Straight grip question

[CableguyJJS3]

One of my local dealers called today, said he had something for me to look at. So I went by and he had a Utica 12ga Sterlingworth straight grip. I believe it to be an original straight grip but I noticed it had a short tang trigger bow. I only have one straight grip gun and it has the long tang, and most I've seen were the long tang. Was the short tang an option, or perhaps something they did in Utica to use up parts on hand? While the gun itself is little more than parts at this point, and having a replacement recoil pad, I firmly believe by looking at things on the surface it was not a restock. I can't know for sure without opening things up and looking for a number stamp in the wood, but everything looks, feels and fits like it's all original, just wondering about the short tang bow. Thanks guys. Jim

[simcgunner]

Is it a skeet and upland? How long are the barrels. the skeet and upland used a short trigger guard.

[vaturkey]

All the Skeet and Uplands were made after the Savage purchase. If the side of the receiver is marked "Fox Sterlingworth" then that would be correct for a S&U as far as I know.

[bbman3]

If it is a late Utica gun look at the right barrel at muzzle and the choke should be belled out at the end if skeet and Upland. Bobby

[Researcher]

Generally speaking the Fox-Sterlingworth Skeet & Upland Game Gun had the short backstrap trigger guard on their straight grips. Some early 12-gauge Fox-Sterlingworth Skeet & Upland Game Guns in the 1306xx serial number range have the long backstrap trigger guards of a graded gun. While Savage's Skeet Cylinder right and 1/4 choke left was the norm on Skeet & Upland Game Guns, there are some guns that letter as Fox-Sterlingworth Skeet & Upland Game Guns with tighter chokes. Unfortunately, nothing pertaining to these old guns is ever quite absolute. Actually if you noted the serial number on the gun in question, I can tell you if it falls in the known blocks of Fox-Sterlingworth Skeet & Upland Game Guns.

[CableguyJJS3]

Well I won't be able to determine barrel length or choke config, it's been whacked off to 24". if I'm remembering correctly, serial was 150 I believe? I can find out for sure when I go back, he wants me to make an offer on it. I see little to no value as the tubes are cut off and do not ring at all, so not much there in my opinion past the straight grip wood.

[Brian]

You can also generally go by the guideline that the straight grip Sterlingworth’s have the short tang guard and the end of the tang is rounded, not pointed like a pistol grip Sterlingworth. Based on my experience (limited compared to some of the guys here) but also based on the 5 or 6 Sterlingworth skeet and Upland straight grips I own, the rounded short tang is used on all of them. Not saying a sharp or mildly sharp guy couldn’t round one if he was doing a straight grip conversion.

[gt8977c]

I saw this post last week and didn't think much about it.
Then last night a friend, who knows little about doubles, called me to tell me about the Sterlingworth he had just bought.

He brought it by today. I have no doubt it is the gun Cableguy was asking about.
Late Utica, straight grip, short trigger tang, cut to 24", poorly fit recoil pad. Bought from a pawnshop in Lawrenceville GA.
You can see where someone has tried to solder the bottom rib back on.
Tapping the barrels gives a THUD not a RING.

He was so proud of his purchase. I hated to tell him about all the problems with this gun.

Anybody know of a gunsmith who can re-lay the ribs around Atlanta?

[Stan Hillis]

Tell him to talk with Bill Schwarz. 1 hr. to 1 1/2 hr. drive.

Bill Schwarz
767 Brushy Top
Ellijay, GA 30540
(706) 276-4253

SRH

[CableguyJJS3]

Yep that would be the gun, I hope he didn't pay a lot for it. He can touch base with Bill, but I do not believe Bill does tube work past reblueing and things like that, I don't think he does rib work. I could be wrong though, I don't know that I ever asked him about anything past retubing. But also something to keep in mind, any money he lays out for any kind of restoration work will be more than that gun is worth, so purely a labor of love for a something he could shoot. Good luck to him though, I truly hope he is able to get it into working condition and enjoys it!!

[gt8977c]

Fortunately for my friend he has been trading with the seller for years and he agreed to take the gun back.
He even offered to sell my friend a Sterlingworth from his personal collection.

Rather than do that, my friend made a deal with him for a sweet Win Mod 70 Carbine in 270 Win.

I have never been to this shop, but with customer service like that I will have to pay him a visit.

[CableguyJJS3]

He's definitely a good guy to deal with, I've done quite a bit with him over the last couple of years. usually just as my transfer guy, but a nice guy and easy to deal with. I guess he didn't feel like fooling with trying to sell that piece anymore as he called me after your buddy returned it. So he accepted my offer as a parts piece so it came home with me today. Now to decide what to do with it....