20 gauge Sterlingworth with straight stock

[mollow]

I'm considering a 20 gauge Sterlingworth with a straight stock. The barrels are 28" and it is choked mod and full so I guess that rules out that it is the upland/skeet gun? It has what looks like an ivory medallion on the forend and I would guess the stock is not original, or if it is, then it was definitely refinished. It supposedly locks up tight and has excellent bores. I assume that it hasn't much collector value, but it is beautiful and I would be interested in using it in the field. Could it be worth the fellow's 2,500.00 asking price?

[mike campbell]

It could be worth it to someone. If I were in the market for a 20ga SW and this one suited me to a "T" , I might pay that much.

I learned in Economics 101 that the real cost of something is never defined by dollars and cents, but what you have to sacrifice to have it. So, the real "cost" of a hamburger is not the $4 you had to pay last year or the $5 today, but the 2 hotdogs you could always have had instead.

You NEED a 20ga SxS. You're at least contemplating spending $2500. Think of the other 20ga SxS's you could own for the same or less...then choose. Suppose you NEED a SW exactly like this one....what would you have to spend to duplicate it? Finally...when I buy something I like, I do so knowing I will never have to share, explain or justify what I paid to another living soul. And if I want to get rid of it, I can sell it for half what I paid and tell everyone I made a huge profit.

[mollow]

I love a good philosophical reply! Thanks, Mike.

[JakeFlyFish]

I"m finding a fairly soft market. My brother is a Fox freak, just posted a 16 gauge SW for sale, very nice gun, could not get the $950.00 asking price. Awhile back, you could not buy it for that price anywhere. Jerry

[ASavageFox]

mollow, the answer to your question is no... its not worth the sellers $2500 asking price... not if you are looking to compare to the general market... that is, unless it is factory original... if you posted pics, the guys here could tell you...

Jerry, I looked your brother Tom's gun over several times... it could have been had for under $800 as I recall... I'm not in love with that style Fox but did think it was a heck of a deal... it would have made a great custom gun project... but I have a project gun already... and one is more than enough...

[mike campbell]

mollow, the answer to your question is no... its not worth the sellers $2500 asking price... not if you are looking to compare to the general market...

That's a pretty definitive statement. Care to expound on what you know of this particular gun, and the general market on custom SW's, that makes you so sure? Starting with a 20ga SW in excellent mechanical condition, what does the general market tell you that you would have to pay for

1) the gun....most likely a pistiol grip requiring
2) a new or modified triggerguard
3) barrel work, including a reblack and choke adjustment
4) disassembly, polishing and CCH-ing the action
5) a worthy stock blank
6) turning, fitting and finishing to custom dimensions
7) checkering commensurate with the

assuming professional work since, as in this case, you'd be doing none of the work yourself?

What would you expect to pay for such a project?

[mollow]

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[mollow]

so, here are a couple of photos. Any more thoughts?

[ASavageFox]

mollow, the answer to your question is no... its not worth the sellers $2500 asking price... not if you are looking to compare to the general market...

That's a pretty definitive statement. Care to expound on what you know of this particular gun, and the general market on custom SW's, that makes you so sure? Starting with a 20ga SW in excellent mechanical condition, what does the general market tell you that you would have to pay for

1) the gun....most likely a pistiol grip requiring
2) a new or modified triggerguard
3) barrel work, including a reblack and choke adjustment
4) disassembly, polishing and CCH-ing the action
5) a worthy stock blank
6) turning, fitting and finishing to custom dimensions
7) checkering commensurate with the

assuming professional work since, as in this case, you'd be doing none of the work yourself?

What would you expect to pay for such a project?

Sure, I'll expound, the OP came here asking for an opinion on the worth of a 20 gauge SW with limited information but he believed it had been altered to the addition of a straight grip and some form of an inlay in the forearm. I am no expert and have never claimed to be but I am willing to provide my opinion... There are about a hundred variable that could effect value so with out going into endless detail, I simply gave my opinion. (as a side bar... I really think one of the major issues with this group, (in my opinion only) is the lack of helpfulness provided to new posters with questions.) Please don't take this personally as I agree with the message of your post, but I do not believe the OP came here to get an economics lessons on deriving individual value rather was looking for a rough estimate of the "going" price such a gun would be sold for on the open market. Again, no expert, but one thing I do very diligently is to watch pretty much all of the online auctions as well as sales that happen at major auction houses and in my opinion, in this market, even a well done converted gun (based on the seller description) is not worth $2500... on the other hand I do agree that some person could be an exception to the case as you stated... if the gun fit perfectly with the needs and desires of said person, then yes, it might be worth $2500 to that person... but on the open market on the average day, I do not believe the gun described would bring $2500. Now, if you disagree, feel free to post such, I won't be offended...its simply my opinion. I should have been more clear to state that my judgment was made based on the limited information provided but I think that much is self evident and I did purpose the OP to post pics so the true experts here could better assess.

As for the work you mention in a restoration... first off, the OP never mentioned anything about barrels being reblued, CCH, a worthy stock blank, an long trigger guard, etc... secondly, as you so eloquently stated, what something cost one person is no real factor in defining value to another... and as we all know, restoration work, especially on a low grade gun, is almost always money lost...

I terms of your last question, I don't see my estimates of the going rate for restoration work as relevant to this post, we are talking about the sales market of a modified gun not what it cost to modify a gun... so I will leave it out.

Mollow,

Thanks for posting pics! That circular piece in the forearm is not ivory, rather its steel and it anchors the ejectors... small bore guns with ejectors are worth a good chunk more on the open market compared to those with just extractors but are a matter of personal preference often related to the end use of the gun. In terms of the originality of the wood... I hope the experts here will hopefully step up and comment... I would agree that the wood has been at minimum refinished. A picture of the trigger tang itself would help also. If I were to guess, it appears to me the stock may be English walnut which would not likely be found on a SW and the checkering does not appear to be original, but again, there are plenty here that would be a better judge than I.

Good luck, would be a fun gun to hunt with and shoot if the stock fits you well...

[vaturkey]

I think I'd like to see how the gun letters. If it letters the right way it might be worth the asking price. More and better pictures would indeed be helpful. PS. If that is indeed a factory straight stock, ejector 20 gauge its a harder bird to come by for sure.

[NJdblgun]

I agree with VATurkey, if the gun Letters as a straight stock, and other measurements, and is in good condition as it appears, it is worth consideration at $2500. More quality pictures would help to tell the story

[Silvers]

Regarding this Sterlingworth, IMO it's a custom rework with a new buttstock. The profile of the comb nose is pretty high and is atypical for a Fox. Also, the wrist is quite long and (although not pictured) the comb line had to have been shortened up and buttstock set back. The stock "cheek" is not distinct as typical for a Fox. All those features are rarely if ever seen in Fox factory work. Actually the portion shown on the pic is reminiscent of a RBL-16 or RBL-12 stock. People either love or hate em. Check out the RBL-12 pic below = long wrist, high nose, comb line set way back.

Is that Fox worth $2500.? Only you can decide. Custom work varies widely in styling and quality. It's difficult to assess against the sale prices of other custom Foxes that may be more Foxy looking. Key questions: Do you like the styling? How do the stock dimensions work for you? Do all the mechanics check out? Is the stock headed up tightly? Have the barrels been overbored (wall thickness)? And especially for a 20 gauge.... have the chambers and/or forcing cones been extended, and if so what is the remaining wall ahead of the chambers/cones?

Best to get the gun in hand, on trial, before making a decision. All this is JMO of course. Silvers

[mollow]

Here's a few more pictures. Also, I spoke with the seller who confirms that it is a custom restocking and that the original was an English stock, too. He claims the chambers are 2 3/4 inches with IC and Mod chokes. Yes, it has auto ejectors. Silvers, could you expound upon what you said about people either loving or hating this style of stock?

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[mollow]

2 more:

[Silvers]

Regarding RBL's, there's a big difference between how the 16 and 12 gauges are stocked, versus the original 20 gauge version. Some people just don't like the looks of a long wrist, high nose, set back comb and buttstock. Others think they look just great. While at shoots and events, I've heard comments from people on both sides of the RBL fence.

Ultimately it boils down to what YOU like on a custom Fox like the one you're looking at. Silvers