Dad's Fox Sterlingworth

[PA Boxcall]

New member here.

I have my Dad's Fox Sterlingworth. He grew up in the suburbs of Philly, and as a teen he purchased it from his parent's next door neighbor who was the original owner. Dad carried it through the fields of south central PA during many years small game hunting, and was an excellent shot with it.

I used to carry it a bit in high school chasing pheasants, but for the most part its been retired since the 1980s. I'm a turkey hunter and have a dedicated H&R single for that business, haven't chased pheasants in decades.

Serial numbers all match, and from my research the gun was built in 1929. The one barrel does have a small dent that's been there since he bought it in the 1950s. If anyone has some thoughts about it, I'd like to hear them. Bit apprehensive about shooting today's shotshell loads through it, wonder if the stock could handle a high brass load.

Here it is:

[Researcher]

Looks like a nice veteran that has seen service but still in nice shootable condition. What is the barrel length?

Bit apprehensive about shooting today's shotshell loads through it, wonder if the stock could handle a high brass load.

Progressive burning smokeless powder, high velocity loads were introduced in 1922, so 124542 has likely digested its share over the last 97 years. You certainly can't use anything but lead or the softer nontoxic shot such as Bismuth. No steel shot!

The Sterlingworth from the 1928-9 A.H. Fox Gun Co. catalog --

Magazine ad from the November 1929 National Sportsman --

[Jeff S]

That’s a nice family heirloom that deserves to be treasured. Thanks for sharing the story and posting pictures.

[Foxnut]

Assuming from your handle and comments that you are into turkey hunting. We’d love to see a pic of you with a big gobbler holding that Sterlingworth!!! There are definitely loads that it can handle that would be deadly on a gobbler!!

[PA Boxcall]

Thanks for sharing those factory advertisements from Fox, Researcher - very much appreciated.

Its seen its fair share of high brass over the many years it spent afield, that's for sure.

I am a turkey hunter, pretty much the only thing I pursue both spring and fall seasons. If I were to tote this double...I was thinking of running 1 & 1/8 oz. Federal lead 6s, the Game Load at 1,330 fps. Limit shots to within 35 yards. Figured that shouldn't be too hard on that old piece of walnut.

[67galaxie]

Absolutely use it with modern 2 3/4 lead ammo. Great for turkeys especially if it has 2 different choke sizes for different distances

[Silvers]

FYI, the traditional 'High Brass" 12 gauge load was (and is) 1-1/4 ounce of lead shot at 1330 speed. When I was a kid almost all local PA hunters out for mixed small game with SxS's would have a Low Brass Field load in the right barrel and a High Brass in the left. Most of these Sterlies have digested plenty of 1-1/4 ounce loads over their glory days in the field but now it seems many vintage double gun enthusiasts get edgy with anything beyond so-called low pressure (lower velocity and lighter payload) shells. That makes sense for a round of 50 or so clays but not for hunting, at least it doesn’t to me. frank