Fox Collectors

Of the thousands of 20 and 16 Gauge S/W's out there, what percentage or numbers were made with ejectors? And (second part) where ejectors in the small gauges available with all barrel length's (26, 28, 30 inch).

My guess as to number ejector guns made would be 14% ! Ha-what a guess! All the different barrel lengths were available with ejectors. Bobby

Ejectors were available with all barrel lengths and in all gauges.

My totally unscientific sample, the Sterlingworths I've recorded over the past 20 years, gives the following --

20-gauge, 10.25 % have ejectors

16-gauge, 13.3 % have ejectors

12-gauge "pin guns" 16.3 % have ejectors

12-gauge "smooth pin" 17.1 % have ejectors

If one discounts the 11 Fox-Sterlingworth Wildfowls in the sample, smooth pin 12-gauges are only 8.9 % ejectors.

Also, the vast majority of smallbore Sterlingworths are 26- and 28-inch barrels. I've recorded three 30-inch 16-gauges, one 30-inch 20-gauge and one 32-inch 20-gauge (which Morris Baker keeps torchering me with).

Researcher says in his unscientific sample that: "12-gauge "pin guns" 16.3 % have ejectors".

With all due respect, it's hard for me to believe anywhere near that percentage were produced, I have found them to be very seldomly encountered. I understand that about 12,000 Fox Pin guns were built and another AHFCA board member has stated on another thread on this site that he estimates there were only ~400-500 of them built with ejectors...therefore, if his estimate is close, only approximately 3%-4% of pin guns produced had ejectors...and I'd be surprised if there were that many.

[quote="Researcher"
Also, the vast majority of smallbore Sterlingworths are 26- and 28-inch barrels. I've recorded three 30-inch 16-gauges, one 30-inch 20-gauge and one 32-inch 20-gauge (which Morris Baker keeps torchering me with).[/quote]

Are you speaking only of ejector guns here?

I've recorded 55"pinguns" and nine of them have ejectors, eight in the very highest "pin gun" serial numbers.

None of those longer barrel smallbore Sterlingworths I've recorded had ejectors.

Dave,
when i get back from this place (A-stan) I will have to send you the specs on a 16 GA Sterlingworth with 30" barrels and ejectors I purchased right before I deployed.
If you can remember to, shoot me an email in August. I will try to remember.

Also a 20 Ga. 28" Sterlingworth with Ejectors, single trigger that I just got.

I was interested in the topic at one time and found my old notes on this computer. This may not be 100% accurate because it came from various sources and I used what I found . The info I have is ~12,000 Pin Guns were made. Of this total ~3,000 of the earliest were Sterlingworth Company guns without ejectors. Very few ejector Pin AHFGC Sterlingworths have been observed between 53,000 and 59,500. Almost all the ejector Pin SW's seen were numbered above 59,500; this corresponds with Dave's posting. You can do your own math extrapolation for the "entire population" of Pin Guns by combining this info with Dave's, and using some reasonable assumptions. Frank

Silvers wrote:I was interested in the topic at one time and found my old notes on this computer. This may not be 100% accurate because it came from various sources and I used what I found . The info I have is ~12,000 Pin Guns were made. Of this total ~3,000 of the earliest were Sterlingworth Company guns without ejectors. Very few ejector Pin AHFGC Sterlingworths have been observed between 53,000 and 59,500. Almost all the ejector Pin SW's seen were numbered above 59,500; this corresponds with Dave's posting. You can do your own math extrapolation for the "entire population" of Pin Guns, by combining this info with Dave's. Frank

Okay, this is beginning to sound more plausible...approximately 12,000 AHFGC Sterlingworths in total and if the first 3000 pin guns were extractors and very few of the next 6500 built had ejectors, that leaves only about 2500 guns left in the run of pin guns. If you take Dave's estimate of 16.3% had ejectors times this pool of 2500 guns you come up with 407.5...so ~400-500 seems logical, but 16.3% of 12,000 comes to about 2500--which is way more than what seems logical in my unscientific observations.

Speaking of pin guns...it has been reported that very few graded AHFGC guns were produced. Did you see the upgraded "Special" DE pin gun SN 6165 listed in the upcoming Julia auction catalog? It's Lot #1382. The pre-auction estimate is $8000-$12,000. This is the 1st graded pin gun I have actually seen.

That upgraded "pin gun" with the fifth digit of its original serial number removed, has been kicking around for sometime. It has been at the last two Vintage Cups, and I seem to recall it not selling at a previous auction.

#6165X = Sterlingworth.

I'll throw another curve at you. I have a 12 Gauge Sterlingworth SN 103079 that Mr. Callahan describes in his letter as a "Sterlingworth Brush Ejector" with two sets of original barrels: one 26 inch IC & Mod., the other 32 inch F&F shipped from the Fox plant in Phila. on December 24, 1925. I came in a two barrel mutton leg case with brass plate marked: W.P. Farthing, Jr. XMAS 1926. My question is how rare a configuration is this if only about 17% of smooth pin SWs were ejector guns?

Best Regards, George

The picture of the A.H. Fox Gun Co. tent at the 1911 Grand American Handicap, shows a banner half the side of the tent advertising the Sterlingworth ejector for $37.50.

George, my guess would be that factory original Sterlingworth two barrel sets are pretty scarce. Most I've seen were composed sometime after their original production, either by being returned to the factory or totally after-market. As for barrel lengths on 12-gauge Sterlingworths it appears from my observations that 26-inchers (Brush) are in third place and the 32-inchers (Trap) are the least often seen.

Researcher wrote: None of those longer barrel smallbore Sterlingworths I've recorded had ejectors.

In that case, Researcher, I'll toss out that I've seen at least 6 different 30" 16SW's offered for sale in the last couple of years. I have a 30" Utica 16SW and a 30" Philly 20A. Would you like some particulars, or do you record only examples you can handle?