Trying to find model, worth, etc

[garyfb]

I inherited a Sterlingworth double barrel 26in barrel shotgun.
I'm trying to figure out which model it is and the value of it.
The serial number is 92019.

It looks to be in pretty good condition.

Any help would be appreciated .

[vaturkey]

Value of that model is based almost solely on condition because it's the most common found as a 12 gauge. If you can post a few good quality pictures we can probably give you a range of values. Also, I'd recommend you look at comparable guns on Gunbroker.com or Gunsamerica.com. Don't go by asking prices, because many of those guns are overpriced (on Gunbroker) and have been listed for sale forever. PS. Look around this website and you will find some good photo's on the various grades of Sterlingworth.

[Researcher]

When the Sterlingworth came out in 1910 it had a price of $25. That climbed to $55 by 1919. A.H. Fox Gun Co. reduced the price to $48 in 1922 and again to $36.50 in 1926. Workmanship of course declined. Savage kept the $36.50 price until June 1932 when they upped it to $39.50. On February 10, 1936, they upped the price again to $42.85 (the digits 2 and 8 are transposed in McIntosh's book). On February 1, 1938, Savage tried a price cut and dropped it to $35. February 1, 1939, they upped the price to $44.75. January 2, 1940, up again to $48.50. January 2, 1941, up to $52.65 and June 16 up again to $56.50. January 2, 1942, up again to $64.95.

For $40 Graded or $30 Sterlingworth (last prices I've seen quoted) you can get a factory letter on most any Ansley H. Fox shotgun (Philadelphia or Utica) from Mr. John T. Callahan, 53 Old Quarry Road, Westfield, MA 01085. The information exists on the factory work-order cards, probably 85+% of which still exist. Send him the complete serial number and a check, and he can do the rest. That would tell you the specifications of the gun when it left the factory.

There were more 12-gauge Sterlingworths made than any other Fox double (some 110,000, the great majority with 30- or 28-inch barrels), so unless in exceptionally high condition or with features such as automatic ejectors or factory original 26- or 32-inch barrels, they are about an $800 gun. It is impossible to truly evaluate a gun with out having it in hand, but average 12-gauge Sterlingworths are about $800 guns. The various barrel length Sterlingworths were given names. The Sterlingworth Brush had 26-inch barrels, the Sterlingworth Field had 28-inch barrels, the Sterlingworth Standard had 30-inch barrels and the Sterlingworth Trap had 32-inch barrels. Your gun is probably in the 1920-21 vintage. The 26-inch barrel 12-gauges weren't too common in that time frame, so most anyone looking at your gun will be skeptical that the barrels have been cut. A factory letter that verifies original barrel length is a great help with such a gun.