FOX STERLINGWORTH 12GA
SKU:
$1,400.00
$1,100.00
$1,100.00
per item
These economy double guns were all built with hammerless box lock actions and through-lump barrels. This is a satisfactory method of joining the barrels, but it produces a gun wider across the breech than the chopper lump, dovetail lump, or mono-block systems. Chokes were bored into the barrels; modern interchangeable choke tubes had not been invented. Standard grade walnut stocks, a Scott spindle top lever to open the action and top tang mounted safeties are universal features.
Sold out
The Fox Sterlingworth was introduced in 1910 in 12 gauge only for $25.00. By 1912 the 20 gauge had been added and in 1913 a 16 gauge appeared. The Sterlingworth was an economical, standardized, field grade double. Barrels were 26, 28 or 30 inches with Full/Full, Modified/Full or Cylinder/Modified chokes and solid ribs. The receiver was color case hardened. Fewer options were offered than for graded Fox guns and any deviation from the standard specifications incurred an additional charge. However, Fox did offer options on the Sterlingworth unavailable on most of its competition. Available at extra cost (depending on vintage and model) were such options as automatic ejectors, single trigger, custom stock dimensions, 32 inch barrels, beavertail forend, Silver's recoil pad and even an extra set of barrels.
Externally, the lines of the Sterlingworth were similar to that of the higher grade Fox doubles. The receiver and trigger guard even wore a bit of simple border engraving. Like the graded Fox guns, the Sterlingworth's light and compact action made it (depending on gauge and barrel length, of course) a potentially light and handy field gun. The action was based on the same design and contained the same parts as the more expensive Fox grades. Bolting is by a tapered rotary top fastener and a large rib extension. The mainspring is a durable coil spring. Fox extractors extract properly and selective ejectors eject reliably. Even the optional selective single trigger was reliable.
Most Sterlingworths were supplied with standard grade American black walnut, pistol grip stocks with three panel checkering. There was a black Bakelite pistol grip cap and butt plate. Like most economy doubles, the splinter forend was attached by a tension spring, rather than a mechanical latch. However, in the Sterlingworth this was a coil spring driving a bolt with a roller pinned to its front, a more durable and sophisticated design than other snap-on forend latches. In general, the Fox Sterlingworth was a more sophisticated field grade gun with more optional and desirable features than the other economy doubles. It was also the most attractive.
After Savage purchased Fox, they used an existing inventory of Super Fox waterfowl frames and barrels to create the most unusual Sterlingworth version, the Wildlife Grade of 1934. For $62.50 (a basic Sterlingworth retailed for $39.50 in 1934), this approximately nine pound, 12 gauge, Sterlingworth waterfowl gun came with 30 or 32 inch specially choke barrels and three inch chambers. It was, in fact, a Super Fox without engraving (except the usual Sterlingworth border) or fancy wood, but it retained the Super Fox Deeley type forend latch, instead of the usual Sterlingworth snap-on latch. These Wildlife grade guns were offered until1940.
Externally, the lines of the Sterlingworth were similar to that of the higher grade Fox doubles. The receiver and trigger guard even wore a bit of simple border engraving. Like the graded Fox guns, the Sterlingworth's light and compact action made it (depending on gauge and barrel length, of course) a potentially light and handy field gun. The action was based on the same design and contained the same parts as the more expensive Fox grades. Bolting is by a tapered rotary top fastener and a large rib extension. The mainspring is a durable coil spring. Fox extractors extract properly and selective ejectors eject reliably. Even the optional selective single trigger was reliable.
Most Sterlingworths were supplied with standard grade American black walnut, pistol grip stocks with three panel checkering. There was a black Bakelite pistol grip cap and butt plate. Like most economy doubles, the splinter forend was attached by a tension spring, rather than a mechanical latch. However, in the Sterlingworth this was a coil spring driving a bolt with a roller pinned to its front, a more durable and sophisticated design than other snap-on forend latches. In general, the Fox Sterlingworth was a more sophisticated field grade gun with more optional and desirable features than the other economy doubles. It was also the most attractive.
After Savage purchased Fox, they used an existing inventory of Super Fox waterfowl frames and barrels to create the most unusual Sterlingworth version, the Wildlife Grade of 1934. For $62.50 (a basic Sterlingworth retailed for $39.50 in 1934), this approximately nine pound, 12 gauge, Sterlingworth waterfowl gun came with 30 or 32 inch specially choke barrels and three inch chambers. It was, in fact, a Super Fox without engraving (except the usual Sterlingworth border) or fancy wood, but it retained the Super Fox Deeley type forend latch, instead of the usual Sterlingworth snap-on latch. These Wildlife grade guns were offered until1940.