Sterlingworth Bead Sight

[Johnm11]

I looked at the Bead styles on the main page and there isn’t a style like the one on my 1923 Sterlingworth. I suspect there are more styles then depicted on the main page but would like to confirm. Here are a couple of pictures.

[Stan Hillis]

That is a non-original bead sight, Johnm11. It is a nice sight, but was probably not even being produced when your SW was built. What that is, is a Bradley style bead sight. The originals were just a bead, without the elongated section.

If you want it closer to original, you can buy an original A H Fox bead from Pumpkin Mtn Gunshop and swap it out. Usually an easy job.

https://www.ahfoxparts.com

SRH

[Johnm11]

Thanks Stan.

I like it and haven’t shot this one for anything but function.

I do like to have my stuff as original and may get an original but not install it for now.

Thanks again.

John M.
Mesa AZ

[Silvers]

Bradley sights typically have a threaded shank whereas the original Fox metal sight is a taper-fit (no threads). Your barrel rib has probably been drilled & tapped for the Bradley and if so you won't be able to revert to the original Fox sight without using an expedient like black-colored epoxy, holding the bead plumb/centered while the epoxy sets.

[Johnm11]

I can live with that. It is a part of this guns history. (I can rationalize anything).

[Researcher]

I have seen a few production cards from the Savage-era that specify the Bradley sight. I'm not sure when the Bradley sights were introduced but the Bradley Red Bead front sight was "standard" on the Winchester Model 21 Skeet Gun from its introduction in 1932.

[Johnm11]

It's a 1923 gun so not a Savage product. I suspect it was just an add somewhere along its 95 year history. Ii like it and its part the history of this particular shotgun. The gun is otherwise not perfect. I need to get some nice pictures and post them in the photo thread. I take terrible pictures.

Thanks for the reply.

[Dave Erickson]

The Bradley is my bead of choice whenever I need to replace a bead on a non-vintage project.

[Researcher]

My 1928 vintage 12-gauge, 32-inch, 3-inch chambered, Super-Fox was to Savage, probably during the 1930s, and got an extra set of 28-inch barrels. When I got the gun in the summer of 1963, both sets of barrels had ivory middle beads and Bradley Red Bead front sights. No mention of sights on the original production card. No way to know if they were installed at Savage or at some other time. It is what it is. The Bradleys are still in place.