Recoil pads on Foxes

[Brian]

What was offered on Sterlingworths over the years?

What for graded guns?
I have seen several brands and what is factory is what i want to know.

Anyone have a pad , uncut, for a sterlingworth? Jotsam?

[Researcher]

The early catalogues say Silvers. Later they say Silvers or "Silvers type" pad on the higher grades. That said, the bulk of the pads that appear to be original on C-Grades and below are the Jostam Anti-Flinch. The only place a Jostam Anti-Flinch is actually seen is in the picture of the Fox-Sterlingworth Deluxe in the catalogues from 1931 to 1941.

For me, from the early 1920s on a NoShoc, or a Jostam Air-Cushon would also be period correct.

[Silvers]

Unless you're really lucky you'll have a hard time finding an older pad that is uncut and in good shape. I found a few over the years but have generally been disapppointed because of ozone and sunlight nastiwork.

The Silvers repro "period correct" pad offered by Galazan is a good choice. Color is slightly different than the original Silvers but its base is not as brittle. Galazan had a special offering a week or two ago, on real Silvers pads, for something like $75.00. It was the 7/8" thickness as I recall. If you get one of those be sure to use a washer under each screw or the giganto screws that come with the pad.

Galazan also offers a Hawkins repro pad but I personally don't like it because its slots seem to be the largest size, more suitable for shotguns with huge butts. IMO probably not the best choice for a Sterlingworth.

If you don't like the fresh look of a new pad just take your Fox out hunting a few times, swamp muck, mud, sweat, tobacco juice, tannin from leaves, and rabbit and duck blood will color it very nicely. Silvers

[DGKaas]

Original Silvers pads in 7/8" or 1 1/8" with peak are available directly from Kynoch in the UK in the correct original orange also in brick red and black for <$50 per. Call them and give them a VISA # and they'll be in your mail in a few days. Griffin & Howe also have their version of the period orange Silvers style Galazan pad but with smaller plugs. Both are made by Ames Rubber in MA. I prefer the original Silvers. It is harder but grinds the best.

[eightbore]

The Griffin and Howe repro Silvers pad that I have used for 22 years now is a bit more "brick red" than orange, has rather large plugs but not quite as large as the original Silvers. They are a great choice for a big butt but not so good for a smaller butt or a cut off stock.

[Researcher]

Our friend Clarance Bowman had several new-in-the-box NoShoc pads at the Vintage Cup last September. All the nediums are in my gunroom now. Someone else snapped up the larges.