New (to me) Sterlingworth 12ga

[HappyDaze]

Hi; New to forum and a new Fox Sterlingworth owner, the gun was in a very aged condition from use. I was going to leave it alone and then decided to refinish the very dirty condition of the wood. The gun seems to be in pretty good shape and all the numbers match on all parts. The serial number is 62757 which I believe is a 1912 born date "28" inch barrel. I did notice the safety lever matched a later photo of a later gun, it is the grooved style from end to end. I am terrible at posting pictures but will try in the future once I'm done with the refinish job. The barrel does say "made by a.H. Fox gun Co Phila. Pa J & A" and "Sterlingworth Fluid Compressed Steel" The side says "Sterlingworth" and is NOT a "pin" gun from what I've concluded from photos on this site. All in all for $200.00 I think I did pretty good and will have a nice old gun when done. The barrel has a nice brownish patina and the other metal parts are nice but all the CC is pretty much gone, I hit it with some 0000steel wool to just get some grime off and will leave it at that. I look forward to hearing any comments about the Fox I now own and look forward to learniing more about these fine old guns, HappyDaze

[Ithaca33]

$200 paid for one of the barrels . What a steal!

[eightbore]

Yes, we would like to see pictures of your great $200 gun.

[Fin2Feather]

Pictures or it didn't happen !

[HappyDaze]

Hi; I put a message in the original post with my email as I can send a (bad) picture the seller provided and perhaps someone cold point me to a "How To" on posting pictures so once I'mdone cleaning it up I can post of the finished product. I stained the wood but it got to dark again and I am going to restrip and go with a non dark finish as to show the nice walnut wood on the stock. The seller said he shot it with low base and the gun works well he said. The brown patina on the barrels will stay and the other metal looks good. Her's my email if somebody would like to post a picutre on here, Thanks in advance, HappyDaze SUCCESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! see above

[Stan Hillis]

Murphy's oil soap would work wonders on that wood, it appears. Good deal, HD. Welcome to the forum.

All my best, Stan

[HappyDaze]

Thanks Stan and others; The first thing I did was use the Murphys oil and the results were Ok but the gun had tons of oil I believe that had run down into the wood over the years and was pretty "gummy". As this will never be a collectors piece I decided to strip and refinish the wood while leaving some of the old battle scars from the last 100 years. I also did this to a 1925 LC Smith 12ga and was very happy with the outcome. I bought the gun knowing that a A.H.Fox was a great gun from the past and the price was very right ($200.00) I have seen similar gun go from $650 and up so I think I did OK. I just love the old guns and like saving them and giving them more life and for others to enjoy. Thanks again, HappyDaze

[HappyDaze]

Howdy; I refinished the wood and cleaned up the metal with a little Mother's mag Polish (came out great) the wood really needed a little love and I used a Minwax Tung Oil finish and it looks great. Not bad for a $200.00 buy, I;m very pleased. I'm going to try to post some (After) pic's, hope I remeber how, here goes, Here goes, this may take a couple tries, I can't remember how I did the other pic, DOH!!

[Fin2Feather]

Looks like it really cleaned up nice. Enjoy shooting it!

[Witty1]

Really nice grain in that piece of American Walnut, that couldn't be seen in the first pictures. Compared to the economy guns being produced today considering fit, balance, and feel you're way a head of the game. Enjoy a nice piece of American history at the same time.

[Stevie]

Cannot help but respond to this topic...The old Sterlingworth came out looking nice!!

I'm interested in more details on just how the OP cleaned up the wood?

[HappyDaze]

Hi Stevie; I can't figure out how to do a PM on here so a reply this way is the best I can do. I used Jasco paint remover to strip the old finish, I also did not take off any wood except the forearm piece. The jasco did not hurt any metal as I was careful. The wood was full of gun oil I presume and was "gummy" to say the least. I use an old credit card to scrape off the old finish until it is gone. I don't use sandpaper until the very end and then not so much asto remove to much wood, if any. I used Minwax Tung Oil and all you do is wipe it on with a clean cloth, let dry, hit it a little with a "Blue" Scotch Brand 'Pad" as opposed to fine sandpaper. Do as many coats of the Tung Oil ubtil your happy, mine was 5 or 6 coats I think, This stuff is great similar to another finisher I forget the name of at the moment. This stuff works great and looks great, The I left a few m"deep marks" that I didn't want to have to sand out as to much wood could have been lost. I have used this on gun grips, other stocks and it is easy and beautiful, durability is not know at this time but can't be any worse then any other finish, hope this helps, HappyDaze

[Tom-ADC]

New guy here, my Sterlingworth dates from 1913 it's a family hand me downer, I was actually going to sell it its been in the safe fore ever, but happy sort of talked me into seeing the light and I've decided to keep it. I'm going to do a Murphy's oil soap clean up of the stock, and replace the recoil pad the old anti flinch has collapsed I do plan on shooting it again.