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What's the general feeling concerning the Fox Model B? I've been watching a number of them on the various auction sites and some look pretty decent for around $400 - $450. Any opinions? Good, bad, indifferent?

SgtSam

Good, sturdy, not fancy, will last a long time, kinda heavy, Very Happy

Mike

Joined: 19 Jun 2004 Posts: 1480 Location: Mpls, MN.

I bought a used version of this gun for my little brother for Christmas, in 1980. The gun had been built in 1969, according to the date code on the barrels. Little 'bro is a no-nonsense kind of guy, who doesn't baby anything, and considers his guns little more than tools. He discovered, pretty early on, that the left tube of the thirty inch pair consistantly put a federal slug into the center of a pop can at about fifty yards every time he fired it. The right tube puts the slug somewhere, but not with any degree of repeatability. He has used it for upland bird hunting, and deer hunting ever since. He has used it hard. He fell out of his tree stand one year, and broke the stock, and a new one was procurred, which broke after the first shot. I repaired that stock, and did a bit more careful job of installation than he did, and it has been fine-it is a repair that is undetectable, which, I'm proud of, but, has happened exactly one time in my life.
The ejectors have been a little troublesome, but the last time I stripped and cleaned the gun, I got them working consistantly-evidence pointed to them being worked on, previously, but, 'bro says it wasn't him, which I believe. The gun was used, remember. This experience dovetails exactly with the gun owned by a childhood friends father, an identicle Savage Fox BSE in 20 gauge (bro's is a 12) a gun that has been seen, once or twice in the last 50 years, for ejector trouble. I have heard the single triggers will act up, but, haven't seen it-my brother often feeds the gun stout duck loads and 2 3/4 magnum slugs are a regular feature in it's diet.
They are a bit crude, but, the examples I know of have an enviable reputation for being good, every day using guns that you don't have to worry about getting mud on.

Best,
Ted

At the risk of being "shot", is there enough meat in the muzzle area of a 28", M/F, Fox B to have it modified for choke tubes? Would it even be worth it? Just curious.

SgtSam

Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Posts: 696 Location: WA/AK

The later generation Model Bs have plenty heafty barrels. A good set of choke tubes and proper installation would cost as much as a Model B is worth. 1972 was the last year the Model Bs were catalogued as being available in 16-gauge.

I believe Mike Orlen will cut and thread a double for $150, plus cost of choke tubes you want.

OK, lets see what you might get

Savage Fox model B , double triggers, extractors
Savage Fox model BS, single trigger, extractors
Savage Fox model BSE, single trigger, ejectors

So the model B that you ask about is double trigger, extractors?

Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Posts: 696 Location: WA/AK

Here is my Fox Model B chronology --

Fox Model B – The Fox Model B was added to the 1940 Fox catalogue put out by Savage. The retail price was $25. The Model B was offered in 12-, 16-, and 20-gauges and .410-bore, and had a color case-hardened frame. By January 22, 1945, the retail price of the Model B was up to $34.50. After WW-II the Springfield 311 (1947) and then the Stevens 311 (1948 and on) were built on a version of the Model B action often marked 5100. The pre-WW-II Springfield No. 311, as well as the Riverside and Springfield No. 315, the Stevens No. 330, and numerous “trade brand” guns were all built on Steven’s G.S. Lewis’ Apr 20, 1915, patented action.

Through the 1954 catalogue the Model B remained a double trigger, plain extractor, slim forearm utility gun. In the 1955 catalogue Savage added a Model BST which got a non-selective single trigger and a beavertail forearm. The offerings were the same for 1956 thru 1958.

By the 1960 catalogue the B and the BST got ventilated ribs. There were no changes in the 1961 catalogue.

For 1962 a B De Luxe in 12-gauge was added with a satin chrome receiver, white-line grip cap and butt plate, checkered side panels, beavertail, ventilated rib, and gold plated non-selective single trigger. They also gold plated the trigger on the BST. There were no changes for 1963.

For 1964 the De Luxe became the BDE, and included automatic ejectors, and also was available in 20-gauge chambered for 3-inch shells. The B and BST remained unchanged.

For 1965 the B and BST 20-gauges got 3-inch chambers.

For 1966 the satin chrome BDE was gone. There was a BSE with ejectors, non-selective single trigger, satin black finish, white-line butt plate and grip cap, beavertail and ventilated rib. The Model B had double triggers, was case hardened, had a ventilated rib, and now a beavertail. Both guns now featured impressed stamped checkering. For 1967, 8, 9 and 1970 the offerings were the same. The gun control act of 1968 required Savage to start putting serial numbers on these guns.

By 1971 there was a gun called the Savage 550 which was just like the BSE but had a case hardened receiver, and was offered in 12- and 20-gauges. The text said it had precisely engineered barrels resulting in perfect balance. In the picture it appears to be a mono-bloc design?!? Also grip caps are gone from the B and BSE. Offerings for 1972 were the same – the 550 listed at $174.95, the B-SE listed at $164.95, and the B listed at $139.95.

By 1973, the BSE and 16-gauges are gone, but there is a 24-inch barrel B in 12-gauge and 20-gauge, both with 3-inch chambers.

For 1974 the Savage 550 is gone and the B-SE is back. The B-SE 12-gauge has 2 ¾ inch chambers and the 12-gauge B and 24” Fox B have 3-inch chambers. All the 20-gauge and .410-bore are 3-inch chambered. No changes for 1975, 6, 7, or 8. For 1979 the grip caps are back and the double triggered B is offered with ejectors as the BE.

For 1980, cut checkering is back, but the 24-inch barrel offerings are gone – B, BE and B-SE. In 1981 the BE was gone, but the FA-1 and the FP-1 Fox autoloader and pump appeared. For 1982 the Fox offerings were B, B-SE, FA-1 and FP-1.

For 1983 the only Fox offering was the B-SE. The B-SE remained through the 1987 catalogue when its list price was $525. By the 1988 catalogue the Fox name was gone.

Thanks for the most informative replys.

I'm just musing. There seems to be a number of 28" Model Bs at the various gun hawker sites. Being 28" they're all F/M. Found one 30" that was supposedly F/IC. That's the motiviation for my question concerning having one modified for tubes. If I could find a 26", they're supposedly M/IC, I could live with that.

The price range seems to be $300 to $450. Some of them are pretty clean, nice looking guns. Would $400 be out of line for one?

Thanks.

SgtSam

I'm willing to bet these heavier barreled Fox Model B doubles could very well be prime candidates for back boring. Doing so would improve ballistics and would also lighten up the barrels if enough inner wall thickness can be removed safely. An overbored 16 with .670 to .675" diameter bores would probably throw some sweet patterns at higher than average velocities if the chokes were also adjusted to match the new bore sizes. Might make up into one helluva game gun. Something to think about for anyone who owns one.