Sources for Fox 16ga guns?

[shinbone]

Hi All,

I am new to the forum. A good friend of mine hunts a 20ga Fox Sterlingworth and it is one sweet little gun. I love how this gun handles and decided to start shopping for a 16ga Fox for myself. I am looking for a shooter condition Sterlingworth or lower-priced AE for grouse and woodcock hunting. I found a Sterlingworth that looked suitable on Gunbroker and ended up being the high bidder. I was disappointed once I got the gun in hand because it was too heavy for my tastes at 6 lbs 13 oz, plus, it is off-face. Now I am faced with the hassel of putting the gun back on-face and moving this gun along to someone who appreciates a heavier SxS.

(edit) BTW, the barrels weigh 3 lbs, 3.75 oz, which makes them #3 weight barrels, according to Mr. McIntosh's book. I've ordered a factory letter to try to learn more about the gun, although my understanding that it will have limited information since this is a Sterlingworth.

I am looking for a sub-6 lb gun, something with 28" or 26" preferably #4 weight barrels. I am thinking that maybe I would be better off shopping reputable brick&mortor or online gun shops so that I am able to ask questions over the phone and return a gun if it turns out to be not what I wanted.

Does anyone have any suggstions for reputable sellers who have good collections of Fox's available?

Also, does anyone have any suggestions for a gunsmith who can put a Fox back on face for a reasonable cost?

Thanks.

--shinbone

[mc15426378]

A 16 ga SW that weighs under 6 lbs? What is your budget for the "right" gun?

Mike

[Researcher]

How did a 16-gauge Sterlingworth get that heavy? What part of the country are you in? Perhaps we can recommend someone nearby.

[shinbone]

Mike - I don't have a set price. I would be willing to pay fair market value for a non-collector gun considering its configuration and condition, and considering that the gun will be dragged through Appalachian briars and brambles. I didn't think a sub-6 lb gun was that hard to find? Especially if it had #4 weight barrels. Are my expectations off-base? I figured the heaviest Fox 16ga with 28" barrels would be around 6 lbs 4 oz, but I guess I was wrong on that.

Researcher - I am in northern Virginia. I had no idea that a Fox 16ga with 28" barrels could be that heavy. Except for a red rubber pad that looks the same age as the gun, the gun looks to be unmodified. Maybe someone added some weight to the butt? Maybe it has especially dense wood?

BTW, the barrels weigh 3 lbs, 3.75 oz, which makes them #3 weight barrels, according to Mr. McIntosh's book. I've ordered a factory letter to try to learn more about the gun, although my understanding that it will have limited information since this is a Sterlingworth. (I've modified my original post to reflect this).

--shinbone

[MARSHFELLOW]

I just weighed 2 16ga S/Ws.....one Philly and one Utica, both 28" bbls.....6# 7oz and 6# 9 oz respectively (the Utica is a "deluxe" with orig Jostam pad)

tjw

[Fin2Feather]

My Utica 16ga Sterlingworth ejector, 28" barrels and a Hawkins pad, weighs 6lbs 8 oz; the barrels weigh 3lbs 1.5oz. I would think you'd have to go to 26" barrels to get at or under 6lbs, but maybe I'm wrong. That seems pretty light to me. My Utica 20ga SW non-ejector with 28" barrels and no pad weighs a whisker under six. The barrel weights in Mac's book are before striking so they can vary quite a bit from those weights.

[bbman3]

Shin,they are out there under 6 lbs with #4 weight barrels but remember this,if the gun is tightly choked from the factory a lot of times you cannot open up the chokes due to already thin barrel walls. There have been some barrels ruined trying to open up chokes! #3 barrels have enough wall to safely do this usually but as others have said they will weigh around 6 lbs 4 or more.I have a 26" ejector ster that weighs 5 lbs 14 ounces. Bobby

[shinbone]

Thanks for all the info, everyone. I guess the sub-6 lb Fox's are much less common than I thought. I'll keep looking and see what turns up.

Can anyone recommend a gunsmith experienced in putting Fox's back on face for a reasonable fee?

--shinbone

[Twice Barrel]

Getting much under 6 lbs with a 3 weight Sterlingworth 16 can be done but you will have to remove a bunch of wood from the buttstock and get rid of the recoil pad unless you can find one that belonged to a Chessapeak Bay oysterman that use it for a boat paddle like the one I resurrected. Fine carrying and shooting gun but it looks like Sh**.

[George Lander]

Shinbone: Come on down to the Southern. You will, most probably, find your Fox there.

Best regards, George

[shinbone]

Everyone - Thanks for the additional information including shotgun weights.

George- Thanks for the invite. I'll be there for sure.

--shinbone

[nhshooter]

Guys, where and when is the "southern"?

[mc15426378]

Here's a link to some info. April 29-May 1 in Sanford, NC. Great event.

http://www.deepriver.net/SouthernSideby ... fault.aspx

Mike

[spyder]

My copy of the 1926 catalog shows that the standard weights of 16g SW's are 5.75 - 6.0 for Brush guns (26") and 6.0-6.25 for Field (28"). I'm sure there are plenty of exceptions. My 1913 Brush 16g weighs 6-1, and I don't think I would like it much lighter than that.

[Laxcoach]

Shinbone,
I have purchased a couple nice Foxes from a fellow in The Plains. His name is Richard Miller--- (703) 609-8017. You might give him a call.