1938 16ga Sterlingworth DeLuxe

[SmithShady]

I found this 16ga Sterlingworth listed on Gunbroker last week, and since it was being offered by a shop about 15 minutes from my house, I decided to go take a look. The pictures looked promising and there was a decent no reserve price listed. What the pictures on Gunbroker didn't show was the dual ivory beads. Being a later Utica gun with 28" Barrels and a Jostam Anti Flinch Recoil Pad, it has all the makings of a Fox Sterlingworth DeLuxe, which I hope will be confirmed with a Callahan letter. According to my serialization book this gun was made in 1938, the last year of production (Serial # 376175). They were re-listing the gun every 24 hours, so I went in on Saturday with a few hours left to inspect the gun, and made them a cash offer. The owner of the store was not there, and he was the only one who could make deals on guns that were listed online, so I left my contact information and my offer and went home. I was pleasantly surprised when they called me back later that day to say that my offer had been accepted. I went back over on Sunday afternoon and picked it up. The barrel blue is about 98%, the finish on the stock is all original, and the checkering is in great shape. The gun has some good case coloring left, locks up tight, and the Jostam Pad is still soft and pliable. With good shooting dimensions, it will make another excellent bird gun. The only real drawback is the set of initials (AJ) that has been carved into the stock, but these along with the normal wear and tear just adds to the history and gets me wondering where this gun spent its life before me.

Mike

1938 Fox Sterlingworth DeLuxe
28" Barrels
LOP = 14 1/4
Right Barrel = .658
Right Choke = .016
Left Barrel = .659
Left Choke = .032
Weight is 6lbs 9oz

[MARSHFELLOW]

Mike, good going. Interesting pictures....you've got a nice technique there.

t

[vaturkey]

I actually called on that gun last week. Your pictures are much much better then what they posted for sure. I ultimately decided the LOP was just too short for me and I would have had to add a spacer and let it pass. If I would have known the gun was overall in that good of shape I would have probably pulled the trigger anyway. Nice snag as they say.

[Researcher]

Nice find. If that gun letters as a Deluxe, and it certainly has the features, it will be the first Deluxe I've seen with the capless pistol grip stock.

I have some real problems with the published Fox serial number chronology, which was originally put out in 1976 by Lightner Library.

For 16-gauge Fox-Sterlingworths they are showing production of 500 (1931), 600 (1932), 600 (1933), 700 (1934), 1100 (1935), 1500 (1936), 700 (1937) and then 1600 for 1938. Then the serial numbers from 374800 to 378481 are given for 1939 up to the last gun made 8/9/1939. I don't believe there is any way they all of a sudden pumped out 3681 16-gauge Fox-Sterlingworths in eight or nine months!!! From my 20 or so years of recording serial numbers of observed Sterlingworths, guns in the 375,xxx, 376,xxx, 377,xxx and 378,xxx range certainly exist.

[Jay]

[quote="Researcher"]Nice find. If that gun letters as a Deluxe, and it certainly has the features, it will be the first Deluxe I've seen with the capless pistol grip stock.

Have what I believe to be an identical 16 gauge SW Deluxe. Jostam pad. Twin beads. The center bead is brass. Assuming that the original center ivory bead was lost or damaged. The pistol grip is also capless. Never lettered. My 13 year old grandson shoots it very well.

[3birddogs]

A nice find indeed. I too, have a16 SW Deluxe ser # 372190. It has 28" barrels, original recoil pad, and does have a pistol grip cap. The middle ivory bead was gone when I bought it, and I probably should get it replaced. The front ivory bead is more of a flat-sided bead---like an inverted pyramid. It retains some case color and is in nice condition.
It was my first classic American double and I bought it in 1986 for $350. I shot a lot of grouse and woodcock with it. I did carry it this year and it did a fine job on pheasants.I think I will have to pull mine out of the rack and take a good look at her today. Great post and pictures!!

[simcgunner]

Congratulation's on finding a great gun.

[Fin2Feather]

Nice guns, both the new acquisition and the old friend!

[MARSHFELLOW]

Gee, I didn't recognize my photos till now.

tjw