One just wasn't enough...

Post by **SmithShady** » Mon Aug 29, 2011 10:24 am

I had to go and buy another Fox Double this weekend. I bought my first one three weeks ago, and last weekend I went to an estate auction and bid on two more (didn't score), but ended up buying the one below while at the Gun show in Greensboro, NC this weekend. Fox Fever I think it's been called?

This is my new 1937 Fox Sterlingworth 16 Gauge with 28" barrels. The Greensboro show was great, with a lot more older doubles for sale. I looked at a number of them, and was specifically interested in one of the smaller gauge guns. This one was at the higher end of what I was willing to spend, but I chose it because it's all original. It has some "character", but the bluing on the barrels is still pretty good, it still has some case coloring in the protected areas, and is very solid. There are some issues with it, which will eventually need to be addressed. There seems to be some small cracks forming in the headstock on the right and left side below the top lever (see pictures). There also seems to be some rust in a few places, which I would like to take care of immediately. I cleaned it last night and took the pictures below. I'd love to get some opinions on it, and some advice on the cracks and cleaning the rust out of the hard to reach places.

Thanks,

Mike

A. H. Fox Sterlingworth 16 Gauge by SmithShady, on Flickr

Double Double by SmithShady, on Flickr

DSizemore · Post by **DSizemore** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 7:58 am

That looks to be a nice, all original gun to me. Truth is, the vast majority of these old guns have a little cracking going on somewhere. I think it's just the nature of 80 year old wood. Your gun looks to still have the original finish so if you ever did anything I'd advise doing it from the inside, assuming it's cracked all the way through and actually in need of repair for stability purposes. I would take it to a smith somewhere and get his opinion. Don't be overly concerned with little stress cracks though. They can go forever without any real problems.

As for your barrels, if you do the ringing thing and get a "ring" and not a clear "thud" I wouldn't be too concerned. Also, check to see if you can actually feel something loose. If you can't, go on and enjoy shooting the gun. Now, if you ever decided to blue the barrels and the ribs were loose, you might have to do something then. Hope my opinion helps.

Laxcoach · Post by **Laxcoach** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 10:22 am

I looked hard at that gun, also. If I had sold my Parker earlier it would have been a stablemate to the restored 20 I have and showed to a few people at the show.

MARSHFELLOW · Post by **MARSHFELLOW** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 5:49 pm

Smith Shady-

Nice pics ! ........two wont be enough either, dont fight it.

tjw

Brian · Post by **Brian** » Wed Sep 07, 2011 7:59 pm

nice clean shooter.

what kind of light did you use for the pics?

NJdblgun · Post by **NJdblgun** » Sun Sep 11, 2011 11:51 am

Very nice guns, and great photography!

Post by **SmithShady** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 12:43 am

Brian, the pics were taken using two off camera Nikon flashes, one of them in a softbox, the other with a diffuser. Putting the flash in a softbox helps to soften the light. The closer you can get it, the softer the light is. Using an off camera flash also makes all the difference. Direct light like you get from the flash mounted on your camera is the worst for taking pictures of shiny or reflective things like guns. With a flash placed directly over the lens on the camera, the light usually reflects directly back into the lens causing the "hot spots" you typically see. I used two flashes here, with the softbox being the main light off to the left of the gun, and I used a second flash to fill in the shadows from the right side. My camera can remotely trigger the flashes to go off when the shutter fires.

If you don't have this kind of equipment, or access to it, nothing beats natural light. With a simple point and shoot camera, you can take amazing pictures using just sunlight, if done at the right time of day. Window light, or even direct sunlight very early in the morning or in the late evening is best. They call it the "Golden Hour". Just after sunrise or right before sunset when you get that nice golden light. If you want to take some great pics of your guns without spending a fortune on expensive camera gear, I'd try using natural light, taking notice of how it falls on the gun and where the shadows are cast. If you have to use a point and shoot with a direct flash, then try backing away from the gun and zooming in to cut down on the harshness of the direct light.

That's a long winded answer to a simple question, and may have been more than you were looking for, but I hope it helps.

Mike

Brian · Post by **Brian** » Tue Sep 13, 2011 8:10 pm

Mike,
Thnaks. Once in a while i get soem good shots with my P&S. one of these days I iwll get a Digital SLR and try soem better stuff. Thanks again

Fox Collectors

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