New to the Forum - Need General Restoration Advice

[Farmboy76]

Hi everyone - hope you are all safe during these uncertain and strange times. My father gave me some old shotguns he had lying around and the most beautiful was a Fox Sterlingworth. I'd never heard of that manufacturer, but did a little research and found your forum. I'm thrilled this beautiful firearm has such rich history and robust following. I have lots of time on my hands being stuck inside and was hoping to make use of it by refinishing the stocks and barrels on these scatterguns (something I've not attempted before). While the Fox gun won't be the first I try to refinish, I did want to seek out more knowledgeable folks on this specific firearm and inquire about its provenance, age, and potential value. I've been around firearms for many years and have an amateur coin collection, so I know the first thing NOT to do when you find a beautiful collectible piece is go vigorously wipe away the patina or original finishes. Is this Fox gun more valuable/authentic as-is? I'd love to keep it as my own for a long time and the idea of refinishing it is incredibly exciting to me, but if the general consensus is that it's better with the finish it currently has, I don't want to inadvertently destroy that. Any and all advice is appreciated in advance! (Pictures for reference attached)

Thanks again and stay safe

[Jim Cloninger]

If that was my gun, all I would do is restore the stock. Jim

[Jeff S]

I'm with Jim. Refinishing the stock would make it a dandy gun. Have fun!

[jolly bill]

If you do refinish the wood, go easy with the sand paper. Especially around where the wood interfaces with the receiver, trigger guard and fore end iron. Leave the butt plate on when you (lightly) sand that part of the stock.

Nice looking gun.

PS: Welcome.

[Brian Dudley]

The gun has a lot of good going for it and only needs sympathetic cleanup and mild restoration to the wood finishes. If it were not for the amount of flaking in the finish on the wood, I would say just leave it alone. However, if you do not have experience in proper restoration of wood on guns, then you should leave it alone. There is a fine line on a gun like this between doing it right and screwing it up.

[Stan Hillis]

First, welcome to the forum.

I'm in total agreement with Brian, who has much more experience with this than most of us, as he is an active vintage doublegun 'smith. I have a Sterly with the same condition wood, and have never touched it for fear of doing it wrong.

Best, SRH