Things that make you say what the ****

FRBRIT · Post by **FRBRIT** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:40 pm

Check out this link for a beat-up Sterlingworth that just sold on gunbroker. I was interested in this gun for an up-grade project. I contacted the seller and finally got him to give a good description of the gun and he added more pictures because of my questions.

I backed off because of the barrels, the shallow rounded dents didn't bother me but the two with the sharp creases did. One of the bores has some pitting and he said there was rust formed where the the top rib and barrels meet in places. Even after I explained how to ring the barrels he still could'nt tell me how they sounded.

Look at the price and tell me if you don't say to yourself "What the ****"

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... m=95801515

birdawg · Post by **birdawg** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:14 pm

The ejectors were a nice touch but I too lost interest when he added the photos of the dents.
I wonder if the winner ever scrolled down to those photos?

Silvers · Post by **Silvers** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 7:14 am

I was watching that ejector SW too. Lost interest as more and more details were added. Beater guns of any make can be a deep money pit. Ya gotta ask a lot of questions and be careful. If you don't get an answer from the seller that can be a red flag. Also comments like "I don't know much about these guns, just selling to settle an estate, wife's gun, etc." Silvers

eightbore · Post by **eightbore** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:37 am

I don't know about you guys. Once the barrels are dedented and struck to remove surface pitting at the muzzle, you have a low mileage 16 gauge ejector gun that was left outdoors a night or two. How many of these are available out there? Perfect project gun. How many times have we discussed Fox guns with "bulge looking" things ahead of the chambers? Let's face it, these bulges came from the factory. No, I don't have any explanation for them, I just find it odd that other makes don't have such bulges and no one has ever admitted being able to find a corresponding bulge inside. Does anyone have any further information about these "Fox bulges"? The second place bidder didn't just fall off the turnip truck. I think it was a good buy for an upgrade project.

DGKaas · Post by **DGKaas** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:05 am

I agree with Bill. Those dents would have come up just fine. At <$1500 a good basis for a project.

FRBRIT · Post by **FRBRIT** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 6:23 pm

The dents are a major factor in my opinion! The shallow rounded ones are not a problem, the exterior bulge not a problem, but the two dents at the muzzle in the choke area that are more a of a crease than a dent could totally be a deal breaker. With my conversations with the seller I came away with the feeling that you could easily put well over a $1000.00 in smithing work in the barrels alone. From what he told me about the rust at one point where the top rib and barrels meet it could have been a loose rib that would need relayed.

I just didn't feel like taking a gamble on stuffing between purchase price and barrel smith work between $2000.00 or $3000.00 in a gun before you even get started on the upgrade and wood work? This gun is just to big of a crap shoot for me!

It's only been a few months ago on this very board that guys were saying they wouldn't pay more than a grand for a nice sterlingworth. Now we are saying that $1300.00 plus is a great deal on a junker. No wonder prices are skyrocketing!

birdawg · Post by **birdawg** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 8:37 pm

I guess it depends on if you are the buyer or seller but to me that gun would not even make a good lamp. I have bought several guns with what I would call minor dents. Some have been removed and some have not. For my money that gun's dents were beyond what I would want to chance having repaired. Obviously the buyer didn't feel that way.

Now if the gun was rare or especially unique, maybe.

Silvers · Post by **Silvers** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 10:14 pm

It's just my opinion but after reading all the replies I still wouldn't buy the gun. Did you gents read the "As is No returns" sale condition?

I've been down that road before with other guns. Seeing "As is No returns" is a big red flag if you can't get all the pertinent questions answered. No reflection on the seller, oft times he doesn't know as much as you do. What do you do after receiving it and find something substantial that wasn't mentioned? Sure I might miss a good deal but on the flip side I definitely won't get screwed. Granted we're not talking about a lot of money here but I'd rather do $1200. worth of shooting than having a $1200. project gun in a two year cue, not including somewhat open-ended expenses for refurbishing and restocking. Especially one that isn't all that rare.

The second factor is time. All of us are getting older. I think about how much time I want to wait for multiple craftsmen to get the mechanics of a project gun back in shape and a new stock made. A gun with too many issues just isn't worth my time. I'd rather be out shooting some good ones. Again, JMO. Whatever trips your trigger...... Frank

Witty1 · Post by **Witty1** » Wed Apr 02, 2008 11:45 pm

Hey guys interesting enough I was watching the same gun. Was interested until the word "bulge" appeared late in the bidding. As we all know dents can be worked out, and fixed somewhat. But the bulge you live with and has a deeper meaning.

Also reading your debates about bulges and a fox related problem (no true in my opinion). At this point I have 6 Sterlinworths from 1913 thru 1937. Shoot them all with modern power. No bulges in any of them, and have never seen a Fox bulge. I'm starting to think most of the good guns are in collections and we are only seeing the bottom of the barrel. Basically the problem guns that have been miss used causing the bulge. Besides the last two weeks how many bulged fox barrels have you guys seen?

Best Regards

1straightshot · Post by **1straightshot** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 12:26 am

Don't knock the seller. He has 100% feedback (638) with 3 neutrals.

Fin2Feather · Post by **Fin2Feather** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:40 am

1straightshot wrote:Don't knock the seller. He has 100% feedback (638) with 3 neutrals.

Agree. Seemed to me he took steps to represent the gun honestly and accurately. When the gun's advertised as having problems I don't have much problem with an "as is" sale.

birdawg · Post by **birdawg** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 6:26 pm

I guess I didn't read the post very carefully but it seems some (including me) were knocking the gun, not the seller. If the seller were the stinker we wouldn't know the approximate condition of the gun.

eightbore · Post by **eightbore** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:43 pm

In my experience, project guns are bid up by people who can do part of the work themselves. On a Fox project gun, a stockmaker can bid a good $1500 higher than anyone who can't do any of the stock work. An engraver also has a clean slate if he has any spare time. Some craftsmen barter their services. What this gun has that you can't get from most other low dollar smallbore Foxes at a reasonable price is "low mileage" (look at the color), and ejectors. I'm sure the buyer is very happy with his new project. Just my take on the situation.