Loose Top Rib

[Woody]

I noticed Last night the top rib on my 16 Sterlingworth is loose the last 3 inches. Any recommendations on someone to repair it?

[Fin2Feather]

I talked to several smiths about mine and ultimately sent it to Steve Bertram in Colorado. He did a great job but that's a long way from New York! I'm sure some folks here will come up with some names for you; I've forgotten who all I talked with.

[vaturkey]

CSMC might be able to repair it. Brian Dudley could for sure, but I think he has a long long backup right now. Another choice is Turnbull.

[Woody]

CSMC might be able to repair it. Brian Dudley could for sure, but I think he has a long long backup right now. Another choice is Turnbull.

I talked to Brian about another project. Said he’s not taking any work right now. Turnbull is my last option even though they are close. I don’t want to tie the gun up if possible for a long time. Need it for grouse season. Loctite Black Max is always an option LOL.

[Fin2Feather]

Kirk Merrington is an option but he says he'll only do it if he can relay the ribs; claims a spot repair never works. I couldn't afford that so I opted for the spot repair; hope Kirk is wrong !

[Brian Dudley]

Turnbull does not do their rib work in house anyway.

And, yes. Rib work is pretty far down on my list of favorite things to do.

[Woody]

Top rib is fixed. Looks awesome. Come to find out it wasn’t lifting just at the muzzle. After looking it over my smith said it was a poor solder job from the factory and he need to relay the whole rib.

[Researcher]

Just out of curiosity what is the vintage of the guns you all have had loose rib issues with? I've had loose ribs on two 12-gauge guns, both in the 214xx serial number range. The front half of the bottom rib of Meat-in-the-Pot popped loose after I'd been shooting it over 45 years and Keith Kearcher fixed it while my Wife and I toured the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. The barrels rang like church chimes. Four years later the back half of the bottom rib popped loose. I dropped the gun off at Bachelders on my way home from Hausemann's in 2016 and a bit over a year later I had the gun back with the ribs relayed and the barrels reblued. Only shot a handful of Pheasants with it during the 2017-8 season.

[Woody]

Just out of curiosity what is the vintage of the guns you all have had loose rib issues with? I've had loose ribs on two 12-gauge guns, both in the 214xx serial number range. The front half of the bottom rib of Meat-in-the-Pot popped loose after I'd been shooting it over 45 years and Keith Kearcher fixed it while my Wife and I toured the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. The barrels rang like church chimes. Four years later the back half of the bottom rib popped loose. I dropped the gun off at Bachelders on my way home from Hausemann's in 2016 and a bit over a year later I had the gun back with the ribs relayed and the barrels reblued. Only shot a handful of Pheasants with it during the 2017-8 season.

The serial number on my gun is 356xxx. It’s a 16 ga 26” Sterlingworth. It’s the one pictured I shot the ducks with last week.

[Fin2Feather]

Just out of curiosity what is the vintage of the guns you all have had loose rib issues with? I've had loose ribs on two 12-gauge guns, both in the 214xx serial number range. The front half of the bottom rib of Meat-in-the-Pot popped loose after I'd been shooting it over 45 years and Keith Kearcher fixed it while my Wife and I toured the Newberry National Volcanic Monument. The barrels rang like church chimes. Four years later the back half of the bottom rib popped loose. I dropped the gun off at Bachelders on my way home from Hausemann's in 2016 and a bit over a year later I had the gun back with the ribs relayed and the barrels reblued. Only shot a handful of Pheasants with it during the 2017-8 season.

16ga A grade, 28" barrels, #301xxx

[Brian Dudley]

As a sidebar, almost every set of fox barrels that I personally have re-blued, have voids in the solder joints. Some worse than others.