doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Savage Fox Sterlys

So was the demand for SP/SPE's so low that Savage produced the Sterlingworth to use them up or to produce guns at a cheaper price without the Birds beak?

I owned one of those very late flat-sided Sterlys. Using up leftover parts as the production of REAL Foxes was winding down. I'd guess the reasoning was that Sterlys were more likely to sell.

I'd guess that SP-/SPE-Grade demand didn't meet expectations and Savage decided to use up some frames for something that might sell. All the Flat-Sided Fox-Sterlingworths that I've seen lettered show shipping dates of May 1939 or later. Likewise the draw-bolt frame Fox-Sterlingworths that I've seen letters on all show shipping dates of 1939 or later. From my years of observations, the flat-sided Fox-Sterlingworths are in four groups, which blows that worthless serial number chronology out of the water -- 30-inch 12-gauge guns in the high 132xxx range, 28-inch guns in the high 137xxx/low 138xxx range, 26-inch 12-gauge guns in the 161xxx range, and 28-inch 16-gauge guns in the 3769xx/3770xx range. The drawbolt frame 12-gauge guns are 30-inch guns in the 133xxx range, mostly 28-inch guns in the 143xxx range and 26-inch guns in the 161xxx range.

Where any of the "Flat sided" made in 20 ga. ?

I stopped by the LGS today...

They had a Savage/Utica made "Fox Sterlingworth" with a capless pistol grip, poly slathered butt/forend with worn checkering, clunker savage top lever, marked 2 3/4", with 28" barrels and in 20 gauge. Bluing 30% and case colors were nill. The store was asking $899.

Oh and I almost forgot, the butt was cut and fitted with a red rubber pad with a LOP of 13.5". Lock up was tight. I know the 20s command a higher price, but is that good, bad or ugly?

If you can't live with the stock it is a no brainer for me. Stocks are very expensive to replace on low end guns.

That�s a good gun for a project if the metal is pit free and the barrels still have good chokes. There is a lot you could do with it to make it your small bore go to gun.

In October 1938, my friend Henry of Federal Oak Farm, Charles County, Maryland, was given just such a gun new for his 21st birthday. Fifty-nine years later, and after visiting every barbed wire fence and thorny growth from Southern Maryland to the New York border, Henry passed it on to me.



For the next six seasons I shot quite a few Doves with it. When I was leaving the area I decided the old 20-gauge Fox-Sterlingworth should stay in Southern Maryland and passed it on to another young bird hunting member of our gun club. A few years later he sent me a picture of it with grouse he'd shot with it up in New York.

Thanks guys...

I think I'm going to stay on the hunt for a 16.

Yep, project 20 gauge would be a good choice for that gun if the barrels are sound. That's probably the least desirable 20 gauge sterly out there unless it was the exact same gun but with 26" barrels..