restock an ugly fox sterlingworth

[simcgunner]

I recieved a 16 ga sterlingworth today. it is a little unusual in that it has 30 inch barrels and ejectors, I plan on using it for hunting this year. the problem is the stock Its lousy I think it is a replacement not a good match to the nice splinter forend. It has crummy checkering and it looks like someone cemented two old jostem recoil pads on the butt to extend the LOP and they are i n bad shape too.
I would like to change to a straight stock with a long trigger bow. Who can do a good job at a fair price

[mike campbell]

In your wildest imagination,what is the absolute top dollar you would consider a "fair price" to have that gun stocked to your dimensions with a new forearm & straight grip stock of decent black walnut, new or modified triggerguard, recoil pad and good checkering ?

[simcgunner]

I havent had a stock fitted in years the stocker I used to use is dead. I was hoping to get someone who actually had a fox done in the past year or so share some help rather then use my wildest imagination. price range More then Wenig less then David Trevaillian this is a Stirlingworth not a Purdy.

[mike campbell]

I know of a half dozen Foxes that have been restocked in the 2 years. If you don't have a budget, can't help you. Asking how much a restock will cost is about like asking what it would cost to put an addition on my house.

[snakeeater]

Sir, You can try Craig Liphart Susquehanna stocks , Bainbridge,Pa. 717 367 3414. Good luck. Very Respectfully Snakeater.

[simcgunner]

Thanks I know Craig he just repaired a stock for me last month on a twenty ga. that I am giving away. I did not know he did complete stocking. I will give him a call.

[Silvers]

FWIW I agree with Mike 100%. Best to have a number in mind before wasting anyone's time.

I've had several Foxes restocked by Craig Libhart and he does absolutely outstanding work. His website currently shows $3700 to $3900 complete, for a boxlock like a Fox...... exclusive of the cost of the blank nor any extras like fine/elaborate checkering, etc. "Stretching" a triggerguard would fall in that category. Craig did one for me that is indistinguishable from an original Fox straight grip tg. This restocking cost is the same whether you're doing a Sterlingworth or a graded Fox - something to think about - and the quality of the work is worth every penny. It's my experience that Foxes that are properly restocked will command good values when sold down the road. For example, I recently sold a Libhart restocked Fox and recovered all my money and then some. On the other hand, restocks done on a low budget and/or by unknown fellows (that are poorly inletted and/or have funky lines that just don't look Foxy) are often very hard to sell except at a great loss. All this is just my experience gents.

Expensive? Yes and no. Sure that's a lot of money. On the other hand you're hiring an highly skilled professional and you'll have documentation to that effect if/when you or your family decide to sell. For comparison, I occasionally call an IP attorney for things. We chat for a while about our families, then get down to business. Later an invoice shows up for the call time at a billing rate of $460.00 per hour or part thereof. And he's worth every penny too. Silvers

[doverham]

I am having a 16 ga. SW restocked right now - I found that it can be challenging to restock a SW because it is hard to get it done "right" without ending up way underwater on the gun cost-wise. The stocker I ended up using was recommended to me by a dealer who has used him a number of times. I have not seen the final product yet so I can't offer a direct experience yet, but PM me if you want more details.

Classic Guntocks http://www.classicgunstocks.com/homepage.html and Darlington Gun Works http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Darlin ... 4170385216 are two options at lower price points than Susquehanna Stocks - both have experience restocking Foxes.