30" Sterlingworth 20

[Dick Jones]

I bought a 30" Sterlingworth 20 last night on auction. Serial number is in the 250,000 range but the seller posted it was a Savage Arms gun. I'm wondering if the barrels are a replacement. They are serial numbered to to gun. Really excited to get it and find out what I've bought. I guess I'll know when I get it but is there a certain way to tell if barrels have been replaced at the factory other than markings that don't coincide with the serial number?

[bbman3]

30" 20 gauge sterlingworths are rare. maybe after you get the gun you will be able to tell. late replacement barrels may have sp stamped on barrel flats or a u stamped.

[Researcher]

The 32-inch 20-gauge Sterlingworths are rare. The 30-inch 20-gauge Sterlingworths are perhaps uncommon.

[Dick Jones]

I got the Sterlingworth today. 30 inch barrels made for the gun sometimes after the Savage takeover. The original barrels must be out there somewhere since these are marked 2 under the serial number. The barrels are in perfect condition but need bluing and judging from the fit, I suspect they were added to the gun fairly late.

I got the gun at a good price though it has boogered screws, a non original forend and stock with a cheek peice as well as the original stock and forend with a chip out at the top of the reciever.

I'm happy. Just wish I knew where that other set of barrels were. I guess I'll take the cheekpeice off the stock and refinish it. Tempting to completly restore the gun since it has 30" barrels but since they're not original, i guess it would be a waste.

Is a Sterlingworth with non original 30" barrels worth more than the same gun with original 28" barrels? I don't think so. What do you guys think?

By the way, just out of curiosity, I tried the barrels on my 1912 Sterlingworth 20 and they were a perfect fit. The older guns barrels also fit the newer gun perfectly, What are the odds on that?

[Twice Barrel]

Dick if Fox made and fitted the barrels and they are serial numbered to the gun the barrels are original to that gun. I see no reason to believe there is any difference in value between a gun with barrels as they left the factory or with a set that was added by the factory as the #2 indicates.

[Researcher]

There have been a bunch, of very likely Savage reject barrels, sold in the last decade, and number stamps aren't all that hard to come by. I'd want to look real carefully before making any judgements pro or con.