Sterlingworth grip caps

[Fin2Feather]

Someone made the statement on another board that "most Utica Sterlingworths did not have a plastic grip cap", and I wondered if any here have an opinion on that. Personally I own three; two have grip caps and one does not. The 12ga is the latest of the three and does not, but it does have a Philly-style top lever which seems rather odd. Just wondering if there is any data available on the numbers of original guns with and/or without grip caps?

[Researcher]

I think it is an unknowable question. How many Savage-era Fox-Sterlingworths had this stock --



and how many had this stock --



The capless pistol grip first appears in the brown 1937 Fox Catalogue put out by Savage --



We need to remember that during those lean Great Depression years workers were reaching into parts bins and getting the pieces to assemble some product that hopefully Savage Arms could get out the door and sell. This gun, serial number 160644 was shipped in February 19, 1938, yet has the Philadelphia-style safety slide and top lever --



the capped pistol grip --



and the STERLINGWORTH FLUID COMPRESSED STEEL barrel legend --

[Fin2Feather]

Thank you Sir!