Fox Collectors

Hi All, I'm new to the forum and not sure where to look. Maybe someone can point me in the right direction. I have an early serial number 500XX Sterlingworth with a forend fastening system I have never seen before. The actual iron is plain with no extra parts except for the attaching screws. The barrel lug has a spring actuated pin that protrudes at a 45 degree angle that provides pressure against the back end of the slot in the iron when it is attached. Has anyone seen something like this?
Thanks
Jack

The early The Sterlingworth Co. guns had a "Baker"-style bent J-spring type forearm fastening. That appears the to be the forearm loop for that style forearm.





They must have had problems with this Baker J-Spring fastening as they soon went to the Fox-Kremer or F.T. Russell style forearm fastenings. Even many early The Sterlingworth Co. guns were retrofitted with these later style forearms.

Just my take on it FWIW.... the barrel loop shown in the first pic seems to have a dovetail cut through it. Also the description about the spring-loaded pin in the barrel loop is different - versus the J spring in the f/e iron in the early Baker system. Finally, the bluing drain hole appears to be larger than typical for Fox factory work.

Maybe I'm all wet on this but I wonder if this early Pin Gun started out with the Baker type system and was gunsmith converted to something different? Take a look at the underrib to the left of the barrel lug, first pic. It appears to be blued and have a different width (wider) than the underrib to the right of the barrel loop, which is oxidized. Also the loop appears to be blued, not oxidized. These admittedly limited observations from only one pic, suggest to me that the left underib and the barrel loop may have been relayed and/or modified. JMO for whatever it's worth. Silvers

Thanks for your reply! I think you are correct. Must have been a pretty good smith that altered the lug.
Thanks again.
Jack

Jpesci, can you provide some pics of the side of your receiver as well as the barrel address? How about the inside of the forearm? I would have to agree with Silvers that it looks modified for sure but well done.

Thanks

Drew