Last week end I came acroos a Phil. Sterlingworth that started life as a 20 Ga. Somewhere along the way a set of 16 ga tubes were added via Utica. The gun is in fair shape cosmetically and good shape mechanically. Blue about 70% Colors a distant memory. Wood unsplit or cracked but in need of care. I was looking at it as a good shooter with an interesting twist. Any thoughts as to what it might be worth. The ask is around $2700 which I thought to steep.
Regards
Joe
20 / 16 GA Sterlingworth
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tony williamson
- Posts: 79
- Joined: Tue Mar 23, 2010 6:47 pm
Re: 20 / 16 GA Sterlingworth
i've seen 20 gauges with no second barrel sell for that here in the south. but 2700 is a lot of money. ask yourself how bad you want it. two barrels price is prob ok if gun is in good shape. one set of barrels, price is too high, imho.
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ASavageFox
- Posts: 552
- Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:23 pm
Re: 20 / 16 GA Sterlingworth
Let me start by saying WELCOME and bring on the questions... now I'll say that you are not going to get a lot of responses to a question like that around here b/c the answers will be loaded with BUTS or IFs... value depends on a lot of things...
Condition is huge driver (especially to me but this is where other vary)
On the small bores two other things have a HUGE factor-barrel length and ejectors verse extractors. A 32" 20 gauge ejector gun would bring a small fortune in comparison to a 26" extractor gun.
20's tend to bring more money than 16s
is the gun fit to shoot as is and what are the dimensions. If the gun has 3 1/2" of drop... the value is greatly decreased (unless its 100% original and high condition in which case its a collector and not a shooter)
Is the second set of barrels factory addition or someone's add on later and are they properly fit? Do they have their own forearm?
Based on your general description, I personally would not pay that... the odd things about Fox collecting to date is that their is generally not enough consistent pressure to mandate a consistent price... The recent James Julia auction is a good example, several guns sold for far less than what they might have a year or two ago... some of this may be general economy but it appears to me (and I am still a novice Fox collectors) that Fox collecting tends to swing in "fads." Not too long ago (and maybe still) the thing to have was HE grade guns and long barreled guns (even 12 bores). prior to that the pressure seemed to be more focused on graded small bores, etc etc ... while all of these are still generally what appeals to a collector, the demand for such items seems to sway more so than collecting something that has a larger pool of collectors, like say Parkers or Winchester lever guns.
So to answer your question... I'd keep looking or try to work a better deal if it was me... but its your money, buy what you REALLY WANT and you will be happy no matter the price.
cheers
Condition is huge driver (especially to me but this is where other vary)
On the small bores two other things have a HUGE factor-barrel length and ejectors verse extractors. A 32" 20 gauge ejector gun would bring a small fortune in comparison to a 26" extractor gun.
20's tend to bring more money than 16s
is the gun fit to shoot as is and what are the dimensions. If the gun has 3 1/2" of drop... the value is greatly decreased (unless its 100% original and high condition in which case its a collector and not a shooter)
Is the second set of barrels factory addition or someone's add on later and are they properly fit? Do they have their own forearm?
Based on your general description, I personally would not pay that... the odd things about Fox collecting to date is that their is generally not enough consistent pressure to mandate a consistent price... The recent James Julia auction is a good example, several guns sold for far less than what they might have a year or two ago... some of this may be general economy but it appears to me (and I am still a novice Fox collectors) that Fox collecting tends to swing in "fads." Not too long ago (and maybe still) the thing to have was HE grade guns and long barreled guns (even 12 bores). prior to that the pressure seemed to be more focused on graded small bores, etc etc ... while all of these are still generally what appeals to a collector, the demand for such items seems to sway more so than collecting something that has a larger pool of collectors, like say Parkers or Winchester lever guns.
So to answer your question... I'd keep looking or try to work a better deal if it was me... but its your money, buy what you REALLY WANT and you will be happy no matter the price.
cheers
Cheers!
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tony williamson
- Posts: 79
- Joined: Tue Mar 23, 2010 6:47 pm
Re: 20 / 16 GA Sterlingworth
A perfect example of why this forum is so valuable. What can we learn when dealers down here are selling sterlys that have been horribly recased and hot blued for upwu.ards of 2500 just because they are small gauge. Don.t buy em.
Re: 20 / 16 GA Sterlingworth
Just as an fyi in this part of NY a really nice Sterlingworth in 16 ga. Original wood and blue in very good condition with maybe light colors goes for about $1700 no problem.
Joe
Joe