repair

bjenn · Post by **bjenn** » Thu May 07, 2009 6:56 am

I just obtained a Fox Sterlingworth 12 ga. side by side-Serial Number 128969. The release lever is "overcenter" at rest. That is, the end of the lever is to the left. The gun will not close and lock. I am located in NE Pennsylvania. Does anyone know the name of a gunsmith I could send or take the gun to? It is a beautiful piece, and would love to use it.

steve

Silvers · Post by **Silvers** » Thu May 07, 2009 7:23 am

Good morning Steve. If you mean the lever is left of center with the barrels opened or off the frame, it's possible the trip and/or it's spring is missing. Or, the trip might be worn excessively. Spring could be bad. That would allow the locking bolt to rotate closed and keep the barrels from moving down and locking up. Normally the lever is held locked to the right when the gun is opened.

To test this theory try holding the lever to the right while closing the barrels. Then release the lever when the barrels are closed. That will confirm what's up.

If the lever is held to the right - either by the trip or manually - and the barrels still won't close, it's possible the barrels are from andother Sterlingworth. Check the serial number on the bottom of the barrels to see if it matches the frame serial number. If different numbers, your barrels will have to be fitted by someone who knows how to do "jointing".

Anyone familiar with Foxes can look in the frame recess and see if the trip is there, and push on it to see if it's moving like it should. Also suggest repair options based on the inspection. Send me a PM if you're interested and maybe we can meet up and I'll look at the gun for you. I am also in NE PA. Alternately if you can make the Central PA side by side shoot at Blue Ridge near Indiantown Gap/Hbg. on May 16, I should be there and can look at it then. See link below for details. Silvers

http://www.foxcollectors.com/My%20Forum ... php?t=1213

bjenn · Post by **bjenn** » Thu May 07, 2009 8:48 am

Many thanks for the reply: The barrels have the same serial number. I'm not sure what to look for in the mechanism, but from my other guns, when open, the lever is locked with the tail or end pointing to the right, and when closed the lever is locked with the tail in the center. On this gun, the tail is beyond center, with the tail pointing to the left side of the stock.

steve

Silvers · Post by **Silvers** » Thu May 07, 2009 9:05 am

If the lever won't stay to the right when the gun is opened, the bolt will keep the barrels from closing and locking. As stated above it sounds like the trip is missing, worn, installed incorrectly, or hanging up... or the trip spring is missing or has lost its tension. Bottom line: here are many possible scenarios.

If the trip isn't working for whatever reason the lever will settle in left of center when the barrels are opened or off the gun. That is normal.

Reference #5 thru #7 on this link to see what the trip and its spring look like and how to remove and install them. This should guide you if you want to do your own work. Note that what I call the trip is called the trip pin in this reference. I don't want to discourage you but if you're missing the trip or have a badly worn one a good replacement will be very hard to find. Often spare trips have worn out surfaces. Silvers

http://foxcollectors.com/disassembly1.htm

birdawg · Post by **birdawg** » Thu May 07, 2009 10:15 am

I recently bought a gun with the same problem you have. The trip as described, was full of old grease and unburnt powder . I cleaned it with a pick and some penetrating oil as a quick fix rather than dis assembling the gun. If the trip is worn beyond use it is easy to just learn to move the trip to the right when you want to close the gun.

gunut · Post by **gunut** » Thu May 07, 2009 9:13 pm

I have a sterlingworth that had a worn lever trip/lock so the lever would not lock to the right with the barrels open...My gunsmith [Dennis Potter] made a new piece and its worked fine since....He said its almost impossible to find a used good one...