Sterlingworth 16 DOM and aprox value

[Germantown]

A friend inherited a 16 gauge Fox Sterlingworth and it is is very nice clean and unaltered condition. He asked me for an appraisal value for insurance purposes-- here are the particulars: SN 360698 28" barrels #3 weight stamp and Fox Proof on the flats- Std. extractor and DT, auto safety- uncut stock with original buttplate and good straight dims, unmolested splinter forearm- my Galazan gauge reads Mod choke rt, barrel, Full choke Left barrel- all original blueing and stock varnish and intact checkering- some case colors at rear of receiver, top tang near lever, safety functions properly, no buggered screws at all- a few surface sractches on left barrel breech area at 9 o'clock is only flaw i could see in blueing- My guess is- 2 & 9/16" chambers-- As it is his gun and NOT mine, I can't post fotos. Thanks!!

[Twice Barrel]

From the serial number lists your friends gun was made in 1926. Value as described without photos is really hard to tell but prices for 16 gauge 28 inch barrel Sterlingworths have been a bit soft the last year or two. I have purchased two in somewhat better condition than you described for $1K and $850.00 respectively in the past year.

[vaturkey]

I'd say in that condition 800 to 1000 would be in the range. That is the most common 16 ga encountered without a doubt.

[Germantown]

Thank you, gentlemen. He asked me, knowing that I have a Fox Sterlingworth- mine is a Utica mfg. 20 gauge with 28" barrels, DT but with ejectors. Just in passing, given his same gun in same condition as I described, would the open market value be somewhat lower if it was a Utica mfg. Fox gun? I apologize for the lack of fotos, and appreciate both of you giving it an educated guess based on my description. Also would like to know if barrel weight marking stamps are usually found on the Fox Sterlingworth guns??

[OH Osthaus]

the lighter the barrels (4 being the lightest) the less likely the marks remain visable after the barrels are finished.

[vaturkey]

Thank you, gentlemen. He asked me, knowing that I have a Fox Sterlingworth- mine is a Utica mfg. 20 gauge with 28" barrels, DT but with ejectors. Just in passing, given his same gun in same condition as I described, would the open market value be somewhat lower if it was a Utica mfg. Fox gun? I apologize for the lack of fotos, and appreciate both of you giving it an educated guess based on my description. Also would like to know if barrel weight marking stamps are usually found on the Fox Sterlingworth guns??

Hard to say without pictures, but generally earlier Fox Sterlingworth models had better fit and finish then the later (Utica made) foxes. Savage towards the end of production was turning out guns with bulkier forearms and towards the end of production they went to a non-capped pistol grip. Seemed like the later made guns begin to weigh a bit more also. I've had a number of 16 gauge sterlingworths over the years. I've never had one with 4 weight barrels, but I've had them with 2 and 3 weight barrels. I could indeed clearly read they 2 and 3 weight stamps on those particular guns. FWIW, I would pay a bit more for a Philly made sterlingworth over a Savage made gun if the overall condition was the same.

[Fin2Feather]

Just in passing, given his same gun in same condition as I described, would the open market value be somewhat lower if it was a Utica mfg. Fox gun?

In spite of the overwhelming desire of many to make the Philly guns more desirable, I think the honest answer is that it's a gun-by-gun thing. Some of the Utica guns are fitted and finished very well, and as is typical with most everything, the earlier the gun the better the chance of finding one with that level of finish. Also, as one goes up the range of grades the differences are probably more apparent; with Sterlingworths - which were always meant to be utilitarian guns - not so much.

In my humble opinion, if one finds a Utica gun with reasonable fit and finish, the differences are more than made up by the fact that the stock dimensions will be more shootable and the chambers more likely to be 2-3/4" (if you care). That's if you want to shoot it, of course. If you want to stick it in the safe, think Philly.

[Twice Barrel]

As a general rule I find no discernible difference in fit and finish between the later Philadelphia made Sterlingworths between about 1925 and the end of production and the early Utica guns from start of production until the early 1930s. As far as graded guns the Utica guns I have observed are every bit the equal of the Philadelphia made guns with the exception of quality of the wood used on later made Utica A grades.