Fox Collectors

Hello Folks,

My family are now the thankful owners of a Fox Sterlingworth.

20ga, pistol grip, ejectors (broken guide rods), Savage-era safety, and it was cut down to 25 3/4" by a prior owner. I thought it was a Brush Model, based on info found here, but now I'm not so sure because the tang screw below the safety is not screwed in from the top, but from the bottom tang, and covered by the tail end of the trigger guard. That's not like the Brush Model pictures I saw. Bores are very pretty, the top lever is right of center, tight of face, and seems to be in fine operational condition.

What model and grade would you folks say that it is?

Here's a picture, which links to more pictures:

Sorry to reply to my own post, but research is fun, and I'd love feedback on being right or wrong.

Now it seems to me that mine is a 1937 Skeet and Upland Game model, upgraded with ejectors and a pistol grip stock (prefer the standard straight stock). There's a '37 Skeet on the grade directory page, but not with many pictures.

Did I get it right?

Thanks All.

yours looks like a 1938 gun....with post war barrel replacement....

gunut wrote:yours looks like a 1938 gun....with post war barrel replacement....

Thank you. The serial number lands it in 1937, I think. If it was re-barreled would they have done something to get the numbers to all match? I'd assume a different serial number on the barrel, but all the numbers match.

If Fox rebarreled it the numbers would indeed match.

Thanks. Haven't experienced a forced matching gun like that. The forend wood and trigger guard match too.

So Fox would take an unmarked new barrel and stamp a number to match the rest of the gun?

Either way, could someone confirm the model and year? The number is right in the middle of 1937.

its either 37 or 38 ...the only way to be sure is with a verification letter ....the letter might even verify the post war barrel.....I would mention it when asking for the letter...they might look a little closer when doing the letters file search.....

Write to ......John T Callahan Arms Historian, P O Box 82, Southampton MA 01073.....include serial number , gauge , grade, and check for $30 [sterlingworth].....Id also mention ejectors, the post war barrels with the chicopee falls address, and their length.........

Thank you. I think I'll join here when payday rolls around in a couple weeks.

I am not aware of how to determine the grade or confirm the Skeet and Upland Game suspicion.

Its a Sterlingworth, the letter will tell you if it has any other classification moniker...good luck...

Thank you. I didn't realize the Sterlingworth was the "grade". Assumed that grade would be some designation of wood quality, engraving, etc. of a Sterlingworth.

Thanks for the education.

I wouldn't hope for too much out of the letter other than the date of completion and/or ship date. I got letters on all three of my Savage-era Sterlys and all I got was that date, a copy of the canned Sterlingworth specs that were advertised at that time, and a statement saying that Savage had simplified their record keeping by then and that no other info was available. I got the letters just cause I wanted one on each of my guns, and I'm not sorry I have them, but in my opinion what you'll get ain't worth the 30 bucks if you're looking for real information. Your mileage and opinion may vary of course.

Id send 4 a letter...I have a 12ga sterlingworth draw bolt gun [1437XX] that falls in the 1937 year for manufacture on most lists...but the letter says Dec 16th of 39 with shipment on May 4 of 40 with a "Mr Betz" as the consignee....Mr Callahan said he suspects since it is a draw bolt gun the consignee was most likely a Savage employee.... you never know what you might find out....but its 4 sure without a letter you find out nothing.....

Sorry for the newbie questions, but does joining the AHFCA provide the same data as the letter, or is a "card" a different thing than the letter?

I think the card is only for Graded guns [A,B,C,ect]....the Sterlingworth is the entry level Fox double....Send off the $30 with all the information .....and let us know what it says when you get it....

The model of your gun is a Sterlingworth, ejectors were an option. Your gun is not a Skeet and Upland model. The difference is that a Skeet and Upland would have a straight stock and 26" or 28" barrels.