Original stocks on Sterlingworth guns

[BHiller]

I'm curious to learn more about the various stock and forearm configurations found orginally on Sterlingworth guns. I have what appears to be a 1911 "Pin gun" that has a standard pistol grip with a grip cap, but I'm seeing a lot that appear to have Prince of Wales grips as well. Were the Prince of Wales grips mostly on the small bore guns or was there a change sometime in 1911/1912 when they started moving away from grip caps?
My forearm is also a very large beavertail rather than a splinter. Curious about the likelihood that the wood is original rather than a restock.

Will be away for work most of the week, so don't be offended if I don't respond right away.

Thanks,

Brian

[Researcher]

The Half Pistol Grip was the standard on the graded guns, A to FE. A capped pistol grip was the only style offered on the Sterlingworth during the Philadelphia years. From the 1910 The Sterlingworth Co. catalog --

1913 Sterlingworth folder --

1914 "A Fox Gets the Game" catalog --

I could do this for every year the Sterlingworth was made in Philadelphia, but here is from the last A.H. Fox Gun Co. catalog used in 1928-29 --

[Researcher]

All Philadelphia Sterlingworth forearms were slim. Extractor --

Ejector --

A beavertail was only offered on the very last FOX-STERLINGWORTHS from Savage. The first offering of a beavertail on a FOX-STERLINGWORTH was when the straight-gripped FOX-STERLINGWORTH Skeet & Upland Game Gun was introduced in Savage's 1935 A.H. Fox catalog.

Typical Savage era FOX-STERLINGWORTH beavertail forearm.

Factory original beavertail forearms on these entry-level guns are very rare and some of them seen on 12-gauge Skeet & Upland Game Guns have the Deeley latch of the graded guns.

Also in the 1935 catalog Savage first showed the capless pistol grip on the FOX-STERLINGWORTH.

Also, about that time the Savage-era fuller forearm begins appearing.

[Researcher]

Delete duplicate post

[BHiller]

Thanks for the info. The stock has a cap and a full pistol grip, so I assume the wood is original. The forearm is a beavertail, but the gun is a Philly "Pin gun" most likely made sometime in late 1911 or early 1912, based on McIntosh's book. So I'm assuming that the wood there is newer/replacement. It also looks a bit lighter in color, but not sure how much that matters.

I don't know how standard the checkering was on Sterlingworths but this is what mine looks like.

Really appreciate the help and all of the info. I'm fascinated by McIntosh's books and the history of Foxes.

Brian

[Researcher]

That is definitely an after-market forearm.

[dblgnlvr]

This is my first post on the forum after being a member for a couple years. I have a Philly Sterlingworth serial # 62128 that i am refinishing that has 30 inch barrels, double triggers,dressed hinge pin, full beavertail fore end, uncapped pistol grip and ejectors. All of the wood is original and serial numbered to the gun. If I can figure out how to load pictures I will do so. Jerry

[Researcher]

Sounds like a Savage restock. I own Sterlingworth Ejector pin-gun Serial number 62126 --

62126 01 Sterlingworth Ejector Standard, Pin Gun.jpg (24.11 KiB) Viewed 3026 times

62126 02.jpg (38.22 KiB) Viewed 3026 times

62126 03.jpg (27.11 KiB) Viewed 3026 times

This is right in the transition from the pin-gun 12-gauge to the smooth dressed pins. Highest serial number pin-gun I've recorded is 62409 in the 12 June 2010 Horst Auction. The lowest smooth pin I've recorded is 61960.

To load pictures just use the Attachments tab below your text window and Add files.

[Brian Dudley]

Pin guns would be 12g. only. Any one that I have seen has been a capped pistol grip.

[BHiller]

In looking through the images it seems as though someone tried to match the checkering pattern on my forearm with original wood. The top picture of forearms has a similar pattern, but is on a splinter forearm. The forearm has the snap in attachment as well.

Thanks for all the info.

Brian