AH Fox Sterlingworth** PICS ADDED**

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jvillads

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I have come into an AH fox Sterlingworth 12 Gauge side by side shotgun, plain extractors and 30" barrels. Looks to be in decent condition for its age ,61### serial number range dates it around 1911 I believe, it has quite a few dents and dings in the wood from use over the years but it was certainly not abused, the metal looks to be in decent shape as well for a gun of it's age. I am curious about the market for guns like these in Canada as well as what you experts think about its value on the Canadian market. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
 
Pics are really necessary for any realistic value. The Sterlingworth was the economy grade Fox though a good quality gun it doesn't command the prices that higher grade Fox guns bring. A Sterlingworth in average condition in 12 gauge probably $550-$700 tops in my area and not a quick seller either.
 
Yes, $700.00 would be tops, most likely out of reach. As mentioned, they aren't a fast mover if priced high. I think ,for the gun described, you would have a hard time breaking $450.00. However pics and better description of condition/function-ability will give a closer value. I had an A grade Fox with ejectors that I sold about a year ago. I didn't even have any interest at $700.00. In the end I ended up trading for it.
 
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The Fox "Sterlingworth" IIRC was introduced in March of 1910 but called the 1911 Model. It apparently retailed at the time for $ 25.00.

If it's a 1911 gun it should have the recessed hinge pin that makes it look somewhat like a Parker. The "Parker Pin" disappeared about 1913,
but Sterlingworth's remained in production for quite a number of years after that. The Sterlnigworth was the lowest grade Fox field gun and was
priced less than the letter- graded A.H. Fox guns accordingly.

There is a relatively small market for these guns in Canada, however a solid gun in good working condition will still fetch a good buck, especially if
it has something approaching modern stock dimensions. A good many of these older guns had rather excessive drops at comb & heel which makes them
difficult to shoot for most.

Without good photos of the gun all-round, a "guestimate" might range from $ 250 $ 750. Condition is everything ... and remaining case colours are
worth a bit of a premium.

A budy has a 32" "Parker-Pin" Sterlingworth in very good condition that he shoots well at pheasant & Sporting Clays.
 
IMHO it will be $250 to $500 and more likely on the low side of that because for $500 you can probably get a Fox A grade 12 gauge sometime in the next 12-18 months.

I have four Foxes. Two A grade 12 gauges and two Sterlingworth 16 gauges. IMO Fox field grade guns are the best value in SXS as long as steel isn't important.
 
Here are a few pics, please let me know your guys thoughts, thanks.

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Still quite a bit we don't know about the gun mechanical/function wise so around $400.00, give or take. Just depends on who's looking for an average field grade gun at the time of selling.
Is there pitting in the bores? Is the opening lever right of center when the barrels are closed? Does the opening lever function smoothly? Does it fire on both barrels? Any play in the action with the barrels closed or with the forearm off? Do the barrels ring if you suspend them from the lumps and tap them with your finger or a pencil?
 
I've been watching this thread because I'm shopping for a nice fox shooter. The guns i've seen so far have been priced quite a bit more. I 12ga sterlingworth at $925 a 16ga sterly At $1200. Both were alot nicer than the one on this thread but where are all these less expensive fox's
 
winchester12 said:
I've been watching this thread because I'm shopping for a nice fox shooter. The guns i've seen so far have been priced quite a bit more. I 12ga sterlingworth at $925 a 16ga sterly At $1200. Both were alot nicer than the one on this thread but where are all these less expensive fox's
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My observations of asking prices are similar, but what these guns actually sell for is another matter.

My own experience is that if the seller knows what he has, he will price the gun in the hopes that he will cross paths with that double gun enthusiast who just has to have that particular field grade shooter. For example, a buyer who already has the 12 ga and 20 ga versions of that model and really, really wants the 16 ga to fill the gap. The reality is that buyer is very hard to find in Canada. The result is the gun either sells for much less or is pulled off the market altogether.
 
winchester12 said:
I've been watching this thread because I'm shopping for a nice fox shooter. The guns i've seen so far have been priced quite a bit more. I 12ga sterlingworth at $925 a 16ga sterly At $1200. Both were alot nicer than the one on this thread but where are all these less expensive fox's
Click to expand...

I guess you should have been in the market when I was selling. As stated in this and other threads, in the last year or 2 I have sold a Parker VH grade, an LC Smith field grade, an Ithaca NID, an Ithaca Flues 20 gauge, an Ithaca Long Range, an Ansley H Fox AE grade, a couple of very nice Stevens 311's and a couple of vintage Remingtons. The highest I got was $550.00 for the LC Smith (very nice) and the Fox AE. Oh, I tried to get higher but had no interest in the guns. So asking prices you see don't tell the whole story. We don't know selling prices. Values given in these threads are often for a specific gun or guns in close condition to the one being asked about. No doubt a very nice all original example will bring more. So will a subgage in most cases. With any gun it comes down to how well the buyer knows the market. As far as selling, for the seller all it takes is one buyer who is willing to fork out the money for a given gun. It might be they are looking for a certain one for a collection or just don't know prices in relation to model/condition. But such cases are not the market. There have been several various Parkers, Ithacas, Foxes etc on here this past while. Some started off at $1000.00 or better and eventually lowered to $700.00 or less.We still don't know what they actually sold for or if they did. Some sellers also don't realize that a gun is not worth what a $1500.00 condition gun should be worth if it's going to take $800.00 to get it there. Bottom line is a gun is worth what one is willing to pay at the time. If one is willing and comfortable with paying $900.00 for an average or lower condition field grade gun, by all means buy it. Not saying a sterlingworth 12 gauge isn't worth $900.00 but it would have to be original and darn nice for that. At least to me.
 
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gunsaholic said:
I guess you should have been in the market when I was selling. As stated in this and other threads, in the last year or 2 I have sold a Parker VH grade, an LC Smith field grade, an Ithaca NID, an Ithaca Flues 20 gauge, an Ithaca Long Range and an Ansley H Fox AE grade.
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You mean I missed a chance to buy it back? You might have made a tidy profit! LOL!
 
ninepointer said:
You mean I missed a chance to buy it back? You might have made a tidy profit! LOL!
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Yes, I had to make some "gun room" so had to decide which doubles I was going to let go. When push came to shove I made the decision to get rid of all of my North American made SxS's except for 2 Canadian made Tobins. I like the Canadian firearms connection to them.
 
winchester12 said:
I've been watching this thread because I'm shopping for a nice fox shooter. The guns i've seen so far have been priced quite a bit more. I 12ga sterlingworth at $925 a 16ga sterly At $1200. Both were alot nicer than the one on this thread but where are all these less expensive fox's
Click to expand...

I have four Foxes. Two early A grade 12 gauges. Both extractors, both 30" un-messed-with barrels when I got a hold of them. Both choked full and fuller. One I inherited. The other I bought for $550 in 2006. Before the SxS price collapse since 2008.

I have two 16 gauge Sterlingworths. One is in excellent shape and I bought it out of the US. I paid a hefty premium because I specifically wanted an ejector 16 gauge Sterlingworth for a custom upgrade project. When the upgrade is completed the premium I paid will be a negligible part of the 10K plus invested in the gun. The other is a somewhat rough 16 extractor I paid $500 for two years ago.

With a gun like a Fox Sterlingworth, condition is everything. I just saw a Sterlingworth SPE (which is a Savage gun....yetch) listed for sale in the US for $5800. I don't know if the seller will get it but he is one of the premier gunsmiths in the US. He would know the market. But that gun is is original LNIB. Most that we see in Canada have been to the marsh and back more than a few times. And they look like it. It would have to be a pretty damn fine Sterly 12 gauge to get me parting with more than $500 or $600.

I have lots of guns I could list in the EE for sale at $4000. But I wouldn't be selling $4000 guns.
 
Please see responses to the questions below, sorry for the late reply,

gunsaholic said:
Still quite a bit we don't know about the gun mechanical/function wise so around $400.00, give or take. Just depends on who's looking for an average field grade gun at the time of selling.

Is there pitting in the bores? No, bores look good
Is the opening lever right of center when the barrels are closed? No, It is to the left of center
Does the opening lever function smoothly? Yes
Does it fire on both barrels? I haven't fired it yet
Any play in the action with the barrels closed or with the forearm off? No, it locks up tightly
Do the barrels ring if you suspend them from the lumps and tap them with your finger or a pencil? I will have to give that a try
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