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Serial number on a Sterlingworth

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 9:07 am
by caflyer96
I have a Fox Sterlingworh with a much lower serial # than 50000. The number is 32800 and is on all three pieces (ie) barrels. forstock, and action. On the right barrel is "STERLINGWORTH FLUID COMPRESSED STEEL" and on the left barrel is "MADE BY A.H. FOX GUN CO. PHILA. PA.USA. I am trying to find out the age of this Fox. Any ideas?

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 9:53 am
by Researcher
We need to see pictures. I see three possibilities. One, you are missing a leading 1 on that serial number. Two, you have a graded gun that has had a set of Sterlingworth barrels fitted to it. Does it say "Sterlingworth", "Fox-Sterlingworth" or "Ansley H. Fox" on the sides of the frame? Three, you have one of the very-few Fox-Sterlingworth Wildfowls that were produced with graded 12-gauge serial numbers.

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 9:56 am
by FOXIST
caflyer
Sounds interesting. What are the specs on the gun? 32" bbl? How much does it weigh? The Gun could possibly be a Sterlingworth Wildfowl which is a very desirable gun. I believe Researcher had stated he had seen some Sterlingwrth Wildfowls with graded Fox Serial #'s.
The gun could also be a Graded Fox that was back to the factory for replacement barrels at some point and the customer opted for the cheaper sterlingworth barrels. Do you have any pictures that you could post? we would sure like to see this interesting gun.

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 9:58 am
by FOXIST
Dave looks like you and I were typing at the same time!! I was thinking the same thing Sterlingworth Wildfowl!!!

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 3:29 pm
by caflyer96
I will have pictures. All I have to do is figure out how to download them to this forum.

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 4:15 pm
by Researcher
One needs to load their pictures onto a photo server like Photobucket then paste the link for the photo between the [img]link[/img] here.

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 8:13 pm
by yelloh564
With S/N's on all 3 pieces I'd say its one of the Wildfowl SW's. If you said it had ejectors and was a heavy gun (8.5 lbs or more) then I'd be certain of it.

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 10:01 pm
by caflyer96
No ejectors, weighs 5.5 pounds and has 28" bbl. Pictures soon

link to pictures

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 10:09 pm
by caflyer96

Re: link to pictures

Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:39 pm
by AmarilloMike
This will take you to his photobucket site.

http://photobucket.com/caflyer96

Image

Image

Image

Image

Best,

Mike

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 7:41 am
by Silvers
Interesting gun, water table doesn't have the typical patent date stuff stamped in place and its s/n is stamped farther forward than usual. Also - the s/n on the barrel flats is located at 90-degrees from the norm. Lastly, often there are subtle differences in the size (height) of the numbers/figures due to being marked with different stamps while in the production process. All three of these appear to have been done with the same set of stamps. Lunch box special? Silvers

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 8:56 am
by eightbore
Lunch box gun, probably numbered outside of the factory. Very interesting and collectable gun, but only in my opinion. Possibly put together by someone who had lots of parts, for example Norman Strebe or the fellow who is often mentioned here as a parts and refinish guru. As a full service FFL dealer or manufacturer, either one would be required to number a new gun for sale after 1968. Unnumbered used guns can remain unnumbered, but I think that a newly manufactured gun must be numbered.

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 10:39 am
by AmarilloMike
calyflyer it just occured to me that I should have asked if it was all right if I fixed your link and / or posted all the pictures.

Sorry.

Thanks!

Mike

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 12:08 pm
by caflyer96
Mike: I couldn't get it to work so I am glad that you did.

Chris

Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2009 12:13 pm
by Researcher
That single diamond of checkering on the forearm is not the usual Sterlingworth checkering pattern. I'm voting for a fairly early Philadelphia employee's lunch box gun. At that light a weight I take it that the gun is a 20-gauge?