Sterlingworth vs A Grades in 12 ga. Why????

Brian · Post by **Brian** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 9:18 am

It seems to me that 12 ga Sterlingworths in 12 Ga are getting higher prices than A Grade 12's. Or at least they are very close in price . But the A Grade has better wood, engraving etc ; the Sterlingworth usually sells quicker. Anyone want to weigh in on this.

No, I havent tracked sales of hundreds of guns, just a general observation from watching Gunbroker, Gunsamerica, Auction Arms and Gunshows.

Not the ratty ones but nice clean SW's with soem case and original blue and wood finish just seem to be a more desirerable gun than the A Grade. Maybe I am wrong but it seems like Sterlingworths in 12 are far more popular than A garde 12's. Yes, I know they made more of the SW's but ........

fullchoke16 · Post by **fullchoke16** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 2:55 pm

I don't know about anyone else, but A grades without ejectors, 32" bbls. or straight grip or some other less than common features are not going to pull any extra out of my wallet,when compared to a Sterlingworth of equal condition. Maybe it's because I'm more into shooting than collecting. Seems as though the fellas with deep pockets want to collect C grade on up mostly and I think thats why the A grade doesn't command a high price unless it has some odd or special feature. Thats looking at it from the buyers point of view, not the sellers. As far as popularity,I don't see but a half dozen A grades at gunshows at this end of PA in a year, but 25 Sterlingworths in a variety of gauges is the norm. I do agree that there isn't much asking price difference unless condition is high.

yelloh564 · Post by **yelloh564** » Sat Jul 21, 2007 10:00 pm

To the avg shooter/ hunter, not collector, I think the early A grade is not looked at as being much of an upgrade if any from a SW. The 2nd Gen A's are "fancy engraving" compared to the 1st gen, and their prices as compared to an equal condition SW seem to be 50% higher or so

Mark Copeland · Post by **Mark Copeland** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 12:32 am

There's no comparison between an A grade and SW. A grade hands down!!!

Researcher · Post by **Researcher** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 10:12 am

At the Richmond gun show a quite a number of years ago this 20-gauge A-Grade from 1913 was laying right next to two 20-gauge Sterlingworths, all three 28-inch barrels, similar condition and all the same price.

Fin2Feather · Post by **Fin2Feather** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 12:29 pm

Yelloh nailed it. Same gun; if you're into shooting it, who cares how much engraving it does or doesn't have? At the same price and condition I'd probably take the A, but I wouldn't pay appreciably more for one over a comporable Sterlingworth.

FRBRIT · Post by **FRBRIT** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 12:29 pm

Brian,
I think you've answered your own question by specifing 12 gauge. The 12's are the only gauge that there is a price comparasion between the SW and the A's.

Watch the small bore prices and compare gun to gun with equal features and condition and you'll find a much wider gap in the pricing structure.

Researcher,

I'll bet that it took you almost a full minute to decide which gun to choose between the three!

Researcher · Post by **Researcher** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 4:51 pm

While the engraving of the early A-/AE-Grades wasn't much better then the Sterlingworth, the Juglans regia stock and the Krupp barrels of the A-/AE-Grades make them a much more desireable gun to me.

Even in 12-gauge the early A-/AE-Grades, while the most common of graded Fox guns, should still be worth much more then the 12-gauge Sterlingworth of which there were five or six times as many made.

As I look back on the prices now, I should have made a package cash deal on all three of those 20-gauges, and kept the 1936-vintage 20-gauge 28-inch barrel Field Grade NID I traded on the A-Grade.

bigkev · Post by **bigkev** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 6:32 pm

I think a lot more people are buying the gun to have it "upgraded" now then in the past in which the Sterlingworths are a better model for upgrading as you don't have to polish off the engraving, etc.

Fin2Feather · Post by **Fin2Feather** » Sun Jul 22, 2007 8:20 pm

Researcher wrote:While the engraving of the early A-/AE-Grades wasn't much better then the Sterlingworth, the Juglans regia stock and the Krupp barrels of the A-/AE-Grades make them a much more desireable gun to me.

Even in 12-gauge the early A-/AE-Grades, while the most common of graded Fox guns, should still be worth much more then the 12-gauge Sterlingworth of which there were five or six times as many made.

While I don't disagree with you, these statements are still more collector-oriented than purely shooter-oriented. Engraving and type of wood has nothing to do with shootability. All things being equal, I'd take the A grade too. But if I'm looking for a shooter, and the A commands much more money...nah. But I realize this is the Fox Collectors site, so...JMHO.

1straightshot · Post by **1straightshot** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 10:37 pm

I rather shoot a handsom gun and date a prettier woman, even thought I know BOTH are going to cost me MORE money.....

fullchoke16 · Post by **fullchoke16** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 5:16 am

straightshot,I'm with you on that one.

Fin2Feather · Post by **Fin2Feather** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 9:33 am

"Beauty in the eye of..." and all that. Plus you know what they say about ugly girls: they're always so grateful

!

Post by **fox-admin** » Wed Jul 25, 2007 2:07 pm

Brain: what might be swaying your opinion is asking price comparisons versus selling price. If a high condition 12ga A is listed for $1500. it will sell fast, a similar $1500 Sterlingworth will sit. I think the internet has created a situation where people list guns with high prices to see if they can find a sucker. I see many Sterlingworths on the auction sites that sit unsold for over a year.

Brian · Post by **Brian** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 5:50 pm

I odnt know. I have seen some Sterlingworths go for some amazing prices and a similar condition A Grade 12 sit there and gather dust.

Its weird and I cant figure it out. I try to watch them pretty close and watch sold prices on Gubroker.