16ga.com ~ View topic

Check this pic from the 'Gunstocks' PictureTrail
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?&p=999&uid=6511424&gid=15127852&&imgid=234514947&offset=0

Member Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 781

If you live in a cold climate get an LC. The stocks make such great kindling. And there is no shortage of it lying on the ground behind gunsmith's shops all over the US. They are free for now but when we run out of oil the price of used LC stocks will start to climb.

The Sterlingworth and V grade Parkers are both great SxS guns. Pumps should be either Model 12's or 37's. Autoloaders? Auto-5's are the only class act in 16 ga auto's.

Jeff

Member Joined: 01 Feb 2006 Posts: 450 Location: Indiana

I would say anything bad against neither. I have a LC which handles for me great. I have and old Bretta 16, and Parker, a couple of Mod 12 all these in 16's of course. I have had a couple of lefevers and mod.24's. Liked them all, wish I had the Mod 24's and Lefevers back though. The only one I don't have in 16 but will someday is the Sterly.Just gotta find the right price.

And while we're on the subject of sweet Elsies-check out this eye candy
http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery.fcgi?p=999&gid=14120795

Fin - My Hunter Arms "Ranger" weighs in at 7 lbs. +/-, I'd like to scale it to be accurate and all but I haven't.

I handled a Philly Sterly late last week and it was sah-weet! I handled a Utica Sterly today and for whatever reason, not so sweet...both 16, both 28" bbls.

I also handled a lot of Smiths & Sterlies in 12 - just to compare...even saw a nice Lefever (redone) and thought about a nice field gun...

Some differences in the Philly/Utica Sterlies:
Philly had the ebony cap on the grip and ivory bead
Utica had no cap and a brass bead

Each had the distinctive engraving on the receiver, etc.

Philly seemed - uh, "handier" - lighter - at least I remember it so...

case blue and wood aside - the philly seemed better somehow - again, at least I remember it so.

Either way, I'd like a 26" bbl IC/IC or IC/Mod

I also thought about a short money gun and dumping another gun's worth into it - somehow a polished turd is still ... just a shiny turd

the search continues for now - thanks all for your input

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

Sprocket, Enjoyed your comment,man you sure know your turds. Laughing

Member Joined: 13 Feb 2006 Posts: 110 Location: California

Member Joined: 26 Apr 2005 Posts: 743

About 150,00 SW's, total. Rev, if you're counting OO's in with the Field Grades, then Smith had a fair head start on Fox.

Generally speaking . . . you can find 16ga Elsies cheaper. They're also--again, generally speaking--heavier.

I have a sterlingworth and 2 LC's. I like the Fox's lines and history a little more. But my LC's have better dementions and Shoot them better they really grow on you after a while. I have to agree with Larry you can buy an LC better the fox's have really gone up. I went to an auction over the weekend to buy a restocked Utica Fox sp grade with a loose forend. It wasn't in bad condition but not real good either it brought $2300.

*Last edited by fin2feather on Mon Mar 05, 2007 4:47 pm; edited 1 time in total*

Man; everybody on these bbs must have been at that auction, and most of them went to buy that SP! You're like the fourth guy I've heard talking about it! I also heard that a Nitro Special in .410 went for $2900!

My LC is 28" and heavy at 7 lbs 1 oz.....I intend to use it for clays and will ream it from IM/FULL to IC/IC....also, maybe ducks with Bismuth over dekes....(1921 ejector)

The 26" "foxy lady" Sterly is under 6 pounds, a 1930's gun (Savage first year production) and has the sweet Philly forend and the graded round knob half pistol...., and is an extractor and will prove a nice bird gun, I anticipate.....an upland gun for sure, probabaly won't be bustin' a lot of clays with this one....just enough to familiarize myself with it's distinctive nuances......

Bottomline: I personally could NOT have picked one over the other....so I had to get one of each, was fortunate enough to have had a couple guns to dump in order to buy these..... and I did get sweet deals on them, though both require some "tweaking" to suit me (reblue here, choke work there, pads to lengthen LOP everywhere.... Smile

)

Fun, ain't it?

Duncan

Member Joined: 24 Jan 2007 Posts: 467 Location: SC PA

Pudelpointer,

I was at the preview Friday pm, but didn't make it to the sale itself. You're right. The Fox Special left something to be desired for that price. Is it true that .410 NS brought $2900? Surprised

If I recall, it had two letters of inquiry to Ithaca from the 20's or 30's. My opinion- I grab my 16 ga Elsie more than anything else in the gun safe.

Marcus

Joined: 13 Dec 2006 Posts: 694 Location: MN

Alright-I'll take the heat.

What is so special about a Sterly? I've seen more than few and I don't get it. They're not especially good looking-materials were nothing special-fit and finish was average and most guns really had no upgrade work. Nice working gun but I don't get the prices. Considering that quite a few were made, where's the "pop". Is it just because its an affordable s x s?

Really-I'd lile to learn.