Longthorne’s Woodward-Inspired Foxcote Gets More Firepower
First introduced by Longthorne Guns in 28 gauge, the Foxcote over/under pays tribute to Foxcote House, an 18th-century country estate in the village of Ilmington, England noted for the owner’s shooting parties dropping in by helicopter.
Now, the English gunmaker has upped the Foxcote’s firepower by adding a 12 gauge – certainly more apropos of us mere mortals for downing the plump high-flying pheasants of that lovely country manor. The 12 gauge continues the design and shooting principles of the growing Foxcote family.
The Longthorne Foxcote in 28 gauge.
Longthorne’s Foxcote belongs to their classical 1725 collection. Built around a Woodward-inspired action, these over/unders are distinguished in the Longthorne portfolio with the sleek silhouette of an intuitive sharpshooter. The Foxcote presents itself as a graceful, compact hunting gun of London elegance, rather than their other more contemporary interpretations of over/unders and side by sides that have attracted a loyal following drawn by an appreciation of both innovation and craftsmanship.
At the 2026 Dallas Safari Club Convention in Atlanta held January 7-10, Longthorne’s Managing Director, James Longthorne Stewart, explained the particular handling dynamics of the Foxcotes.
Longthorne’s Managing Director, James Longthorne Stewart at the 2026 Dallas Safari Club Convention with a Foxcote.
“With our other barrels, the balance is distributed throughout the barrel,” he said. “The Foxcote barrels have a more conventional feel by putting the balance between the hands.”
In Longthorne parlance, those other barrels are called Peregrines. The name honors the Peregrine Falcon because the raptor, as James put it, “is fast, deadly and accurate.”
The Peregrine barrels shift their mass toward the breech with overall weight uniformly flowing toward the muzzle. The Peregrine barrels are designed to make the shotgun feel lighter and quicker. James will tell you that a Longthorne over/under that weights 8.5 pounds will actually feel lighter, quicker and easier to swing that shotguns of comparable weight from other makers. “The gun rotates more than it swings,” he said.
With its founding in 2006, Longthorne immediately sparked controversy in the British gun trade by milling barrels from a 60-pound billet of high-specification, steel alloy. In the eyes of the establishment, Longthorne committed heresy by upending traditional barrel making that joins two tubes. Longthorne has subsequently modified their CNC machines to also produce titanium and Damascus-steel barrels, continuing their mission to deliver a gun 100-percent made in England. Regardless of the material, Longthorne’s pioneering barrels are intended to improve heat distribution, bore alignment, regulation and durability.
Details of a 28-gauge Longthorne Foxcote.
Over the years, shooters have come around to Longthorne’s way of thinking. The small firm now produces about 150 guns per year and has a full order book.
Although the Foxcote barrels are also born of a single billet, the weight distribution is different than Longthorne’s other models.
“The Foxcote barrels are more lively with a more continental feel,” James said.
A grip cap of a 28-gauge Longthorne Foxcote.
As with all other Longthorne shotguns, barrels are available in any length with either fixed or portable chokes as part of the company’s bespoke program.
The Foxcote modernizes the Woodward action while maintaining the form and style of a timeless English field gun. Longthorne modified the low-profile Woodward action for improved performance, visual appeal and reliability. Longthorne’s triggerplate Woodward action has about 30 percent fewer parts over more popular renditions. In addition, Longthorene replaced the V spring with a coil spring that is expected to last the life of the gun.
At the current exchange and tariff rates, a top-of-the-line Foxcote will cost approximately $27,000.
Irwin Greenstein is the publisher of Shotgun Life. You can reach him at the Shotgun Life Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/shotgunlife#
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Irwin Greenstein is Publisher of Shotgun Life. Please send your comments to letters@shotgunlife.com.
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