Hi Everyone,
My father-in-law recently passed away unexpectedly and he had a gun that he wanted to give my son. Low and behold it is an AH Fox. Unfortunately, I know nothin regarding the gun's history since his passing was unexpected. The serial number on the gun is 87155. It is marked with "Sterlingwood Fluid Compressed Steel" on the barrel. As far as I can tell from research it is a 12 gauge produced in 1918 or 1919. I was hoping someone might understand the serial numbers better than me and can either confirm, or correct me. Thanks in advance everyone. I am looking forward to learning more about this firearm.
Inherited a Fox
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Foxnut
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Re: Inherited a Fox
SG06,
It sounds like your gun is indeed a 12 gauge A.H. Fox Sterlingworth model gun. The Sterlingworth was the base/entry level model for the A.H. Fox company. Built with the same action and design as higher grade guns. The Sterlingworth could be had in 26, 28, 30 or 32” barrel length, usually with a pistol grip stock and splinter forend of American black walnut. Ejectors were available for an increased price. Post some pics of the gun and others will no doubt chime in. As to the date of manufacture the only way to know for certain is to order a letter from the Cody Museum that now has all of the Savage/Fox records. There are some tables out there with approximate dates of manufacture but they are not always correct.
It sounds like your gun is indeed a 12 gauge A.H. Fox Sterlingworth model gun. The Sterlingworth was the base/entry level model for the A.H. Fox company. Built with the same action and design as higher grade guns. The Sterlingworth could be had in 26, 28, 30 or 32” barrel length, usually with a pistol grip stock and splinter forend of American black walnut. Ejectors were available for an increased price. Post some pics of the gun and others will no doubt chime in. As to the date of manufacture the only way to know for certain is to order a letter from the Cody Museum that now has all of the Savage/Fox records. There are some tables out there with approximate dates of manufacture but they are not always correct.
Regards - Foxnut
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Researcher
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Re: Inherited a Fox
In looking at the serial number chronology, which was done by Lightner Library back in 1976, it looks like 87155 would be a 1920 vintage gun. I don't have a lot of faith in that chronology, but that is another story.
The Sterlingworth was a made to standard specifications gun, made for stock, and sold in batches to large distributors. While the graded Ansley H. Fox doubles were stocked in European walnut (Juglans regia) and were barreled with Krupp Fluid Steel, cost saving for the Sterlingworth was plain American Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) stock and forearm barrels of what they called Sterlingworth Fluid Compressed Steel. We often find vestiges of various tube supplier's marks on the bottom of the barrels forward of the barrel flats -- LLH, SB&Co., or a D with a three-lobed crown over it.
The Sterlingworth was introduced in 1910 as a $25 net selling price gun to compete with the Hunter Arms Co. L.C. Smith 00-Grade, Lefever Arms Co. DS-Grade and Remington Arms Co. K-Grade all of which sold for $25. Inflation, fueled by the unpleasantness in Europe, began driving prices up and during 1916 the price jumped to $30 and by December 1st, 1919, the price was up to $55.
The Sterlingworth listing from the 1920 A.H. Fox Gun Co. catalog --
Sterlingworth production cards don't provide a lot of information, so whether that limited amount of information is worth the price of a Cody letter is yours to make.
The Sterlingworth was a made to standard specifications gun, made for stock, and sold in batches to large distributors. While the graded Ansley H. Fox doubles were stocked in European walnut (Juglans regia) and were barreled with Krupp Fluid Steel, cost saving for the Sterlingworth was plain American Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) stock and forearm barrels of what they called Sterlingworth Fluid Compressed Steel. We often find vestiges of various tube supplier's marks on the bottom of the barrels forward of the barrel flats -- LLH, SB&Co., or a D with a three-lobed crown over it.
The Sterlingworth was introduced in 1910 as a $25 net selling price gun to compete with the Hunter Arms Co. L.C. Smith 00-Grade, Lefever Arms Co. DS-Grade and Remington Arms Co. K-Grade all of which sold for $25. Inflation, fueled by the unpleasantness in Europe, began driving prices up and during 1916 the price jumped to $30 and by December 1st, 1919, the price was up to $55.
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