Sterlingworth Co. Pin gun date

vaturkey · Post by **vaturkey** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 7:34 pm

When would serial number 52,xxx have been made? Appreciate any thoughts. Thanks guys.

Researcher · Post by **Researcher** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 9:16 pm

Probably mid to late 1910. At that number it should be a The Sterlingworth Co. gun.

vaturkey · Post by **vaturkey** » Fri Dec 05, 2008 5:37 am

I've got it headed my way. Haven't seen it first hand. However the price seemed more then fair based on the condition described. Guess we will find out soon. Thanks much.

grogel · Post by **grogel** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 12:59 pm

I was looking at them yesterday on GA. Must suck when you list a very rare gun and then three others list ones just like it.

Researcher · Post by **Researcher** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 2:26 pm

The 12-gauge Sterlingworth "pin guns" are certainly not rare. They began at serial number 50000 and the transition to dressed smooth hingepins is in the high 61xxx/low 62xxx range. The first about 3000 were marked The Sterlingworth Co. By 53140 they are marked A.H. Fox Gun Co. The ones that might be considered rare are first probably less then 1000 with the rounded profile to the receiver side panel.

And, within those are the first 200 or less that have the Wayne Junction barrel address instead of Philadelphia.

Any graded 16- or 20-gauge is a lot rarer then a 12-gauge Sterlingworth "pin gun."

FOXIST · Post by **FOXIST** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 3:10 pm

vaturkey I have found that alot of the pins guns are very nice in worksmanship and finish when you find one that has not been messed with.
Researcher I might add that the ejector pin guns dont seem to be common. I can count on one hand the number of pin ejectors I have seen in my years at looking at these old foxes. Paul

vaturkey · Post by **vaturkey** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 5:05 pm

There appears to be three different phases of the pin guns. The first with the rounded frame, marked Sterlingworth Co. The next group with the pointed frame marked Sterlingworth Co. Then the final group with the pointed frame with Sterlingworth marked on the frame. Am I correct? and if so what kind of numbers might we be talking for all three? PS. This is a great website.

Researcher · Post by **Researcher** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 5:32 pm

Less then 1000, a bit over 2000 and 9000.

I haven't recorded a single ejector gun up to 58657, but from 58901 to 61126 I've recorded nine ejector guns out of 12 guns recorded. Ejectors are pretty sparse across all my tables of observed Sterlingworths. Very few people buying the entry-level Fox were springing for any extras. While I'm sure some must have been made, I haven't recorded a single Philadelphia era Sterlingworth of any gauge with the Fox-Kautzky single selective trigger. I have recorded two The Sterlingworth Co. guns retrofitted with Miller single triggers.

Dick Jones · Post by **Dick Jones** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 9:53 pm

Resercher,

I have 58969, a Pin gun with ejectors and 2 sets of barrels that are not original to the gun. The barrels are Chickopee Falls barrels so the cun may have been converted, (Think it was) You're welcome to check the records if it's of any use to you.

I think the gun was completly redone by Fox in the 50s. New barrels, case colors and maybe the ejector conversion. Makes a nice shooter though.

Dick Jones

NJdblgun · Post by **NJdblgun** » Sat Dec 06, 2008 10:36 pm

A year or two ago I owned a Sterlingworth, SN 96096, which was an ejector and had the Kautzky single selective trigger. I found it at one of the big shows in Maryland. However, it was restocked and the 26" barrels had no choke (so were cut, I thought). I cant specifically recall if the forend had matching SN, but I think so. I no longer own it, and did not attempt to get a factory letter. But, alot of extras for an entry level gun, if original.

Gmountain · Post by **Gmountain** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 9:41 pm

Researcher wrote:Less then 1000, a bit over 2000 and 9000.

I wonder how many of these are still around, or gone forever. The guns from 1910 are 100 years old-I wonder if even half of them exist anymore.

Fox Collectors

Sterlingworth Co. Pin gun date

Sterlingworth Co. Pin gun date

IT is indeed.

Three varieties of Pin Guns?