This is a beautiful example of a "Made to Order" Special De Grade Fox double barrel 20 gauge shotgun. This wonderful shotgun was manufactured in 1917 and as noted is embellished with the "First Generation", factory engraving, that includes five raised factory gold inlays, with gold barrel bands at the breech end and the serial number and "SAFE" markings also gold inlayed. These early Fox shotguns are a beautiful example of the early prewar gun makers craft that were the equivalent to or better than the famous Winchester Model 21s, as well as the various Parker Bros. Shotguns. This fantastic shotgun features a deluxe master level tight English scroll engraving pattern intermixed with a geometric border and two game scenes that covers the entire receiver, trigger guard, upper and lower tangs. This beautiful engraving is also on the breech ends of the barrels, knuckle and locking mechanism of the forend. The gold inlays on both sides of the receiver consist of two game scenes; one that is a pair of snipe in a marsh scene with the other side featuring a pair of grouse in a field scene. The underside of the receiver also has a single engraved scene that depicts a pair of hunting dogs on point in a field scene. The manufacturers name; "ANSELY H. FOX" is shown on both sides also surrounded in a banner/border outline. The underside of the trigger guard bow features a single raised gold inlayed capital letter "F", as well as the "SAFE" marking is gold inlayed. The rear of both barrel also features a single wide gold inlayed barrel band. This superb shotgun also features an exquisite select dark English walnut stock and forend with beautiful black streaking throughout, with a deluxe Fleur-de-Lis checkering pattern around the entire pistol grip area, the side plate area of the buttstock, directly behind the receiver and the sides of the forend. The barrels are 26 inches long, and are choked "IMP MODIFIED and Extra FULL" and feature a raised matted rib with double ivory sighting beads, with auto-ejectors. The top of the right barrel is marked; "KRUPP FLUID STEEL MADE TO ORDER" with the left barrel marked "BY A. Y. FOX GUN CO. PHILA PA. U.S.A.", with the underside of the breech marked; D 200928, with partial circled "FOX" markings. The water table of is marked "200928 D and SPECIAL". Length of pull is 14 3/8 inches. Drop at comb is 1 7/16 inches, drop at heel is 2 1/2 inches. Cast on 1/2 inch, toe 0, bore .614, wall thickness .059, choke (gauge: right is imp. Mod. And left is extra full.) This beautiful shotgun also features a beautiful rust blue finish with color-case hardened receiver, trigger guard bow and lower tang, as well as the attaching and locking iron of the forend. This beautiful shotgun is accompanied by a current leather bound, compartmentalized storage/carrying case that has two silver plated snap caps, silver plated oil bottle, cleaning patches and a small black leather storage pouch that houses a brass jag, mop and cleaning brush.

Very fine with 99% professionally restored rust blue finish on the barrel surfaces with 95% of the color casehardened finish on the remaining components, showing some fading on the lower tang and forend locking device. The stock and forend retain 98% of their hand rubbed finished overall with grain with just impeccable checkering on the stock and forend, that shows no handling marks anywhere. The sides of the buttstock show some areas of raised wood grain that may have occurred from sitting in the storage case. The action works perfectly. Just an exceptional high grade special order deluxe prewar double barrel shotgun.