16ga.com ~ View topic

Member Joined: 25 Oct 2010 Posts: 199 Location: NJ

I stumbled on this 16 ga. Sterlingworth when picking up another gun (a 20 LC, i sheepishly admit). It's been refinished I'm sure, but looks nice and shoots well...dropped a pheasant a couple hours after I picked it up and before I had the bores opened to Skeet 1 and Improved, a favorite combination that even brings down Old Squaws (did that with my identically choked 16 ga. hammer Bayard a couple of days ago)

It weighs 6.4 lbs. per my scale, and is on a 20 ga. frame, ergo it fits nicely into one of Jeff Outfitters compact cases for the 20/28 with a 28 inch barrel. Couldn't resist putting on a label for the case.

Probably going to be a favorite gun...lighter than the LC Smith 20 ga. field, and ironically the same weight and feel as my Knickerbocker 16 ga. which a friend gave me long ago and I'm now treating with more respect.

So, thought I'd share it with this august group. Oh, shooting low pressure loads in it from the list, of course, and 2.5's from now on.

This link might work...worked in the preview for me. Edited a few of the photos for slightly better quality...ergo some duplicates.

https://picasaweb.google.com/100394988778579105661/AHFox16Ga?authkey=Gv1sRgCIKy6Juci7_31AE

Copy and paste it if necessary[/img]

Nice, clean gun! I've always thought a sub-6lb sterly converted to a straight grip would be a fun gun to shoot, although maybe difficult to hit well with. Or not. Enjoy!

Joined: 28 Feb 2011 Posts: 385 Location: northeast

What a beauty !!!!!! Cant blame you for not being able to resist.....

Member Joined: 25 Oct 2010 Posts: 199 Location: NJ

Thanks guys! Now if you knew how little I paid for it relative to current offerings I tracked down later....

Member Joined: 25 Oct 2010 Posts: 199 Location: NJ

Hummm, today I calculated that I paid a bit above the new price in 1920 (year of this gun), adjusted for inflation per an inflation calculator.

Very nice. A 16ga Fox is a joy; pretty sure you won't be sorry!

Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 78 Location: Santiago

Really nice gun, worth keeping in a good case, by the way, where did you get the gun case?

Regards,

EJSXS

The buffed-out and polished approach is an interesting alternative to restoring case colors. She looks pretty good for an almost 92 year-old.

Joined: 19 Apr 2008 Posts: 477

The only problem with starting out 16 gauge life with a Sterlingworth is you may not realize its just about as good as it gets. After a while some flashy hussey will come along and you might trade it off for something new. A mistake often made and almost always regretted.

Member Joined: 25 Oct 2010 Posts: 199 Location: NJ

Re the case:

This is the compact case for 20/28 gauge, 28" from Jeffs Outfitters. He has it on sale again right now and I'd recommend it as it really is compact and well made, as I have 3-4 of this style case and this is probablyl the best I've found, and also not expensive in canvas and leather.! The label came from Conn. Shotguns; got one for my two LC's which reside in a leather double motor case from Jeff as well.

Second, I appreciate the advice, which is clearly true. But my wife says my problem is I hardly ever sell anything, and I'm very aware of what a fine gun this little Fox is, having carried it for part of an afternoon already. Won't take it anywhere but in the field and won't part with it for quite a while (I hope), until the kids read the inventory and send it to a friend. Still have a John Wilkes 12 ga. boxlock a friend sold me for all of $250 30 years ago, as one example....

Been shooting the Stevens 520 16 for a few years on and off on the bay, but last year used it on an icy morning at the end of the duck season and got way too enthusiastic about 16's. The Bayard brought down an Old Squaw drake with No. 6 ITX the other day, and may get some exercise on eiders in Maine next week

Anybody want to see the Bayard? :>)

*Last edited by fin2feather on Wed Dec 07, 2011 7:23 am; edited 1 time in total*

Member Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Posts: 680 Location: MAINE

[quote="fin2feather"]