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Loose Top Rib

Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2018 9:05 pm
by Woody
I noticed Last night the top rib on my 16 Sterlingworth is loose the last 3 inches. Any recommendations on someone to repair it?

Re: Loose Top Rib

Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 9:40 am
by Fin2Feather
I talked to several smiths about mine and ultimately sent it to Steve Bertram in Colorado. He did a great job but that's a long way from New York! I'm sure some folks here will come up with some names for you; I've forgotten who all I talked with.

Re: Loose Top Rib

Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 12:42 pm
by vaturkey
CSMC might be able to repair it. Brian Dudley could for sure, but I think he has a long long backup right now. Another choice is Turnbull.

Re: Loose Top Rib

Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 3:36 pm
by Woody
vaturkey wrote:CSMC might be able to repair it. Brian Dudley could for sure, but I think he has a long long backup right now. Another choice is Turnbull.

I talked to Brian about another project. Said he’s not taking any work right now. Turnbull is my last option even though they are close. I don’t want to tie the gun up if possible for a long time. Need it for grouse season. Loctite Black Max is always an option LOL.

Re: Loose Top Rib

Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 8:29 pm
by Fin2Feather
Kirk Merrington is an option but he says he'll only do it if he can relay the ribs; claims a spot repair never works. I couldn't afford that so I opted for the spot repair; hope Kirk is wrong :shock: !

Re: Loose Top Rib

Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2018 2:01 pm
by Brian Dudley
Turnbull does not do their rib work in house anyway.

And, yes. Rib work is pretty far down on my list of favorite things to do.

Re: Loose Top Rib

Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 5:27 pm
by Woody
Top rib is fixed. Looks awesome. Come to find out it wasn’t lifting just at the muzzle. After looking it over my smith said it was a poor solder job from the factory and he need to relay the whole rib.

Re: Loose Top Rib

Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2019 8:38 pm
by Researcher
Just out of curiosity what is the vintage of the guns you all have had loose rib issues with? I've had loose ribs on two 12-gauge guns, both in the 214xx serial number range. The front half of the bottom rib of Meat-in-the-Pot popped loose after I'd been shooting it over 45 years and Keith Kearcher fixed it while my Wife and I toured the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. The barrels rang like church chimes. Four years later the back half of the bottom rib popped loose. I dropped the gun off at Bachelders on my way home from Hausemann's in 2016 and a bit over a year later I had the gun back with the ribs relayed and the barrels reblued. Only shot a handful of Pheasants with it during the 2017-8 season.

Re: Loose Top Rib

Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2019 7:44 am
by Woody
Researcher wrote:Just out of curiosity what is the vintage of the guns you all have had loose rib issues with? I've had loose ribs on two 12-gauge guns, both in the 214xx serial number range. The front half of the bottom rib of Meat-in-the-Pot popped loose after I'd been shooting it over 45 years and Keith Kearcher fixed it while my Wife and I toured the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. The barrels rang like church chimes. Four years later the back half of the bottom rib popped loose. I dropped the gun off at Bachelders on my way home from Hausemann's in 2016 and a bit over a year later I had the gun back with the ribs relayed and the barrels reblued. Only shot a handful of Pheasants with it during the 2017-8 season.

The serial number on my gun is 356xxx. It’s a 16 ga 26” Sterlingworth. It’s the one pictured I shot the ducks with last week.

Re: Loose Top Rib

Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2019 1:33 pm
by Fin2Feather
Researcher wrote:Just out of curiosity what is the vintage of the guns you all have had loose rib issues with? I've had loose ribs on two 12-gauge guns, both in the 214xx serial number range. The front half of the bottom rib of Meat-in-the-Pot popped loose after I'd been shooting it over 45 years and Keith Kearcher fixed it while my Wife and I toured the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. The barrels rang like church chimes. Four years later the back half of the bottom rib popped loose. I dropped the gun off at Bachelders on my way home from Hausemann's in 2016 and a bit over a year later I had the gun back with the ribs relayed and the barrels reblued. Only shot a handful of Pheasants with it during the 2017-8 season.
16ga A grade, 28" barrels, #301xxx

Re: Loose Top Rib

Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2019 7:24 am
by Brian Dudley
As a sidebar, almost every set of fox barrels that I personally have re-blued, have voids in the solder joints. Some worse than others.