Chicopee Falls Barrels

mike campbell · Post by **mike campbell** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 11:22 pm

I've been made aware of a late Philly A grade that sports barrels with a Savage Arms, Chicopee Falls, Mass address.....a new one to me.

I'm up to speed on the Philly to Utica transition and have seen a number of Philly guns that were repaired, rechambered or rebarreled in Utica, but I guess I (wrongly) assumed that the last of that work occurred in Utica. Since my only interest in Savage guns is the AH Foxes, I never looked beyond the end of production around 1940 in Utica.

A quick Google turned up this...

"After buying Stevens in 1920 Savage made guns at both the Utica and Chicopee Falls, locations. In 1946 they merged all operations at Chicopee Falls"

Can anyone offer more details about the final days of AH Foxes and Savage? For instance, if Savage was retrofitting Foxes after 1940, when did they finally stop servicing them? Apparently they quit before they used up the last of the barrel inventory as evidenced by the cache of NOS barrels that turned up a few years ago? Does anyone have positive knowledge of a very late factory repair? 1950? 1960?

thanks, Mike

Researcher · Post by **Researcher** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 8:55 am

Savage continued to service A.H. Fox doubles through their years at Chicopee Falls and well into their time at Westfield, Mass. I think Savage quit working on A.H. Fox doubles in the late 1960s or early 1970s. I have a letter and service price list from December 1, 1966, where they still offered all services, signed by Roe S. Clark, Assistant Service Manager. I have another letter and price list from November 19, 1968, where Roe regrets that their supply of single trigger parts has been depleted. I also have a full set of letters and invoices for a Sterlingworth that got a second set of barrels and two beavertail forearms at Westfield in 1969. These are signed by J.T. Callahan.

Like Remington/Parker with Larry Del Grego, Savage/Fox had Mitzie Bielin who retired from the company and carried on repair of these guns. Unlike Del Grego, Mitzie had no family who carried on the business after his passing. I have never seen a set of barrels with the Westfield address, and I know Mitzie would use the old Philadelphia roll stamp on new barrels when requested!!

By the time of Mason Williams article on Fox in the January 1973, Guns & Ammo, (where they consistantly miss spelled the name Ainsley!!) Mitzie was the go to guy for Fox repair/refurbishment.

mike campbell · Post by **mike campbell** » Thu Sep 06, 2007 9:48 am

Thanks, Researcher! Very informative; just what I was looking for.

Rustkolector · Post by **Rustkolector** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:24 am

I had an AE grade 12 gauge refurbished by Savage Arms in 1967. It included replacement of both hammers (both cracked), sears, and adjustment of the Fox single trigger. Since my gun was a Philadelphia gun, they would not do any repairs unless I allowed them to rechamber and proof the barrels. I agreed, and also agreed to let them recase and blue the gun. All for $68.80 delivered. Repairs took over 6 months, but Mitzie did a very nice job. Sometime later, I had the gun restocked, but the stockmaker did not follow my requests. I wasn't happy with the result. It still doesn't fit me, so I haven't shot it much. I am about to get that corrected.
Jeff

Fin2Feather · Post by **Fin2Feather** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:02 pm

I believe our friend Twicebarrel on this board has a Philadelphia Sterlingworth with Savage barrels, serial numbers all matching.

Twice Barrel · Post by **Twice Barrel** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:36 pm

You are correct Fin. Subject gun sn dates to 1928, receiver is marked "STERLINGWORTH" sans "FOX" of a Utica gun. Left Barrel is marked "SAVAGE ARMS CORPORATION, UTICA, NY, USA". Below in smaller letters it is marked "PROOF TESTED --- 12 GAUGE" and below that "---2 3/4 INCH CHAMBER---". Right barrel is marked "SPECIAL ALLOY---FORGED STEEL". It also appears that the checkering was re-cut or the wood replaced because the checkeing points do not match my other early 20s or mid 30s vintage Sterlingworths.

eightbore · Post by **eightbore** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 8:33 pm

Some time back at a local show appeared a Sterlingworth Pin Gun with Chicopee Falls barrels, everything nicely refinished to mint. It was not expensive, but I didn't get worked up enough to take it home. Big mistake since I'll probably not see another one.

Dick Jones · Post by **Dick Jones** » Sun Oct 21, 2007 3:13 pm

I have a Pin gun with two sets of Chickapee Falls barrels, both 26" one mod and full and the other imp and mod. It has ejectors and was completly refinished with 2 new fore arms and new Savage style case colors and highly polished bluing. It's almost too pristine to carry out in the field. I don't guess it has that much colledtor value, but it's a nice gun to own.