Fox Collectors

I just bought a A.H. FOX STERINGWORTH WILDFOWL, I believe, and wanted to know if they can be look up. The serial number is 134130. Thanks, Frank P.S. I will be sending off for a letter.

When I recorded 134130 the Headricks had it. Kind of surprised it doesn't come with a letter from Roe Clark, the long ago Savage historian. The A.H. Fox Collectors Association, Inc. only has copies of the graded gun production cards. For information on a Sterlingworth, one has to contact the Savage historian. Our long time go to guy, John Callahan has recently retired --

http://foxcollectors.com/My%20Forum/php ... f=2&t=7182

and you will have to contact Savage for information.

I saw your note here and was hoping you could help. Is there any way of contacting Mr. Clark? I am one of those people who loves the history of the gun as much as the gun itself. I really like the gun but it is heavy at 9#12 oz. Thank you, Frank

Welcome Frank. There's a long article on the history of Wildfowls along with many pics in the Winter 2015 issue of the Double Gun Journal. It's available directly by calling the DGJ or you might find a copy on E Bay or from one of the on-line bookstores. I'm pretty sure that Roe Clark passed many years ago. The last factory letters I have from Roe are dated in the early 1990's.

I did much research in prep for the DGJ article and by coincidence, pics of both sides of the 134130 record card are included in it. A green-colored "Sterlingworth Trap" card was used but the record clerk wrote Ejector Wild Fowl and 3" Chambers on it. No shipping date is shown but it was likely in 1945. I don't know anything else about your gun in particular and it's doubtful a letter request to Savage will turn up anything additional. Incidentally the 32-inch Wildfowl I own is just a few numbers lower than yours and it weighs 9 pounds/0.2 ounces on a digital scale.

Just an aside, I haven't tried it as yet but I hope the new Savage factory letter setup will be better than what was in place for vintage Colt shotguns when I ordered a letter on a screamer Colt SxS. The letter stated, in part, that its stock was "wood".

frank

Thank you so much for all this info. Is there any way I can get copys of any thing for this gun? I love putting together history on guns I own and it goes with the gun when I am gone. I will get that Double Gun mag and I love all the info so far. You have been a big help. Thanks again, Frank Halsey

Hello and you have a great Fox. I thought your serial number looked familiar, we share the same numbers, but in a different order--mine is 134103 and my son's is 134102.

This is going to be fun. I would love to form a "wildfowl" group. Silvers, I found a copy of the Winter DGJ that you talked about and bought it. It is to be here by Thursday. I am really looking forward to it. Thanks again, Frank

That would be a be a relatively small group. Based on the record cards no more than 35 Fox Sterlingworth Wildfowl Grade guns were ever made, putting it about at par with the rare and elusive Trap Grade (not the Sterlingworth Trap gun). The Wildfowl was the Super-Fox dressed down to Sterlingworth finish for what market there was during the Great Depression. About 950 Super-Fox 12-gauge guns were made over its production run as compared with some 35 Wildfowls. I wonder how many are still under the surface, owned by gents who think they might get out some day to shoot Gramp's old heavyweight Sterly that's in the corner of the closet?

I once owned one with loads of case colors and will see if I can find serial number and post it one day.Bobby

AHFCA members who are interested in Wildfowls/Supers and following this thread -- there may be a post you'll want to look at in the Members Forums.

I got the DGJ that my Wildfowl was in, Thanks to Silvers, It was a great article. Thank you for leading me to it. Frank

They are a great gun. I have serial number #134112 which is in the batch along with Frank's that didn't have factory cards on them. It is the younger but just a beefy little sister of Frank's #134122! I also have one that is serial numbered in the HE serial number range with Philly era wood. Enjoy your new gun!!!

I owned one for a couple of decades, but seldom fired it, as in my opinion, compared to my 1928-vintage Super-Fox, the Fox-Sterlingworth Wildfowl had all the handling dynamics of a railroad tie.

Researcher wrote:...the Fox-Sterlingworth Wildfowl had all the handling dynamics of a railroad tie.

I've never owned or even shot one, but I heard this same thing from a well-known and experienced Fox fella who has.

Well, I got it. Now let see if I can post some pics. OK how do you do it?? Thanks Frank