Blank Canvas

[Jimmy Goodtime]

I thought about holding this one close to the vest, but after Tom shared his awesome score of his 20ga SKUGG I figured there must be a toothless hen around somewhere so what the heck! My recent score I will call “Blank Canvas” for now. I stumbled upon this 20ga Sterlingworth Ejector with 30” tubes! Barrels are in good shape save for a small screw hole in the top rib near the barrel extension where a previous caretaker made a rudimentary rear iron sight. First time seeing that for me. Locks up tight. Right barrel ejector guide pin will have to be fixed. Wood has obviously been altered and both cheeks have cracks which make this an excellent candidate for some custom work. Pure Philly gun. Anyways, here’s “Blank Canvas”:

[vaturkey]

Great canvas for a custom. Make it your own.

[Sporrns]

WOW, and a straight gripper to boot, Jimmy! A good metal man can fill in and make disappear the small hole in the rib extension and repair the broken ejector guide pin (the "hangnail" of all ejector Foxes!), and a decent wood man can make those stock cheeks look like Gina Lolabrigida's in a couple of weeks. Remember the picsI posted of my trainwreck Wayne Junction Sterlingworth of a couple of years ago - get the right guys on the case and you have a great shooting Sterly in the wings! Kevin

[Sporrns]

DELETED - Duplicate Post, Kevin

[DarylC]

Try your best to keep the straight stock. I can't tell if it's orirginal to the gun because I can't enlarge your photos to see detail but I can assure you a 20ga SW with 30" tubes is just about perfect.

And if it doesn't work out for you I've got room for one more in my safe.

[Jeff S]

Jimmy, that’s a very interesting gun and I think several members will be envious of a 30” ejector gun. Kudos to you for snagging this one. You’ve handled many of these old guns, what do you think took place? Did someone surgically remove the pistol grip? Once again, don’t you wish these guns could talk?

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[vaturkey]

Jimmy, that’s a very interesting gun and I think several members will be envious of a 30” ejector gun. Kudos to you for snagging this one. You’ve handled many of these old guns, what do you think took place? Did someone surgically remove the pistol grip? Once again, don’t you wish these guns could talk?
IMG_3189.jpeg

With you Jeff. Was trying to figure it out. I doubt it left the factory with a straight grip, but never say never. I've seen some that were converted and they have a canoe paddle shape afterwards and this one doesn't. Bet if it a good shooter right now. PS. I saw a 30" 16 gauge Sterly years ago that had had a sight installed on the rib to shoot slugs. I believe Dan Rossiter plugged it and Gournet cut the rib engraving to make it look right. That gun turned into a custom Fox.

[Jimmy Goodtime]

Jeff, yes that is exactly what has happened. Someone along the way has removed the pistol grip and it is evident in the checkering which they sanded away and never recut. They did a reasonably good job though the angle to the toe line isn't quite kept. Also, it has a Hawkins pad that has been added.

Tom, I assume that is what someone was doing with their "rear sight" on this gun. The screw and hole are really not very large so I have no concerns that it couldn't disappear. I will try to remember to post a picture of the sight as I have kept it. Really simple ingenuity that I can appreciate. An added bonus is that it has an ivory bead front sight which is a nice touch. Ultimately, I hope to make this into a custom of my choosing. The originality/collectability is gone but who can argue with an ejector 20ga with long barrels as hard as they are to find. Hence why I think it is the perfect "Blank Canvas".

[vaturkey]

Jeff, yes that is exactly what has happened. Someone along the way has removed the pistol grip and it is evident in the checkering which they sanded away and never recut. They did a reasonably good job though the angle to the toe line isn't quite kept. Also, it has a Hawkins pad that has been added.

Tom, I assume that is what someone was doing with their "rear sight" on this gun. The screw and hole are really not very large so I have no concerns that it couldn't disappear. I will try to remember to post a picture of the sight as I have kept it. Really simple ingenuity that I can appreciate. An added bonus is that it has an ivory bead front sight which is a nice touch. Ultimately, I hope to make this into a custom of my choosing. The originality/collectability is gone but who can argue with an ejector 20ga with long barrels as hard as they are to find. Hence why I think it is the perfect "Blank Canvas".

The one I saw also had a Grove filed into the top of the frame to use as a back sight. The front sight was about halfway down the barrel pretty much where a second bead would have been. Heck he might have already had a second bead, and he just enlarged the hole. Dan Rossiter had to TIG weld the groove in the frame to make it right. Agree with the idea of making it a custom if you choose that path. I recommend winning a small lotto first. Custom Fox take a lot of green and most of that these days is in the engraving, unless you have serious frame shaping done. Couple of guys out there now doing really nice customs.

[ROMAC]

Great canvas for a custom. Make it your own.

The only thing between that and this:

Is this: $$$$$$$$$

Life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun!

[Jimmy Goodtime]

Great canvas for a custom. Make it your own.

The only thing between that and this:

IMG_7158.jpeg

Is this: $$$$$$$$$

Life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun!

I really enjoyed following along when you built that gun. I've always admired the deep relief engraving on that gun. You certainly put together a beautiful concept and got the right people to help bring it to fruition! $$$ is certainly one drawback but the patience to get to the finish line might be the hardest part!

[ROMAC]

Patience was stretched thin…..

Like rent to own without taking delivery first. lol!

All worked out well in the end.