Fox Collectors

I already have a Savage era 20 ga. Sterlingworth with 28"barrels and extractors and it is a nice gun but had been looking for a 20 ga.gun from Philly as I think the stock with a grip cap and the slender fore-arm are more pleasing to my eye.Took my early B 12 ga. up to the Michigan Antique Arms show and wound up selling it to help finance the purchase of a 1929 20 ga.Sterlingworth Brush gun I found there.I was a little hesitant at first but the gun has a lot of color left on it,the barrels retain almost all the original blueing and to top it off it is an ejector gun as well.I was able to get a couple hundred knocked off the asking price and took it home. Just last week I was at the opening show for the season in Lima,Ohio and cruising for doubles.Went up to a fellow with a sxs to see what he had and he said it was a Sterlingworth.Figured it was worth a look at least and was surprised to be handed a A.H.Fox company pin gun.Now here was something I did not have yet.It is a Model 1911 with 30"barrels and extractors probably the most common style found but heck,I was lacking a gun of this style.He said there was not any wiggle room on the price so I handed over the $600.00.Took it home,ran some xxxx steel wool over the entire gun and was pleasantly surprised at how well it cleaned up.Quality of this gun seems to be a bit nicer than my other later made Sterlingworth guns.The wood is showing its age all 105 years of it and I have been thinking about having it freshened up.Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.The rest of the gun would be left alone.

Nice finds on two very nice Fox guns. The pin guns really are nice and have excellent fit and finish. It's up to you on refreshing the wood but I would take my time before deciding what to do. Sometimes shined up wood looks out a character to me if the rest of the gun shows 105 years of honest wear. Craig Larter

I don't have a lot of experience going inside these things, but from some long ago observations it appeared that the Sterlingworth pin guns were as nicely finished as a late 1920s CE-Grade.

If you are talking about the show in Novi, I was there too. I've never been to that show before, but I liked it. That might be a good one to go to every now and then.

SPE: Please do the absolute minimum on the pin gun, unless its a complete junker.
Ed Farrand

Agree with doing the minimum, however if the checkering is worn to the point of its almost impossible to see it probably needs to be recut. I once had a pin gun that just the outlines of the checkering could be seen. Hunted with it in a light rain one time and it was like trying to hold onto an Eel. Right folks can recut it lightly and add the appropriate finish so it still looks right. Please post some pics. I love looking at pin guns. The innards were polished to a pretty high degree. No comparison on them and later sterlys as far as time spend on them in the factory IMO.

Yes, lets see some pictures. Also, can I have the serial number to add it to my table of observed specimens?

Have never had a lot of luck posting photos.Researcher,I remember that you posted some others for me earlier.If you could provide an e-mail address for me I would be more than happy to send them to you so you could post them here.Thanks

Reasearcher,pictures sent to above address.Not sure if you got them.Will send again if needed.
SPE33

I've got them. Haven't had time to load any on Photobucket.com yet. Looks like a very nice example of a pin gun. Congrats. From what I can see in the pictures I wouldn't do a thing to it, just shoot and enjoy.

Photobucket said they were doing site maintenance so I hope this works.

Nothing but little black x boxes on my screen.

Photobucket seems to be hard down this morning.

I can see the pictures. They look nice.