What are the differences between a Fox Sterlingworth and a Parker VH Grade

[allen newell]

What are the differences (mechanically, wood, design features, finish, reliability and performance etc.) between the Fox Sterlingworth grade double and the Parker VH double as manufactured by each company?

[Linn Matthews]

I have both and based on a limited amount of shooting find them to be comparable (comparing Meridan Parker and Philadelphia Fox)

Linn

[Drew Hause]

In 1910 the Fox Gun Co. introduced “The Sterlingworth Company” boxlock with a Parker type hinge-pin. By 1911 the marking was changed to Sterlingworth and by 1913 the Parker hinge-pin recess was gone. The Sterlingworth was priced at $25 in 1915.
The Parker Gun Co. Trojan was introduced in 1912 at a price of $27.50.

1915 Iver Johnson Sporting Goods Catalogue (Successors to John. P. Lovell, Boston and not to be confused with Iver Johnson Arms)

Parker Trojan - $27.50
Fox Sterlingworth - $25.00
Ithaca Field - $19.00
Lefever Durston Special - $25.00

1917 Barker-Jennings Hardware Company, Lynchburg, Virginia

L.C. Smith Field - $32.50; AE - $42.50; Ideal - $42.50; AE - $54

By 1919 both the Parker Trojan and the Fox Sterlingworth were listed at $55. The L.C. Smith Field was $54.

In 1922 Fox dropped the price of the Sterlingworth to $48.

1929 Shapleigh Hardware Catalog

Field Grade L.C. Smith - $66.50.....AE - $85.50
Fox Sterlingworth - $60................AE - $79
Parker Trojan - $86
Parker V.H. - $108.......................AE - $143

[Jerry Harlow]

Allen,

A more fair comparison would be between the Sterlingworth and the Trojan, the two lowest grade guns available at the time from Fox and Parker. The VH (and PH) is more favorably compared to the Fox A grade. The lowest grade guns were made to compete with each other and other low end doubles, and the flood of repeaters entering the market at the time.

The VH with its finely fitted and very attractive dog's head buttplate, finer and better executed checkering, slightly higher grade wood, more engraving, attractive forend latch and tip, etc. and higher price was reflective of the overall finer finish than the lower grade models.

Just my opinion.

Reliability and performance, I would not enter that debate.

[Brian Dudley]

The fit and finish is sort of on par. The VH would be a more finely finished gun in my opinion. The sterlingworth more compares to the Parker Trojan when it comes to level of finish. However the engraving on the fox and the VH are pretty much similar.

Mechanisms are completely different but equally as reliable and well built. The Parker mechanism is more complex for sure. The rotary bolting of the fox mechanism is superior in my opinion in that you nearly never find a loose fox. Or any other gun with the same type of bolting (LC smith, Ithaca NID). But, I do not think that the fox's bolting through the rib extension is as strong as the Parker under bite.

The sterlingworth was the lower priced gun in the day as compared to the VH and it still is today.

[Russ Jackson]

I know this isn't what the poster of this Thread was looking for and all of the above answers seem correct ,but when you are walking behind that Pointer and feel that Recessed Hinge Pin under your fingers ,unless you are carrying an Early Fox Pin Gun , There is just No Comparison ! :whistle:

[Daryl Corona]

IMHO the Sterlingworth is a well built, very dependable gun for the money. Not very fancy but a Sterlingworth, like the Trojan, is still is a Fox inside as is the Trojan a Parker inside. The difference is all cosmetic.