Fox Collectors

Hello. I am a new owner of a Fox Sterlingworth. I acquired this gun from a close friend and would like to know the value and any important info regarding this gun. I know VERY little about shotguns in general and would appreciate any and all help! Thank you!

These are the numbers and names I found on the gun.

Fox Sterlingworth

Found this on the trigger SN - 374771

This was on the barrel -

special alloy - forged steel
savage arms corporation, utica, N.Y. U.S.A.

Proof tested - 16 gauge - 2 3/45 Inch Chamber

374771 - SP - U X 3 V

What does all of this mean?

A good way to determine a value is to look online at websites such as gunsinternational.com or gunbroker.com. They should have today's prices for similar guns. Enjoy your new gun and welcome to the world of Foxes!

I will do that. Thank you!

I thought I'd replied to this last night, but now I find I did that on Shotgunworld --

The SP in the oval is the Savage Proof Mark. The V, 3, X and U are all inspector's marks the meaning of which have been lost to the sands of time.

According to the published serial number chronology, 374771 would be a 1938 vintage gun. I don't have much faith in that chronology, and guns that I've had lettered that have the "Proof Tested -- 16 Gauge - 2 3/4 inch chamber" have been 1939 and later. The only way to know anything for sure is to get a letter on your gun from the Savage historian --

John T. Callahan Arms Historian P.O. Box 82 Southampton, MA 01073. Provide the serial number, gauge, and grade and enclose a check for $30 for Sterlingworths and $40 for graded guns. You will receive a letter in 4-8 weeks.

Looks like you have a nice unmolested late Savage-era Fox-Sterlingworth. Do not let anyone but a qualified professional with the proper hollow ground screwdrivers touch those unmolested screws!! I'm pretty sure most of the dealers are asking a lot more than $1150 for that nice a smallbore Fox-Sterlingworth. What is the barrel length?