What's a SW pin gun?

[Dalgo]

Don't know if this is the right place to ask this question. If not I apologize. Does "pin gun" refer to the indented hinge pin on a Sterlingworth? And, secondly, what's the difference in guns with it or without it, and their desireability? Thanks, Dalgo.

[Researcher]

About the first 12000 or so 12-gauge Sterlingworths had the recessed hinge-pin and are often called "pin guns".

When Ansley H. Fox, was forced to add a lower priced gun to his line of graded Ansley H. Fox guns, in 1910, he didn't want to detract from the A.H. Fox Gun Co. name, so they dummied up "The Sterlingworth Company." The first year’s guns, beginning with serial number 50,000, were marked as being "Made By The Sterlingworth Company, Philadelphia, U.S.A." Actually the first few hundred were marked "Wayne Junction" instead of Philadelphia. They even produced a separate The Sterlingworth Gun Co. catalogue for 1910. These guns were built under the same patents as the graded Ansley H. Fox guns. The main moneysaving features were an American Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) stock as opposed to the more costly European thin shell walnut (Juglans regia) stocks on the graded guns, and the "Sterlingworth Fluid Steel" barrels instead of Krupp Fluid Steel barrels. Workmanship on these early Sterlingworths was generally excellent, better than graded guns from the 1920's and 30's. The early "The Sterlingworth Company" guns had a rounded front for the side panel of the frames. According to my list of observed specimens that was changed to the same pointed profile as the graded guns by #51,301.

In 1911 this field grade gun was added to the A.H. Fox Gun Co. catalogue as the Model 1911. "Model 1911" is stamped in the forearm iron. (A very few graded guns made about this time are stamped Model 1910) The lowest Model 1911 serial number I've recorded is #53,140. All of these early Sterlingworths had a recessed hinge-pin head like Parkers, or Ansley's earlier guns made in Baltimore and the Philadelphia Arms Company A.H. Fox gun. The highest "pin gun" Sterlingworth serial number I've recorded is # 62,244. After that Sterlingworth hinge-pins are dressed smooth like the graded guns.

[Dalgo]

Wow, thanks for the neat history lesson! I was reading Silvers' post on the Allentown show, and that was mentioned. I had a feeling it was Parker-like in the hinge area. Again, thanks

[SmithShady]

Hi Dave,

If you're tracking these, it may interest you to know that there is a Wayne Junction gun for sale on Gunbroker right now with serial # 50,180. I have no ties to this gun, and it is for sale, so I'll refrain from posting a link. Clear picture of the trigger guard with the number. I thought you might want it for your files.

Mike

[Researcher]

Thanks. That one has been in my table of observed specimens for years. Great job of blueing over rust pits!! But, gotta say it looks a good deal better than when I first recorded it. Nice to see someone is looking out for these things!!

[jolly bill]

Dalgo,

There are some pictures of a couple "Pin Guns" via the Home page and pictures of various grades of Fox'es.

Jolly

[Dalgo]

Thanks, jolly bill. Nothing like a visual! What a variety of styles for the Sterlingworth.

On another note, if one were to obtain a Sterlingworth to use as a donor gun for a custom build, which would be the most desireous one to get, what years, and pin or not, on the basis of quality, strength, etc.