First Fox

[2lo8s]

While waiting patiently for a promised 30 inch, 20 gauge Sterlingworth to come to market, I've purchased the Macintosh book to begin the learning process and found this Utica 20 gauge Sterlingworth to hold while reading.









20 gauge, 28inch Full/Mod (and when I say they ring like churchbells I do them a disservice), grip cap, buttplate, good dimensions, 95% blue, 85% case colors. All numbers match, TopLever well right of center, tight on face and hingepin.

Barrels read
Special Alloy Forged Steel
Savage Arms Corporation Utica N.Y.U.S.A.
Barrel weight isn't stamped on barrels. Any guesses as to why and what they might be?
Chamber length either. 2 3/4 ??
Serial # 2648xx. Doublegunshop.con says 1934, would that be correct?

When I removed the buttplate a yellow slip of paper fell out with a name, address and phone number. I don't know how long it's been there but I'm thinking of making contact.

Any comments would certainly be appreciated. Thanks

[fox-admin]

That is one very nice Fox that anyone would be proud to own. The condition looks excellent and untouched, just the way you want to find them. Very nice enjoy.

[Researcher]

As often as not the weight numbers got polished off barrels during production. Very nice looking early Savage era Fox-Sterlingworth. The only real way to know anything is to get a letter from John Calahan the Savage historian. That serial number list, originally published by Lightner Library back in the 1970s, can be right on the money or wildly inaccurate. In the big scheme of things it is not very usefull.

[fullchoke16]

Nice gun. That's about as nice of condition as you're likely to find. It's pretty common for Utica guns to have the numbers struck off, if they were a lighter set of barrels, during the finishing process. I'd hazard a guess that they are #3 or #4s. That number thing, for the most part, means diddly skwat. It's just a thing that gun owners can locate and talk about and amuse themselves with(me included). I can't recall ever seeing a 30" 20 gauge Sterlingworth for sale. I know they were made in grade guns as long as 32" so it's a possibility. That's so cool to find a note under the butt plate. I always look but no luck yet. On a gun as nice as yours, I'd try to get in touch to get some history on the gun as well as the original purchaser. Nice find, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Fred

[bbman3]

Very nice Fox! I have a 30" 20 ga sterlingworth and i know of a couple of others.they are very hard to find,barrels on it are marked#3. Bobby

[fox-admin]

I have handled one 32" 20ga Sterlingworth, it is well known by collectors who has attended east coast SxS events. The owner displays it every year, he must have 2 dozen offers on the gun. I believe our Mr. Researcher has been looking for a 32" Sterly 20ga for 3 or 4 decades with out scoring, they are a rare piece. But ya never know.

[eightbore]

These guys are holding back. That is the best Utica 20 most of us have ever seen.

[Fin2Feather]

I have #2644XX, 28" barrels, 2-3/4 chambers, IM/IC, . Not quite as nice as yours but pretty close. I've alway said mine is a '33, but I've never lettered it because you won't find out much about Sterlingworths from that era except the date it shipped, and that wasn't worth $35 to me. Congrats on a great find and a great gun!

[2lo8s]

I appreciate the information and comments. I took the gun to my club and shot a 22 and 23 on Skeet using RST Spreaders for any incoming pair. Shoots like a dream. My McIntosh book has arrived and I've gone ahead and joined the AHFCA. Thanks

[Twice Barrel]

I appreciate the information and comments. I took the gun to my club and shot a 22 and 23 on Skeet using RST Spreaders for any incoming pair. Shoots like a dream. My McIntosh book has arrived and I've gone ahead and joined the AHFCA. Thanks

Oh Oh Now the genie is out of the bottle and will never be able to be put back in. Soon you'll be tearing about the country single mindedly looking for the holy grail of Foxdom screaming through the night on the mere rumor that some widow lady in some New England village or Eastern Metropolis is dispersing her late husband's collection of high grade Foxes at bargain basement prices. Lord have mercy on our wayward Son.

[vaturkey]

I appreciate the information and comments. I took the gun to my club and shot a 22 and 23 on Skeet using RST Spreaders for any incoming pair. Shoots like a dream. My McIntosh book has arrived and I've gone ahead and joined the AHFCA. Thanks

What happened on the other 5 birds?

[2lo8s]

I appreciate the information and comments. I took the gun to my club and shot a 22 and 23 on Skeet using RST Spreaders for any incoming pair. Shoots like a dream. My McIntosh book has arrived and I've gone ahead and joined the AHFCA. Thanks

What happened on the other 5 birds?

Other than safety, we have but 1 rule amoungst the crowd I shoot with. Bring whichever gun you want to shoot, and don't cry about it if you drop a bird. I could go on and on about it being a new gun and I wasn't familiar with it, it has double triggers, or it's a field gun with very tight Full/Mod chokes, etc. But I won't.

What I will say is that it was bare naked lady swimsuit model scorekeeper day at my club and just leave it at that.