Fox Collectors

Anyone have an idea what percentage of sterlingworths in 32" 12 ga were produced or actual quantity??
anyone seen anyone sold lately, price?? need ballpark of value for gun with 40%+ case, 90% original blue and wood. 12 Ga.

Brian: I bought one about three years ago from a store in Charleston, SC with two sets of barrels in a mutton leg case for $2,500 which I thought was a hell of a deal. Both sets of barrels, 32" F&F and 26" IC&Mod, lettered to the gun which was shipped on December 24th., 1925 to the Watkins Cottrell Co. of Richmond, Virginia. SN 103079. It's Grade is a "Sterlingworth Brush Ejector". What, exactly, does that mean? It is in beautiful condition and came with a leg-o-mutton case with a brass plate marked: "W.P. Farthing, Jr. XMAS 1926". Any info would be appreciated.

Best Regards, George

In my tables of observed Sterlingworths I've been keeping since I was providing input for McIntosh's book, I have recorded 47 16-gauges, 0 with 32-inch barrels. I have recorded 40 20-gauges, 1 with 32-inch barrels. I have recorded 55 12-gauge "Pin Guns", 0 with 32-inch barrels, though one gun letters as 32-inch but currently sports 30-inch barrels. I've recorded 125 12-gauge Sterlingworths, 1 with 32-inch barrels, plus 8 Fox-Sterlingworth Wildfowls with 32-inch barrels.

I have a 12 gauge Sterlingworth, #66,007, with 32" barrels and ejectors. I believe it was made in 1913. It appears to have the standard width across the fences and handles nicely. Is this the one you have recorded, Researcher?

Dave, I don't know whether you recorded the 32" Sterlingworth 12 gauge ejector that we found in Canada last year. I think one of our members was able to get it home after I gave up because of the paperwork. Was it Frank? I don't remember. Murphy

Bill, it's a small world, really. That 32" SW ejector was at Ellwood Epps shop near Toronto and I planned to drive out to at least look at it when I was in Hamilton ON last fall. I met up with another Fox nut from Canada at the Hamilton airport on something else, and he told me he knew of the 32" SW ejector, had seen it waterfowling on the St. Lawrence, and that it was already sold, no need to drive out there. It's still in Canada, I know who has it but it's not my place to spill the beans, and maybe the gent will tell us more about it here.

I have seen two 32" 12 gauge SW's in my travels, and have seen three others advertised, but none of them were ejector guns. The gun that was at Epps is the only 32" 12 gauge SW ejector I've seen advertised. Frank

My 32 inch Sterlingworth SN103079 lettered as a "Sterlingworth Brush Ejector, 12 gauge, 26 inch barrels, etc. Notes- Extra set of Bbls., 32", choked full & full". Shipped December 24, 1925 to Watkins Cottrell Co. of Richmond, VA. On the 2 barrel muttonleg case that came with it is a brass plaque that reads: "W.P. Farthing, Jr. XMAS 1926" (Shipped on Christmas Eve 1925 and apparently given as a Christmas present one year later). PS: I have both sets of barrels.

Best Regards, George

Both of my 32" SW's are Savage guns, 132,xxx is non ejector and 134xxx is a ejector. 132xxx letters as Deluxe

I must not have had my reading glasses on this morning when I posted what I have in my table of observed Sterlingworths. Actually three 32-inch 12-gauges -- 104036, 106031, and 114080.

I have s/n 66098 and it letters as a "Sterlingworth Trap Ejector" 32" barrels Full/Full shipped May 4, 1915 to Cline & Cline Co. The barrels are engraved "HE FOX" and an infinity sign, also "Not Warannteed". I have shown the markings to Dave and he thinks the engraving has been faked. With that being said, the gun was purchased in a garage sale and the owner was carving the stock to fit a pad. The stock is solid and original and the owner almost ruined the stock.

#66,007 that I mentioned in the post above was the one from Epps. I bought it off them about a year ago and it is still with me in Canada. Had it out about a week ago and it still gets the birds. I haven't got around to getting a letter on it yet, but I expect it would be a trap ejector like Abner's. I joined the Fox collectors association a few weeks after I picked it up.

Thanks Bob. BTW the gent I met up with in Hamilton said your gun was used by an avid waterfowler in recent years but the guy traded it on something he could use steel shot in, too tough to find suitable non-tox once BCC went out of biz. Frank

Thanks for the info, Frank. I spoke with a friend from Ontario who had shared a blind with the previous owner and even taken a few shots with it before it was put up for sale. You're very right, it is a small world and the internet makes it smaller. Not too many years ago I wouldn't even have known it was for sale. Who would have thought that a buddy that I met on the collector's websites would have been able me a first person report on a gun a couple of thousand kilometers away? He also lives a couple of minutes away from Epps and went in to check it out again before I bought it. And then to get the expert advice through personal messages from people such as yourself and Bill Murphy before I "pulled the trigger". The internet has certainly changed things. $25 for membership is cheap considering the benefits it brings.

Congratulations, Northern Bob. I didn't have the patience to deal with the import hassle. Epps guys were very good to me, sending pictures, explaining the import procedures, etc. They still have a D Grade Parker pigeon gun that may be not too bad a gun. Have you seen that one?

Bob
I was especially fond of the Duck head inlay in the forearm. That gun is a true wildfowl gun that would be more fun to have in a blind than the characterless refinished or near new closet queens we more often see.
I am glad to see it went to a user.