My Dads shotgun.

[thomas john]

I recently received my Dads Shotgun and am curious as to its history. This is the story.
I was 15 years old in 1971 when my Dad passed away. At that time I was aware that my Dad had owned a shotgun but I didn't know where it was. I later found out that my Uncle had it and knowing that he was a hunter and really liked guns, I decided to let him retain possesion of it.
When my Uncle passed away about 3 years ago I visited my Aunt and asked if she still had my Fathers gun. She did and was only too happy to give it to me knowing that it was the only thing that would connect me to my Dad and his love of hunting.
I really didn't pay much attention to the gun sitting in my closet for the past 3 years until this year, when I was asked to go deer hunting. I am not an avid hunter but I have hunted on State land in the past and didn't really enjoy the experiance due to the large amount of hunters in a relativly small area. So when I got the chance to hunt on 80 acres of private land, I jumped at the chance. I took my Dads shotgun with me along with my deer rifle, a Remington 30.06.
I intended to fire my Dads shotgun in the area where we were going to sight our rifles in but I didn't 'cause I didn't want to damage it if in fact it wasn't up to the task of handling "modern" ammunition. I doubt that there is any difference between the ammo produced now with what was made years ago however my Dads gun is VERY important to me and I was not willing to take the chance.
I was told by family members that my Dad was a very good hunter. So much so that he was givin the task of providing meat for the tables of a number of families one Winter in Western Pennsylvania, during the depression, and nobody went hungry that Winter. I don't know if the shotgun I'm reffering to was the weapon he used that Winter but it would be nice if it was.
Thanks in advance for any insight that may be offered.
I may need some help in posting pictures due to the fact that I'm not very computer savey but I will try......















I hope this works!

p.s. The barrel is 30" long.

[MARSHFELLOW]

Good job with the pics. Nice ejector Sterlingworth, the vast majority of Sterlingworths do not have the ejector feature.

tjw

[Silvers]

Nice story with a good ending. Based on the serial number, your Dad's gun was probably made in 1930 just at the start of the Great Depression. What stories of past hunts and hard times it would tell if it could. The recoil pad isn't "original" and the grip cap is chipped, but so what? If I were you I wouldn't touch one thing on the Fox. You can hold, handle and use a tangible connection with your Dad and Uncle, that will conjure up vignettes of days long past every time you pick it up, and especially when you're out in the field with her. Silvers

[DSizemore]

I agree totally with what Tom and Frank said. I would add one thing.....get some RST shells and enjoy the gun at clays, or whatever.

[George Lander]

Thomas: I can really relate to your story. I, too, have my dad's Sterlingworth (the only gun that he owned in my memory) My dad was born in 1896 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He served on the Mexican Border with General Pershing and Captain Patton in the 11th Cavalry and later in France in WWI. He was in the automobile sales business (Packards) after the war and was given the Fox by the owner of the dealership. He carried it in the trunk of his car because he never knew when he was going to be invited to hunt. The gun had some serious use and before he passed in 1974 I had the gun completely restored to "as new" and returned it to him. I still remember the look on his face when he saw it, remembering hunts, dogs and friends long gone. It's a treasured memory.

You should have a professional gunsmith check over your gun and recommend the proper loads. The toplever looks a little to the left, perhaps showing the gun to be a little off the face. Not to worry, a Fox is a very sturdy gun. The gunsmith can correct that for you. Best of luck with your treasure.

Best Regards, George

[thomas john]

Thanks to all for your replies.
I intend to let a professional gunsmith look at in the future and then I will probably fire it a few times to bring me close to my Dad.
After that it will spend it's days in a safe place waiting for me to decide who will be the next owner.
I have no children so I don't really know where it will go when I'm gone. I would just as soon donate it to an organization that would keep it safe and secure for as long as possible. Not that I intend to be going anywhere soon,but I don't really know of such an organization so if anyone has any suggestions I'm all ears
!
Thanks again for all your input.

[Fin2Feather]

Great gun and nice story. I'd add only one thing: unless you're gonna shoot the heck out of it (100's of rounds at clays or whatever), just go get you a box of shells and take that gun hunting. You won't hurt it shooting modern shells.

[eightbore]

There is no better "organization" to be responsible for your gun than the next Fox fan who will pay you a fair price. There would be no worse custodian for your Dad's gun than a museum curator.

[George Lander]

Bill (eightbore) is dead right. Don't make the mistake of donating it to some museum where it will, in all probability, be stolen. It was made to shoot & hunt. It would be like putting a maiden in a chastity belt IMHO.

Best Regards, George

[Germantown]

[quote="George Lander"]Thomas: I can really relate to your story. I, too, have my dad's Sterlingworth (the only gun that he owned in my memory) My dad was born in 1896 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He served on the Mexican Border with General Pershing and Captain Patton in the 11th Cavalry and later in France in WWI. He was in the automobile sales business (Packards) after the war and was given the Fox by the owner of the dealership. He carried it in the trunk of his car because he never knew when he was going to be invited to hunt. The gun had some serious use and before he passed in 1974 I had the gun completely restored to "as new" and returned it to him. I still remember the look on his face when he saw it, remembering hunts, dogs and friends long gone. It's a treasured memory.

You should have a professional gunsmith check over your gun and recommend the proper loads. The toplever looks a little to the left, perhaps showing the gun to be a little off the face. Not to worry, a Fox is a very sturdy gun. The gunsmith can correct that for you. Best of luck with your treasure.

Best Regards, George[/quote Off Topic a bit, but as my great-uncle also was an officer in the 11th. Cav. with Patton, and also went with Pershing into France with the AEF-- do you happen to know how General John Pershing came to be called Black Jack Pershing? Also what shotgun Patton had with him in December 1945 in Germany when the pheasant hunt he was going to ended in a accident that took his life some two weeks later?

I also agree, that is a nice 12 ejector gun. I would have the gunsmith check the bolt and top lever, the ejectors for proper timing, and replace the beveled pad so that it follows the line of the wood at the heel. And keep the gun, it was built to be used, and cared for!!