12 gauge chambering on Sterlingworth series
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Germantown
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12 gauge chambering on Sterlingworth series
Approximately when did Fox use the 2 &3/4" length chambering for their 12 gauge Sterlingworth series-?? And what is a "transition Fox shotgun please?
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fullchoke16
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Re: 12 gauge chambering on Sterlingworth series
Mid 1930's. Transition guns refers to guns that have both Philadelphia and Utica (Savage) characteristic parts. Specifically,the stock and fore end shape, safety button, top lever. Transition guns will be a mixed bag of these items.
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Researcher
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Re: 12 gauge chambering on Sterlingworth series
FOX CHAMBERS --
The only two A.H. Fox Gun Co. catalogues, that I have seen, that state chamber lengths are the 1913 and 1914. They both state 12-gauge guns are regularly chambered for 2 3/4 - inch shells, 16-gauge 2 9/16 – inch shells and 20-gauge 2 1/2 - inch shells. That being said, virtually every 12-gauge Ansley H. Fox gun made in Philadelphia (other than the HE-Grade Super-Fox) that I've run a chamber gauge in shows about 2 5/8 - inch. The chambers of unmolested 16-gauge guns seem to run about 2 7/16 inch and 20-gauge guns a hair over 2 3/8 inch. A very few graded guns were ordered with longer chambers. Savage began stating chambered for 2 ¾ inch shells in their 1938 Fox catalogues.
All this being said there is a good body of evidence that back in those days chambers were held about 1/8 inch shorter than the shells for which they were intended. In the book The Parker Story the Remington vintage specification sheets on pages 164 to 169 call for a chamber 1/8-inch shorter than the shell for which it is intended. Also in the 1930's there were a couple of articles in The American Rifleman by A.P. Curtis (not to be confused with Capt. Paul A. Curtis) (July 1936 and March 1938) on the virtue of short chambers. A series by Sherman Bell in The Double Gun Journal showed no significant increase in pressure from shooting shells in slightly short chambers. IMHO I don't much sweat that 1/8-inch in 12-gauge guns. On the other hand when one gets a 20-gauge chambered at 2 3/8-inch likely intended for 2 1/2-inch shells I do worry about folks firing 2 3/4-inch shells in such guns.
As to "transition guns" one will find guns clear to the end where the worker reached into the parts bin and came up with a Philadelphia style safety slide, top-lever or a set of barrels marked STERLINGWORTH FLUID COMPRESSED STEEL. I have a 12-gauge Fox-Sterlingworth Ejector Brush, that was on display at The Vintage Cup last September, with a serial number in the 1606xx range, with Philadelphia top-lever, safety slide, capped pistol grip stock, and barrels roll-stamped STERLINGWORTH FLUID COMPRESSED STEEL.
The only two A.H. Fox Gun Co. catalogues, that I have seen, that state chamber lengths are the 1913 and 1914. They both state 12-gauge guns are regularly chambered for 2 3/4 - inch shells, 16-gauge 2 9/16 – inch shells and 20-gauge 2 1/2 - inch shells. That being said, virtually every 12-gauge Ansley H. Fox gun made in Philadelphia (other than the HE-Grade Super-Fox) that I've run a chamber gauge in shows about 2 5/8 - inch. The chambers of unmolested 16-gauge guns seem to run about 2 7/16 inch and 20-gauge guns a hair over 2 3/8 inch. A very few graded guns were ordered with longer chambers. Savage began stating chambered for 2 ¾ inch shells in their 1938 Fox catalogues.
All this being said there is a good body of evidence that back in those days chambers were held about 1/8 inch shorter than the shells for which they were intended. In the book The Parker Story the Remington vintage specification sheets on pages 164 to 169 call for a chamber 1/8-inch shorter than the shell for which it is intended. Also in the 1930's there were a couple of articles in The American Rifleman by A.P. Curtis (not to be confused with Capt. Paul A. Curtis) (July 1936 and March 1938) on the virtue of short chambers. A series by Sherman Bell in The Double Gun Journal showed no significant increase in pressure from shooting shells in slightly short chambers. IMHO I don't much sweat that 1/8-inch in 12-gauge guns. On the other hand when one gets a 20-gauge chambered at 2 3/8-inch likely intended for 2 1/2-inch shells I do worry about folks firing 2 3/4-inch shells in such guns.
As to "transition guns" one will find guns clear to the end where the worker reached into the parts bin and came up with a Philadelphia style safety slide, top-lever or a set of barrels marked STERLINGWORTH FLUID COMPRESSED STEEL. I have a 12-gauge Fox-Sterlingworth Ejector Brush, that was on display at The Vintage Cup last September, with a serial number in the 1606xx range, with Philadelphia top-lever, safety slide, capped pistol grip stock, and barrels roll-stamped STERLINGWORTH FLUID COMPRESSED STEEL.
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