New to the forum and new to FOX Fever over a Sterlingworth

[EasternShoreman]

Hello All,

I am new to the forum on the recommendation of a member who thought this would feed my new found passion for the FOX, and give me the info I crave. Just emailed in my membership and paypal'ed in my $31.50 and I am very excited to be here. So much great information and a great community as I read through the posts.

I found a Sterlingworth at my LGS, and fell in love with it. I took some photos with my phone, but I now see that I needed to get some more specific information from the gun to ask intelligent questions. One question that I do have is, would a receiver marked "Fox Sterlingworth" be matched with barrels with a Savage address? They were asking $650 for it and the barrels looked like someone had brought it home from the field after carrying it broke over their shoulder with a sweaty hand on the barrels up from the bead. The pitting appears more than just surface and if I can figure out how to get the pics off my phone, I'll post the pics.

Look forward to chatting with everyone.

[bbman3]

Welcome. The later Savage Utica sterlingworths were indeed marked Fox Sterlingworth on each side of frame.Barrels should have same serial number as frame and forend. Bobby

[EasternShoreman]

Thanks...all the SN's match...I'm gonna go back and get more photos...it just felt SO good in my shoulder, LOP was perfect for me...I felt like Ralphie with his new Red Ryder...imagining taking birds on the wing...
Pat

[jawjadawg]

Hi, I too am pretty new to the forum, but I've been folllowing the value of Sterlingworths for a while. If this is a 12ga with pitting then I might pause at that price tag, but its hard to say without pictures. There are plenty of remaining Sterlingworths with good wood and metal to be found at that price. In my mind, rust is one of a few things which severely detracts from the value of a gun. I'm even more accepting of a trimmed stock than external rust, but that's just me.

[EasternShoreman]

I kinda feel the same way...the gun is on consignment and I have indicated to the folks at the shop that I am not game at that price, and they said they would let him know of my interest when they call him about the expiration of his consignment. We'll see...I'm determined to get a Fox that I don't have to make excuses for, but then again, if it is cheap enough, it would make a good shooter if nothing else.

Pat

[EasternShoreman]

Fellow FOX'ers...

Went back to my LGS and visited the FOX that I have been chewing over...the SN is 141576, and I think that makes it a mid-1936 production. It's a 12Ga, with ejectors. I think it's choked Full and IC, but will have to go back with my gauge.

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It has pitting from what looks like a careless hand covered with blood on the barrels, with what appears to be blood drip stains laterally across the barrels...

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So, the fella wants $650, but the barrels have no blue left, though there is nice case-hardened...so what do you guys think? Can she be restored or is the pitting on the barrel too much? Should I even try or should I just enjoy her as a shooter and field gun?

I've made an offer on the gun, and we'll see what happens. Thanks for your thoughts and advice.

Pat

[Mills]

If you are comfortable with the offer you made, then get it if they take it and move to the next one if not. Like my wife says, if it is meant to be, it is meant to be

[setterspell]

Welcome to Foxland. I know as well as anyone about the effects of Fox fever. If I may ask, is the owner claiming this an ejector model? the pictures show no ejector parts. therefore, in my opinion only, it isn't worth near 650. I'd keep looking. Remember there were several tons of SW 12ga. and there are still some nice ones to be found, especially if your nicknames indicates you're in the east. Happy hunting.

[Fin2Feather]

Looks like a lot of nice case coloring; too bad about the barrels. My opinion is worth nowhere near that of those here who have experience with fixer-upers, but I'd say if you want the gun to look good, by the time you get the barrels redone you'll have more in it than you'd pay for a decent one that doesn't require the work. Also, the dimensions on the Sterlys are pretty standard; if this one feels good coming up, chances are the next one will too.

[MilRob]

I would pass on it unless your heart is set on it. There are lots of 12 ga Sterlies out there for good money and better condition.

[eightbore]

I can't get the picture of the barrels to enlarge. Is it an ejector gun or not? I don't think it is.

[Researcher]

It is an extractor gun. Scroll the picture of the watertable down and it shows the interior of the forearm.

That is an interesting serial number range. I have only recorded one gun in the 141xxx range, none in the 142xxx range, then a bunch of "drawbolt" guns in the 143xxx range. What is the barrel length of this gun? Does it have a capped or a capless pistol grip?

[Stan Hillis]

Is that a shim on the hinge pin? I'm looking on my cell phone and can't tell for sure.

Stan

[Stan Hillis]

Doesn't look like a shim. Looks like grooves scored into the bearing surface of the pin. Never saw that before. Either that occurred when the pin was pressed into place, or it was intentional to hold grease.(?)

Stan

[EasternShoreman]

Wow...thanks guys...what great information. I have made my offer, but the shop has not heard back from the consignor yet.

To answer some of the questions...it has a capped pistol grip and the gun has 30in barrels. The wood is in good condition, and I think a good rub down with tung oil would make it look great.

Does that rust look like it will harm the gun if I take it to the field...if I get it, she'll be for skeet and game and she won't sit in a gunsafe much.

I will have to take another look at the bearing surfaces and see if they are indeed grooves or not...I almost stopped on my way home tonight, but being Valentines Day, and wanting to keep getting Foxes and taking them in the field, I figured my wife was more important.

Thanks guys...
Pat