doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com $995 for a nice 1927 12 ga. Sterlingworth ???

Local gun shop has an unmolested, 12 ga. 1927 Sterlingworth listed at $995. Not pristine, but in very good original condition.

It's a nice gun, with lots of case color, but I think I would have trouble reselling it for as low as $800 if I decided it was not a keeper.

Are there people out there who will pay upwards of $800 for a 12 ga. Sterlingworth?

Retail operations are more likely to get top dollar for a gun than a private seller as a rule. To your real question is a Sterlingworth worth a grand? Depends. Is it in good shape, decent wood, not a lot of wear and abuse? If it has 90% case color and bluing to match then it might be worth a grand. If a smaller gauge then certainly it will command more.

You can find decent shooters for $500-600.00 all day long but they will be worn and have little finish left. The late Philly 12's are still a decent gun. Not bulkier and reduced level of finish seen in later guns. So they tend to bring more interest. Later guns do have slightly better dimensions for shooters.

I sold a nice Sterlingworth "Pin Gun" for 800. Buyer a experienced SXS shooter that knows Foxes. If the gun is right,it sells itself. If not only inexperienced will look at it.

Boats

Two sold at an auction in California two weeks ago. I think both went for $1300. Based on pictures alone they appears to be in excellent plus condition with an abundance of case color. Take it for what its worth, but at the same auction a 12 Gauge A grade with 32" barrels sold for $1,000. That was a silver gun with what appeared to be a cut stock with a ugly recoil pad. Guns with fantastic original condition will bring good money, even a lowly Fox 12 gauge Sterlingworth.

More than $1,000 for a 12g sterlingworth would be hard to get for a gun that is less than 90% condition.

I would not sell my 95% Sterlingworths for $1000. High condition is hard to find.

That's what i said.

I was just paging through Sterlingworths on Gunbroker and there are plenty of them with opening bids asking well north of $1k and some north of $10k. Of course, there seems to be a shortage of bidders.

I'm not sure what the varieties of Sterlingworths are. There seem to be Fox Sterlings., AH Fox Sterlings, Philly Sterlings, and Savage Sterlings so apparently the brand was bought and moved about a bit. Are any more or less desirable than others?

Value tends to be a personal thing. And shotguns tend to become personal. I happen to like SW's, so I'd probably pay more for one than a Parker guy.

My response to the OP's query is: Can you find an equivalent gun at a better price?

R.

John Mann found a 12g SW for me at $1200 in condition"by all others to be judged"---in his words---put it in a box clearly marked shotgun and sent it through post office and customs no questions asked, delivered to my door by fedex.