Appraisal

[Tmister65]

Hi I am new to the group and looking for an appraisal on my 20 ga Fox Sterlingworth. This gun is unique.It has a 24” barrel with a pearl bead site, single trigger, self ejectors and beaver tail fore-end. My father contacted a Roe S Clark Arms historian who replied with a letter stating this was a custom made gun shipped to Smith Steen Co in 1921. I do have the letter, serial number, and pictures. The gun is in excellent shape. Any help with an appraisal would be greatly appreciated.

[Jeff S]

A Sterlingworth with a single trigger, a factory beavertail forearm and 24” barrels is certainly a rare bird. When appraising guns, condition is paramount. Who knows? This little gem could be worth $2,500- 3,000? Let’s see what some of the guys that watch the market have to say.

Tmister65. Thanks for editing your post and adding the pictures. As Dave said, those pictures tell a much different tale. That’s a great little bird gun, but strictly utilitarian. The photo of the barrels leads most people to believe that they have been cut, thus removing any collector appeal. It’s probably worth $800 - 1,000. When you received the “letter” what was the stated barrel length? If the letter states that they were 24” I’ll be surprised. Jeff

[Researcher]

Those may be the barrels and frame shipped to Smith Steen Co in 1921, but the Miller single trigger, the wood and whacking the barrels to 24-inches are all aftermarket work. The Sterlingworth was a "made for stock" "standard" gun with no deviations from the catalog specs. The Sterlingworth pages from the 1921 A.H. Fox Gun Co. catalog --

and the 1921 Retail Price List --

The Design for that recoil pad was Filed Apr. 19, 1937, and granted by the USPTO July 20, 1937.

[Tmister65]

Well I’ve had a gunsmith look at this. He assured me that the barrel was not cut. The cylinders are to the spec it was purchased cylinder and modified. The paperwork I received from the arms historian stated it was a custom made gun.

[jolly bill]

Well I’ve had a gunsmith look at this. He assured me that the barrel was not cut. The cylinders are to the spec it was purchased cylinder and modified. The paperwork I received from the arms historian stated it was a custom made gun.

Did Roe Clark mention the barrel length in his letter? That would be key info. And the Miller Single Trigger and beaver tail likely added later on.

Neat gun.

[eightbore]

Yes, for a more accurate opinion from our posters, we need to see a picture of the Roe Clark letter.

[Researcher]

It is a "custom" gun by someone other than the A.H. Fox Gun Co.

[Tmister65]

Attached is the letter. I’m still curious about the value of the gun.

[jolly bill]

Tmister 65,

Thanks for posting a picture of Roe Clark's letter and indeed it was shipped with 24" barrels choked cylinder and modified with ejectors. That's important info.

As stated above it is very likely the beavertail and Miller Single Trigger were added later on.

And it looks like it is a non selective single trigger which likely would fire the right barrel first and then the left barrel.

Something for you to do because someone is going to ask - first of all does the single trigger work OK in that if you shoot the right barrel does it switch over to the left barrel and does that shoot. And hopefully both ejectors work as they should.

Now try reloading it (with fired shells preferably) and just shoot the right barrel. Open the gun and the right ejector kicks the fired shell out OK. Load the right barrel again and pull the trigger just once. Does the right barrel fire or the left barrel? Preferably the right barrel.

Very likely the chambers have been lengthened from the 2 1/2" when it left the factory to the modern 2 3/4".

More pictures of the gun will be very welcomed. Show us the barrel flats, water tables on the receiver, the inside of the fore end. What is the length of pull from the trigger to the end of the recoil pad. Are the barrels and top and bottom rib solid? Clean bores with no serious pitting and dents.

And according to the letter it was shipped to Corning NY. Curious if the gun is still in the upstate NY area.

A pretty neat grouse and woodcock gun that many would like to hunt with.

Thanks.

Jolly

[Tmister65]

Jolly the gun was originally shipped to Connecticut. It does now resides in Corning. The gun is in perfect working order. The single trigger and ejectors work as they should. The gun is as tight as the day it came off the shelf. It really is a beautiful gun.

[eightbore]

Apparently, Researcher has "never" heard the phrase "Never say never". Jeff and Dave should stand in the corner until dinner. The gun is a special gun in nice condition and worth much more than "$800.00".

[Researcher]

That is extremely rare that a Sterlingworth letters with 24-inch barrels. We have recorded a handful of grade guns with 24-inch barrels -- August 2010, December 2014, and September 2026 Card of the Month.

Come on Bill as far as "never say never" goes can there be anything mor outrageous than the fourteen Joshua Green 30-inch 20-gauge AE-Specials with their silver duck in the rib, carved cheekpiece stocks (several of maple), gold plated SSTs, etc --

202136 AESpecial 01.jpg (58.98 KiB) Viewed 68 times

[jolly bill]

A Sterlingworth with a single trigger, a factory beavertail forearm and 24” barrels is certainly a rare bird. When appraising guns, condition is paramount. Who knows? This little gem could be worth $2,500- 3,000? Let’s see what some of the guys that watch the market have to say.
Jeff

Jolly the gun was originally shipped to Connecticut. It does now resides in Corning. The gun is in perfect working order. The single trigger and ejectors work as they should. The gun is as tight as the day it came off the shelf. It really is a beautiful gun.

Tmister65 - As Jeff said above earlier, and as we have found out more about the gun, and if everything works as it should like you say it does, my guess is that Jeff's estimate would be about right. Maybe a little on the high side and how motivated a buyer might be to buy it.

And nice to hear it's in Corning. I'm about 80 miles directly north of you.

Jolly

[Jeff S]

Well, I’m surprised, and as others have said, “never say never”. I’ll be standing in the corner until Murph gives me the okay to leave.

Very cool gun. Now for the experts….. Did Fox manufacture those 24” barrels, or did they cut them at the factory? Inquiring minds want to know (and learn). Time to measure the length of the chokes.