A. H. Fox Sterlingworth 30" 12 gauge (refin)

[Georgia]

Wow, I see some great Fox guns here.

It dates to about 1912 with the serial number (#568xx). It was made in Philadelphia.

It wasn't easy for me to get information on it until I found this site. I only remember seeing two others. I have not fired it yet. It's not original. Here:









I'll move questions to the tech threads.

[fox-admin]

Thanks for the pictures have fun shooting you Sterlingworth.

[eightbore]

Do you know who did the work on your gun?

[ROMAC]

I may be thinking the same thing but did not want to jump in.

IMO those colors look torched on on the watertable.

There is someone (in)famous for that.

[Georgia]

Do you know who did the work on your gun?

No.

I bought it a couple of years ago from a guy that lost his job. He had paid someone to work on it. He said I got it for less than the refinish job. I have no paperwork so who knows?

I mostly accumulate old S&W and Colt revolvers so I knew the "custom" work highly degraded the value. I got it for a fair price considering what it is. I am looking for an original one.

[Georgia]

P/S The picture of the modern shells were just a prop. I wouldn't shot them in the Fox.

[3birddogs]

Where does it say the gun was made? The earlier ones say Wayne Junction , and the later say Philadelphia. Does the frame say "The Sterlingworth Co.", mine does and it is ser # 62xxx. Many would shoot those thru the gun. I would, but nothing much heavier. I generally shoot 7/8 oz thru mine on clays and have some 1 oz reloads at 1175 fps and low pressure for pheasants over my setters. Yeah, the gun has a lot of non-original changes but it is still a Fox. Go to the home page of the Fox Collectors and read about the early Sterlingworths. Have fun with it.

[Georgia]

Does the frame say "The Sterlingworth Co.", mine does and it is ser # 62xxx. Many would shoot those thru the gun. I would, but nothing much heavier.

Thanks for your help. It's 568xx. It says Sterlingworth on it (see above picture). I've read the stuff on the first page. Can you post some pictures?

I can't seem to find an original one in this era with pictures.

Or, I'd be glad to post more pictures of anything that you need. I am just looking for more info.

[Researcher]

Does the frame say "The Sterlingworth Co.", mine does and it is ser # 62xxx.

I'd like to see pictures of that. I've been recording information on Sterlingworths for over 25 years now, and the highest serial number The Sterlingworth Co. guns I've recorded are in the 53xxx range, and there is a lot of overlap there with A.H. Fox Gun Co. Sterlingworth Model 1911s. The highest serial number "pin guns" that have been recorded are in the 62xxx range and there are some smooth guns down in the 61xxx range.

[3birddogs]

Researcher, my apologies! My "The Sterlingworth Co." pin gun is ser # 52042, not 62042--was going from memory, not with gun in hand. It has 28" #4 wt barrels and measures cyl/mod, as was the option for that gun per the Fox catalog. I can still post pics once I get to the office if you would like, but have have posted them before( I think). Had ser # confused with my Grade 3 Lewis Ithaca( heck of a nice gun)

[Researcher]

Thanks for the clarification. Always nice to see pictures of interesting guns.

[Georgia]

I've been working on the above with the intention of firing it.

There are not many local gunsmiths that are familiar with a Fox (I knew that). I called in a few favors and paid one guy $75 (he scratched the barrel ). The inside of the barrel seems to be good. The firing pin is working properly. The ejector is working.

First I am not comfortable with the butt on my shoulder while looking down the sights. It seems the shotgun rests to close to my face? I have long arms. Is this correct?

I made a couple more pictures of refin.1:






And what is with the arrows on the last picture?