Fox Collectors

Yesterday morning I attended a local auction that had several Foxes advertised. The descriptions were rather vague and pictures were marginal but it piqued my interest enough to make the short drive. When I got there I picked up my auction number and bee lined to the Fox guns. There were several well used 12 gauge Sterlingworths, one second generation BE 12, a 12 gauge unmarked SP with 30” barrels and single Non-selective trigger, a well used 16 Sterly and a 16 Sterly ejector parts gun missing the forend iron. In addition there were two Foxes that I decided to bid on. The first was a Savage era 16 Sterlingworth ejector gun w/original hang tag and the second was a 12 gauge Sterlingworth Skeet & Upland Game Gun w/30” tubes.

The 16 Sterlingworth was in a browning shotgun box on a table that very few people opened up. The 12 gauge was in the rack with about 60 other guns/rifles and spare barrels. I was lucky enough to win both of these guns at reasonable prices including the BP and MI sales tax.

I remembered that there had been a couple post about long barreled Sterlingworth Skeet & Upland Game Guns and upon inspection verified that it was an original configuration unaltered gun. The Sterlingworth 16 is flat out new w/out the box. There is not even a flake of varnish missing from the stock or forend. To say that I’m elated is an understatement. It just goes to show you the Fox gods smile on us every once in a while!!

P.S. - I should have probably stayed and bid on the 16 Sterly ejector project gun just for the parts but it was at the tail end of the auction and would have been two or three more hours of waiting.

Wow! Nice find. I’m impressed with the number of Foxes. I’m looking forward to seeing those two. That 16 looks like a “benchmark” gun.

Nice job Brett. Can't wait to see them in person especially the hang tag.

Jeff S wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 8:48 am Wow! Nice find. I’m impressed with the number of Foxes. I’m looking forward to seeing those two. That 16 looks like a “benchmark” gun.

Jeff, you are correct it is really is a benchmark gun! It is about brand new minus the box! If only!!

DarylC wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 9:16 am Nice job Brett. Can't wait to see them in person especially the hang tag.

Daryl, I think the 12 gauge will be joining me in SD at the end of November!

what a find,good on you Brett

Very Nice!! Congratulations great pick ups.

Brett, that sounds like a great auction and you came home with some good ones. As you know that S&U with Phila features and non-cataloged 30" tubes is kind of unusual; I expanded your pic and see it's in the s/n range of typical 12 ga S&U guns I've owned or have seen and have in my spreadsheet. You also once saw my S&U with 32" tubes with its short tang trigger guard and I have the Savage letter confirming its configuration, though my gun has a much lower serial number but with a relatively late ship date. Just goes to show Savage could be accommodating to special requests especially during the Depression tough times though I suspect most of them came from factory staffers or others with some connections. frank

Couple of great purchases there, Brett. Congratulations!!

All the guns I've previously recorded in the 160xxx and 161xxx range have been 26-inch barrel guns except one with a second set of 28-inch barrels which I think you know. The other long-barrel 12-gauge Fox-Sterlingworth Skeet & Upland Game Gun I've recorded is in that nest of Savage 12-gauge Fox-Sterlingworths in the 122xxx range. Generally speaking, 12-gauge Savage Fox-Sterlingworths begin appearing in the 128xxx range, but I have recorded six Savage guns from 122029 to 123042 and no A.H. Fox Gun Co. guns in that range.

Hard to beat a minty 16-gauge Fox-Sterlingworth Ejector Field!! What more can be said.

Duplicate post

Silvers wrote: ↑Sun Oct 20, 2024 7:32 am Brett, that sounds like a great auction and you came home with some good ones. As you know that S&U with Phila features and non-cataloged 30" tubes is kind of unusual; I expanded your pic and see it's in the s/n range of typical 12 ga S&U guns I've owned or have seen and have in my spreadsheet. You also once saw my S&U with 32" tubes with its short tang trigger guard and I have the Savage letter confirming its configuration, though my gun has a much lower serial number but with a relatively late ship date. Just goes to show Savage could be accommodating to special requests especially during the Depression tough times though I suspect most of them came from factory staffers or others with some connections. frank

Frank, when I saw the brief description of this gun listing straight stock and 30” barrels I immediately thought it’s either been restocked or it was an unusually configured S&U gun w/long barrels. On Thursday evening I went back through the archives and re-read your post on your 32” gun. Once I got to the auction I confirmed it was a S&U. Again an example of where knowledge sharing in invaluable. Thanks!

More of my trivia!! Of the twenty-six guns I've recorded in the 160xxx range before 160675, sixteen have barrels marked STERLINGWORTH FLUID COMPRESSED STEEL. Most have the trim Philadelphia-style top-lever, but three have the Savage-style top-lever. Five have the Savage-styled safety slide and the rest the Philadelphi-style. Workers reaching into parts bins and using what is there.

Researcher wrote: ↑Sun Oct 20, 2024 6:15 pm More of my trivia!! Of the twenty-six guns I've recorded in the 160xxx range before 160675, sixteen have barrels marked STERLINGWORTH FLUID COMPRESSED STEEL. Most have the trim Philadelphia-style top-lever, but three have the Savage-style top-lever. Five have the Savage-styled safety slide and the rest the Philadelphi-style. Workers reaching into parts bins and using what is there.

Dave, I’m guessing those workers could have given a flip on which top lever style or safety slide they chose. They were just trying to get a job done and make some money in a challenging economy and market. But now we have something to compare and contrast on these guns and ponder the whys!! I’m going to order a letter to see if there is any unusual info on it.

I just stumbled on some pictures of another 30-inch straight grip Fox-Sterlingworth --
Someday I'm going to have to figure out a way to access all the information I've saved!!

Dave,
That is an interesting gun. 30” tubes w/skeet boring and a long tang trigger guard with condition! I’d like to handle that one!!