source of Sterlingworth shotgun parts?

G

GaryRI

Active member
Walking along today, shot once at a wounded running pheasant the dog was chasing, missed/reloaded started following the dog then noticed the forearm was gone about 5 minutes later?

I backtracked & intend to go back tomorrow with flags so I can grid off the search area but not optimistic. A brown piece of wood on leafy ground ain't going to be easy to find.

The forearm was probably still there when I reloaded as I assume I would have noticed the action wobble. I did not go push through any heavier cover today than normal. Cover was not very heavy where this happened. First time in 35+ years of sxs hunting this has ever happened?
 
It depends on gauge of your fox. Between devaluation of the gun and cost of the part you would better off buying a metal detector and paying somone $10 an hour for a couple of days to find the orginal forend. If it was a 16 or 20 gauge you coud probably pay them for a whole week. :-) I would keep looking. good luck!
 
Its just a 12, but that is a great idea about a metal detector. I'll look around to borrow one. I really appreciate the idea.

Googling around it appears there are three different forearm "irons". In white metal they are only 26 bucks but obviously require alot of custom work. The forearm I lost had a marking on it saying "model 1911". I have a second Sterlingworth 12 with a higher serial number and the forearms are not interchangeable.

I can buy a whole gun for less than 500 at the Kittery Trading post. Worst case I look around for a beater & hope the forearm fits.
 
Google the Fox Collectors website, there is a section for parts wanted, and for sale. I have a letter from a guy that hunts down parts, just have to find it.
Tom
 
figure a $1000 sterlingworth 12ga without matching iron and wood would devaule the gun roughly $200-$400. A in white iron reguires a lot of work not to mention fitting and finishing the wood, which would cost a couple hundered dollars alone. You can probably find a 12ga iron and wood for I would quess about $100. But not only are there different ones, I believe Foxes were hand fitted as were other american doubles of the time, so it may need some additional fitting. Then again it may snap right in.
 
These things are "shooters". I'm going to mark the area tomorrow but not optimistic.

I also think a correct replacement will just snap in. Particularly because it is the latest model Sterlingworth before Savage got involved.
 
yea from what ive been told about barrel sets was there was going to be a lot of fitting involved because of the hand fitting of each fox. i would imagine it would be the same for the fore iron. what year is your s'worth.

if your gun is just a hunting gun and you dont care about value then go an buy another gun for cheap. this way you can rob parts for your gun if something else goes missing.

eddie
 
Here's a kind of crazy idea. If your dog will fetch sticks throw one into the area you thought you lost the forearm. A dog finding a stick is smelling for your scent. There has to be a lot of it on that piece. If it can't find the stick right away it might hunt 'dead' looking for it and if the conditions are right it might find it. It's amazing what dogs can find. There is no doubt a dog will smell it if nearby, just has to be wanting to fetch it. Just watch closely.
Worth a try.

Tim
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top