Fox Sterlingworth Hinge Gun with A Grade Engraving.

[SAS]

A fellow Fox enthusiast recently uncovered this interesting Fox SW, serial number 59303. This gun appears to have started life as SW exposed hinge model. Some of the interesting features include: 2nd generation A grade engraving (with some extra flourishes and scroll work, a European walnut stock with A-grade checking and initialed gold oval, and the top and bottom of the barrel ribs at the muzzle end are sculpted. The gun has twin ivory beads and terminates in a Pachmyer pad. The rib is marked Sterlingworth Fluid Compressed Steel, and the barrel flats and water table have standard SW markings, no grade designation. My guess is that the gun went back to the factory for stock work, and the engraving was applied at that time. All comments are welcome.

Thanks.

SW 59303 Hinge

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SW 59303 Stock

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SW 59303 Trigger Plate

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[Silvers]

Just my take on on the gun, FWIW.

As described by Scott.... the engraving is similar to, but is not the same as 2nd gen A type. Also, the stock is definitely not an early SW type. I doubt the factory would retrofit these and the barrel sculpting features to a Sterlingworth, because gents who saw it afterwards would be wondering why their SW didn't look like that, and that would cause no end of confusion and work for the factory reps to explain/justify the gun.

I would say the gun is either: 1) a "Lunch Box Special" that was assembled on the sly by a factory workman and secreted out of the factory, or 2) was redone by a skilled gunsmith after it left the factory. Silvers

[Researcher]

Years ago at a Richmond Virginia gun show I saw a similar pin-gun with second generation B-grade engraving and XE-Grade wood. At the time I blew it off, but now I wonder if these might not be pieces Gough used to develope his new patterns for 1914?

[FOXIST]

That is certainly a very interesting gun!!!! Has your friend ordered a factory letter on the gun? IMHO I see no reason why someone could not have ordered a Sterlingworth with the engraving and wood of an A grade at extra cost. My only question would be why spend the extra money on upgrading a sterlingworth when you could have just ordered an A grade. The answer may lie in the fact that it seems several people preferred the sterlingworth forend fastening system and wanted the mechanics of a sterlingworth with A grade decoration. This is just conjecture on my part but it may explain the oddity.We have seen numerous request for graded guns with the sterlingworth style forend. and numerous supers and graded guns in the records with request for upgraded wood or engraving. I would say judging from the pictures that the engraving could possibly be factory but lacks some of the shading . The size and pattern matches up well with some early second generation guns I have. Cool!!! thanks for sharing. Remember this is just my opinion. I hope others chime in.
Silvers opinion of a lunchbox gun is also a good explanation.

[Silvers]

Scott, that Gough engraving prototype idea by Dave, prompts me to ask if there is anything unusual about the serial number stamp on the frame..... any prefix or suffix stampings of any sort, whether they are dashes, slashes, dots, tiny stars, tiny square, anything at all? If you have access to the gun and have a hand magnifier, I would greatly appreciate you inspecting it and commenting. As you can tell, I am chasing a rabbit here. Thank you. Frank

[SAS]

Thank you all for the informative replies. A letter has not been ordered yet. All of the offered ideas seem possible. The gun came out of house in the Phila area, and was in the family a very long time, so a lunchbox gun is a possibility. While the A-style engraving is slightly different than "standard" second generation A, it is very well done, and appears to me to be factory. It has a little more detail (scroll and hash marks, etc.).

Frank, I am going from memory, but I do not recall anything unusual about the serial numbers, either on the barrels or frame. No extra markings whatever. I do have access to the gun and a magnifier. I will try to post more detailed close-ups of the engraving pattern, serial number stampings and the muzzle treatment. We did not back out the trigger guard screw to look for a serial number on the stock either. Also, there are initials engraved in the gold oval, I will note them. I will be travelling on business the next 3 days, so I will not be able to post until after this weekend.

Perhaps with a letter, and more detailed pics, we can get a better understanding of how this combination of features came to be? Thanks again to all who have replied. - Scott

[MARSHFELLOW]

Ok, Paul.....now you really did it......

[eightbore]

OK, is the serial number close to the transition period for engraving style changeover? I can see wierd engraving on a pin gun, but the round knob and English Walnut, no way. It is a factory gun for sure. Send it to me and send me the bill. Murphy

[fox-admin]

I say 100% factory, I think Dave has it correct.