Fox Collectors

Won this at an auction a few weeks ago and it arrived today. I think members know the story of these. Late 1930s gun. 12 gauge Sterlingworth Deluxe. Jostam Antflinch pad. Twin beads. Middle bead is Ivory, front bead is a Bradley white bead which I believe was swapped out somewhere in time. 28 inch barrels choked Mod and IC (.012, .024). LOP 14 1/2". DAC 1 5/8", DAH 2 3/4". Weight 6 lb 15 oz.

Good bit of case color and excellent blueing. Really nice gun overall.

PS. I was never looking for one of these. It just showed up and after looking at a few pics I realized it was a flat side Sterly. Put in a bid at the end and bingo it was mine.

Couple more.

PS. Will bring it to Ernies in a couple weeks.

Hope to see it with some game birds this fall.

Tom,
Very nice flat side! Great condition on that one!!

Looks like a dandy Tom. Congratulations.

Great score Tom. A 12 ga with 28 inch tubes coming in at six and a half pounds is a great field gun. Looking forward to seeing it a t Ernie's.

Foxnut wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 10:47 pm Tom,
Very nice flat side! Great condition on that one!!

It was certainly used some but not much I'm thinking. I'd think not many of them out there like this overall. She would make a lovely pheasant gun for sure.

I had no idea a 28" Flatty could be that light. I will weigh mine and report back, if I don't forget. OK, my 30" flat side weighs 7 pounds 5 ounces, barrel weight not marked but they weigh 3 pounds, 8 ounces. I don't know what number that corresponds to on McIntosh's chart.

You're on a roll Tom. Nice!

Mine is much heavier at 7 pounds 4 ounces. I've got 30-inch 12-gauge Sterlingworths from seven pounds to 7 pounds 12 ounces. My lightest 12-gauge Sterlingworth is my drawbolt 26-inch at 6 pounds 14 ounces.

I am using a digital scale. I will weigh the barrels later today.

I had the chance to buy one years ago for not much money but it had condition issues so I passed.

Yours looks minty.

Good find.

Ok folks. Went back and recalibrated the digital scale. Weight is actually 6 lb 15 oz and the barrels weigh 3 lbs 5 oz and surmise they are 3 weights. Makes sense after reading everyone else's,
weights.

PS. Went back and weighed both my recently acquired long legged 20 and 16 gauge Foxes after scale recalibration and both weigh 6 lb 10 oz. That makes sense because the Cody letter provided on the 16 gauge showed it had 2 weight barrels and left the factory weighing 6 lb 10 oz.

eightbore wrote: ↑Wed May 21, 2025 9:17 am I had no idea a 28" Flatty could be that light. I will weigh mine and report back, if I don't forget. OK, my 30" flat side weighs 7 pounds 5 ounces, barrel weight not marked but they weigh 3 pounds, 8 ounces. I don't know what number that corresponds to on McIntosh's chart.

Bill, those are 3 weights I'm guessing. McIntosh's chart shows the 30" 3 weight come in at 3 lb 10 oz (before striking).

Thanks, Tom. By the way, my flatside was purchased from a gentleman who had a table full of high condition Sterlys and others at the Easton, Maryland show several years back. I bought more than one, but not all, unfortunately. It's amazing how little attention good Sterlingworths got just a few years ago.