Fox Collectors

I am trying to identify this gun. It is clearly an A. H. Fox Sterlingworth. The markings indicate it is Philadelphia made. The serial number is 1023XX, which I believe dates it to 1925. What I cannot identify is if this is a graded gun. I was told that it is a “Standard Grade Model A”, however I cannot find any information on any Fox with that description. I do not see the markings that indicate it to be a “Graded” gun. So I enlist the experts…. What is the gun in the photos below… Is it a graded gun? Is it something else? The barrel is 30”, it is stamped 2, and to the naked eye one side looks like it is choked a little more than the other.

Your gun is a Sterlingworth. "Graded" guns are A-/AE-, SP-/SPE-, B-/BE-, C-/CE-, HE-, XE-, D-/DE- and F-/FE-Grades. The 12-gauge "Graded" Ansley H. Fox guns have serial numbers from 1 to the 352xx range. The 12-gauge Sterlingworths have serial numbers from 50000 to 161556.

Perfect, Thanks!

It also looks like someone blued the receiver, which is not the way it would have come from the factory. All Foxes were case colored.

Also the lever looks a little to the left. Indicating it was used quite a bit. It should still lock up tight but you should kep an eye on that.

Enjoy! they are great shooters.

What should it cost roughly to have a receiver un-blued and then case colored? I am in the same boat as OP......

What should it cost roughly to have a receiver un-blued and then case colored? I am in the same boat as OP......

If the gunsmith has to disassemble and reassemble plus do any draw filing and/or polishing you are probably looking at $250.00 to $300.00. If you do the disassembly and reassembly and the polishing yourself probably closer to $150.00. You really should send the complete gun to make sure that nothing has shifted durring the hardening process so I would really recommend you have the smith do the reassembly work. If you really want to be involve in the process you may be able to work out something with the smith to do the metal prep work after the metal has been annealed but any cost saving would probably be eaten up by the extra shipping.

Send me a PM and I will give you a couple recommendations on smiths depending on what you want to do such as bone charcoal or cyanide finishing.