Sterlingworth Trap Questions

fullchoke16 · Post by **fullchoke16** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 5:56 pm

I have a 12 ga. Utica Sterlingworth Ejector Trap model with 32" barrels. It is marked on the card (per Callahan) "special", with no explanation of what"Special" is.Also,the barrel flat has stamped in small letters"3 inch not warranted". I see no weight numbers on the barrels,but they are similar in weight and thickness to a 30" SW ejector that I have, marked with 2's. My question is: Did Savage recut the chambers to 3"? or: Was it 3" from the beginning? or: Were the chambers done by someone else? Any ideas as to the meaning of "special"? Thanks for any help. FRED

Researcher · Post by **Researcher** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 6:35 pm

There were at least two production cards in use during the Savage-era. I was in luck on one gun I have, a 16-gauge Fox-Sterlingworth Ejector DeLuxe Field, where both cards were in the file and the historian at the time photocopied both and included them with my letter. The original little rectangular card showed the gun was produced as a 16-gauge Fox-Sterlingworth Ejector DeLuxe Field with both barrels full choke. the big card with the word "Special" at the top called for a beavertail forearm and the chokes to be relieved to improved modified in both barrels.

I have a 1938-vintage A-Grade 20-gauge 26-inch barrel gun for which the small card is all that exists but the grip and the full & full chokes are crosed out on that card. The gun as it exists has a 100% Savage straight grip stock with a long backstrap trigger guard and the chokes are improved cylinder and modified. I'm sure in my mind that there was a "Special" card for that gun that would document the restocking to a straight grip and the choke changes.

R.R. · Post by **R.R.** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 8:00 pm

Yes, that was the typical factory stamp for 3" chambers.

Researcher · Post by **Researcher** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 8:29 pm

I've never seen such a stamp -- "3 inch not warranted"

The Super-Fox guns often carried the stamp -- "Barrels Not Guaranteed-See Tag". If they left North 18th and Windrim with 3-inch chambers they were stamped on the barrel flat under the serial number "3 IN."

I've seen a handful of Fox doubles over the years that letter with longer then standard chambers, and none of them were marked in any way as to their chamber length.

fullchoke16 · Post by **fullchoke16** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 8:49 pm

This trap gun has the small letters like yours and reads "3 inch "and another line underneath that reads" not warrented". All lettering is on the side opposite the ser. no. about the same place yours is. On the Ser. no. side it also has an oval with SP in it that I would take to mean Savage Proof.My spell checker tells me that warrented is incorrect, but I double checked and that is how it's spelled on the gun.

Researcher · Post by **Researcher** » Sat Aug 16, 2008 10:04 pm

The SP in an oval is the Savage Proof. Give us a picture of these strange markings.