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I'm looking for Pros/cons of each - please discuss

I'm leaning towards a Sterly - for now.

Joined: 21 Jan 2007 Posts: 23

Sprocket,

As most know I'm a Fox guy, but I don't think you can go wrong with either. For some there's that sidelock mystique (sp?); I don't happen to be one of them, but that's not to say anything bad about the Smitties. I agree with Craig's post: to me the Fox guns are the most beautiful American double guns ever made. One thing that's cool is that the Sterlingworth is the same gun inside as the graded Foxes, which mean po' folks like me can sort of afford one! Though I guess the field grade Smiths are the same too, so... heck, I don't know. Enjoy the search; that's the most fun part!

Fin

Member Joined: 08 Nov 2005 Posts: 3438 Location: Illinois

WHAT

No serious ribbing yet?????

Member Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 602 Location: western pa

I own both and they're both good. In all honesty, the Fox gets afield quite a bit more. Sterlingworth would get my vote if (perish the thought) I could only have one. Very Happy

Personally, I like the Fox. Beautiful design and you give nothing up with the low end, the Sterly. They are beautifully balanced and a great handling gun. Elsies have no flies on them either. I would guess that the Fox would weigh a little less than the Elsie because of Elsie's sidelocks. Elsie's biggest downfall is the very sidelocks that make her so sexy. Over the years, they can act like a wedge and split the wood behind them. Another American beauty that should not be overlooked is the Lefever. You can't go wrong with any of them. Very Happy

Enjoy your quest - - Hc

What HC said: "You can't go wrong with any of them"

As painful as it is to admit in a public forum-they're all great; Trojans, LC Fields, Sterlys, NID Fields. My S. Dakota pheasant gun is a 12g (oh the shame Embarassed

) 1915 Sterly because I have more confidence that the wood (not the action) will handle 1 1/8 oz. Federal Wing Shoks-but I still don't use Fiocchi GPs or the 1 1/4 oz. Wing Shok boomers. My hunting behind my setter pheasant gun with 1 oz loads is a LC and my quail/fun skeet gun with 7/8 oz loads is a LC-because they are 'a thing of beauty and a joy forever.' Very Happy

(And just have SOOOO much more class than those Putz Parkers Wink

)

Member Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 1545 Location: Michigan

I was avoiding this topic until I seen what the Rev had to say.
I think I'll sell all my Parkers, and start collecting 16 gauge model 12 Winchesters. Wink

OK folks I appreciate all the comments and all - I know we all have our favorites too - currently the topic is on Sterlies vs. Smiths

I know the Ithicas and LeFevers are solid, etc. but thanks, no thanks. Aesthetics just aren't there for me.

Parkers are out of my range and the bank turned down my application for a mortgage so the Win 21's are out too.

My one maker I might sub in though would be Baker...

I'm looking for more info about the weakness of each - like the way the smiths tend to crack themselves. Any info on good years and better years would help too.

Oh and as far as the trash talk, I figure now that Feb is over folks won't take it personally anymore. And if anyone knows how to shave a half pound off a gun let me know, the Fulton I have got heavier over the winter somehow Wink

Member Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 1545 Location: Michigan

Sprocket, okay the topic is on Sterlies vs. Smiths.
In my opinion they are both a very good gun, and one is no weaker than the other. If the head of the wood is not allowed to become oil soaked, and is not already cracked when you buy it, and you shoot common since loads in both guns. Neither one will crack. They say the workmanship is better in the pre 1913 Smiths and the Philly Foxes. If I was looking to buy one of these guns, I would buy the one that fit me best and not look back. It's just a matter of whatever makes you happy. Wink

I solved this dilema. I bought one of each, both 16's. The Elsie is choked rather tight and the Sterly is more open (the best of both worlds). Both are later guns '39 and '35 respectively, and neither has cracked wood anywhere. I know this doesn't address the issue of which one is best. But I am betting you will find a place for both in due time. They are both gems.

Marc

*Last edited by fin2feather on Thu Mar 01, 2007 9:26 am; edited 1 time in total*

I guess it's true that the Philly Fox workmanship is better. I have two SW's: a 16ga ejector and a 20ga (OK, sue me). Both are Utica guns; I figure they're more likely to have better shooting dimensions and 2-3/4" chambers, since I don't reload and wanted to shoot off-the-shelf ammo.

I've never compared them side-by-side with a Philly Fox, but I'm betting a dead bird wouldn't know the difference! If I was looking for closet queens I might care, but I'm not.

Ever since I saw Roger Pickney's article about his visit to an old duck club in DGJ a while back, in which he talked about taking a duck with his 1935 Sterlingworth 12ga and a paper shell, I've wanted to find a 12; if I find one at a decent price I'll buy it (sue me again!); it'll be Utica too. Then I'll have a set!

Anyway, they're as a good a gun as I deserve, for sure. I'm a field grade guy both in budget and philosophy, but I have to admit I like the simple adornments of the SW over the plain actions a lot of field grades have.

How much does your Fulton weigh? My SW 16 weighs 6-1/2, the 20 weighs 6 even.

Fin

What Dave M and Fin said Wink

Just FYI-my 28" brl 06' LC weights right at 6 1/2 # and my 30" 11' weights 6# 10 oz. The post-1913 guns, even with the Featherlight frames, tend to weigh more.

And as painful as THIS is to admit, LC's do have a bit less wood at the head of the stock and are prone to cracks around the sidelocks. I guess my point is that one probably needs to be more careful getting a LC-but there are a whole lot more out there. More than 250,000 LC Field grades (more than 40,000 16s) and only 33,000 Trojans. Gave my Fox book away-how many Sterlys were made?