Skip to main content
Rock Island Auction Company
AuctionsConsignmentBlogFAQNewsAbout Us
Create Account
Login
AuctionsConsignmentBlogFAQNews & EventsAbout Us
Login
Create Account

History Lives Here

Rock Island Auction Company
1-309-797-15001-800-238-8022[email protected]
RIAC Rock Island
7819 42nd Street West
Rock Island, Illinois 61201, USA
8:00am - 5:00pm, Mon - Fri
RIAC Bedford
3600 Harwood Road
Bedford, Texas 76021, USA
8:00am - 5:00pm, Mon - Fri
Navigation
  • Auctions
  • Consignment
  • Blog
  • FAQ
  • News
  • About Us
More Info
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Job Postings & Careers
  • Contact
  • Order a Catalog
© 2025 Rock Island Auction Company. RIAC believes that this website is accessible to the widest possible audience pursuant to the guidelines of the Americans with Disability Act. Click here for more information.
Healthcare Transparency in Coverage.
  • Auction Catalog #88
  • Lot #1502
Lot #1501
Lot #1503

Lot 1502: Factory Engraved A. H. Fox HE Grade "Super Fox" Shotgun

Incredibly Rare, Iconic Special Order Factory Engraved A. H. Fox XE/HE Grade "Super-Fox" Double Barrel Shotgun with J. T. Callahan Letter

Auction Location: Rock Island, IL

Auction Date: May 20, 2023

Lot 1502: Factory Engraved A. H. Fox HE Grade "Super Fox" Shotgun

Incredibly Rare, Iconic Special Order Factory Engraved A. H. Fox XE/HE Grade "Super-Fox" Double Barrel Shotgun with J. T. Callahan Letter

Auction Location: Rock Island, IL

Auction Date: May 20, 2023

Estimated Price: $10,000 - $15,000
Price Realized:
Login to view
Login to view

Incredibly Rare, Iconic Special Order Factory Engraved A. H. Fox XE/HE Grade "Super-Fox" Double Barrel Shotgun with J. T. Callahan Letter

Manufacturer: Fox A H
Model: He Grade
Type: Shotgun
Gauge: 12
Barrel: 32 inch solid rib
Finish: blue/casehardened
Grip:
Stock: walnut
Item Views: 1584
Item Interest: Very Active
Serial Number:
Catalog Page: 420
Class: Curio & Relic Long Gun
Description:

The Super-Fox was developed in 1922 as a collaboration with Western Cartridge Company for their revolutionary Super X shotshells. John Olin developed the new cartridges for his company, along with Charles Askins, Sr., the best known gun writer in the country at the time. While testing the cartridges, they discovered that they performed best through an A.H. Fox shotgun that had been bored out by Philadelphia gunsmith, Burt Becker. Becker then worked with Fox to develop what would come to be known as the Super-Fox. Blued steel barrels with dual bead sights on the concave matted solid rib, barrels marked "CHROMOX FLUID COMPRESSED STEEL" and "MADE BY A.H. FOX GUN CO. PHILA. PA. U.S.A." on the right and left respectively, and chambers measured 3 inches with automatic ejectors with the "Barrels Not Guaranteed" marking on the barrel flats. The casehardened boxlock action displays XE Grade engraving featuring oak leaf designs around game bird scenes on the left and right of the action as well as a fox on the underside. The gun features an added Miller single selective trigger and an automatic tang mounted safety switch. Lightly figured, multi-point checkered splinter forend with engraved fittings, including the Deeley latch release, and highly figured round knob pistol grip Monte Carlo stock with checkered flats and brown rubber recoil pad. Per page 229 of Michael McIntosh's "A. H. Fox: The Finest Gun in the World" only a total of 300 Super-Fox guns are believed to have been built, approximately 240 of which were chambered in 12 gauge, but only a handful were engraved beyond the standard, relatively plain HE engraving, including the famous XH/HE Bo-Whoop of writer Nash Buckingham which was manufactured after this example. In fact, according to McIntosh's "A.H. Fox: The Finest Gun in the World" the earliest known engraved HE Grade to the author was number 29090, 83 after this example, possibly making this the earliest known engraved Super-Fox! The included J. T. Callahan letter confirms the current gauge, grade, engraving, barrel length, chamber length, and Monte Carlo stock when it was shipped to a C. A. Sharvhau of an unknown address on July 25, 1923 (letter lists 1913 but this appears to be a typo as the Super-Fox was not introduced until 1922 and A. H. Fox serial number dates place this gun in 1923). Barrel and stock measurements (R/L): bore diameter nine inches from the breech .738/.740 inches; choke constriction .045/.045 inches; minimum wall thickness .035/.039 inches; 1 5/8 inch drop at comb; 2 3/4 inch drop at heel; 13 5/8 inch length of pull; weight 9 lbs. 7 oz.

Rating Definition:

Fine as refurbished, retaining 85% plus blue finish, traces of original case colors in the protected areas with the balance an attractive silver patina, some plum/brown coloration in the blue, a few areas of scattered spotting, and overall mild handling evidence. The wood is also fine with a slightly ill-fitting recoil pad on the shortened stock, a few light marks, heavy gloss finish, and worn but well-defined checkering. Some welds done to the barrel lugs and underside of the trigger guard, otherwise mechanically excellent.



Customer Product Questions

There are currently no customer product questions on this lot

    Related Items

    Lot #319: Factory Engraved A. H. Fox AE Grade Double Barrel Shotgun

    Lot #508: Factory Engraved H. Nock Screw Barrel Flintlock Pistol

    Lot #46: Colt New Line .30 Caliber Revolver with Special Factory Grips

    Lot #1190: Factory Engraved Tobin Arms Double Barrel Shotgun

    Lot #1185: Factory Engraved Remington Model 1894 Double Barrel Shotgun

    Lot #92: Engraved H. Krieghoff Model 98 Bolt Action Rifle