was shipped June 16, 1932 on Invoice #10377 and consigned to J.L. Galef Co. of New York City. Bore diameter: .726, Bore restriction: .024. Wall thickness: .072. Drop at heel: 1-7/8", drop at comb: 1-1/2". Weight: 8 lbs. .96 oz. CONDITION: Extraordinarily fine, has been fired but retains virtually all of its orig factory finish with strong bright blue on bbl and bright yet subtle case colors on receiver with some edge wear and turning dark on bottom & trigger plate. Trigger guard retains about 60-70% strong bright case colors and about half of top tang has turned silver. Wood is sound with forearm retaining virtually all of its orig hand rubbed oil finish showing very light checkering wear. Buttstock has a professionally restored finish from checkering back. Mechanics are fine, bright shiny bore. 4-31528 JR438 (30,000-45,000)"
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