why is my Fox a Parker?

[OH Osthaus]

Originally Posted by Rick Rappe

Yes, I meant Fox stopped using the recessed pins in 1912-13, per the Fox site. That Sterlies began at 50,000 answers that it indeed is an early one. Thanks.

As for the checkering, I tend to agree that the checkered fences were applied later, but not much later, and they were cut by someone experienced such that they COULD have been an add on option, as they are also smaller diamonds which was IMO typical of factory checkered fences, hinting if a factory option, would have more probably been done as is on this gun.

If you are inferring that the grip checkering is not factory, then I disagree as the Fox site shows this Parker style grip and fore end checkering on their photo of an early Sterly. While All the others I've seen photos of have a lesser, more simple pattern.

I'm hoping someone knows the story to share here as the other site didn't help. By 1912-13 Ansley Fox was no longer associated with the AH Fox Gun Company. Did the new owners deliberately try to tap into the Parker market by copying them? If so why did they stop?

yes - i was referring to the cheek checkering - that was not offered as a factory option on the sterlingworths- the point of the sterlingworth was a basic gun built to a price point - few if any options - 3 barrel lengths and eventually 3 gauges

the sterlingworth was simply an attempt to get some of the basic price point market - without digging out the Fox book- so working from memory, I think the recessed pin design was dropped because it cost more to do it..

Ansley did not want a basic grade gun - the earliest ones say Sterlingworth Co. to separate them from the firm, that was also soon dropped and AH Fox was added

the original iteration of the Fox Gun Company/Baltimore Arms Company also used the recessed pin design

[Researcher]

Ansley H. Fox Gun Co. graded guns A- to FE-grade had a smooth profile from the beginning in 1905. Here is an early 2-digit serial number gun from the Wayne & Bristol Streets days (1905-06) --

18 01 A-Grade.jpg

Only the first 12000 or so 12-gauge Sterlingworths had the recessed hinge pin. In 1910 they were marketed under the name The Sterlingworth Co.

50145 The Sterlingworth Co. 03.jpg

To further distance them from the Ansley H. Fox double the early guns were marked Wayne Junction instead of Philadelphia.

50180 The Sterlingworth Co. 01.jpg

and they even issued their own The Sterlingworth Co, catalog for 1910. By 1911, this entry-level gun was included in the A.H. Fox Gun Co. catalog --

Sterlingworth picture 1911.jpg

Sterlingworth text 1911.jpg

Ansley's earlier companies, Fox Gun Co., Balto., MD. U.S.A. (1898-99) --

438 B 01.png

and the Philadelphia Arms Co. (1902 t0 1906) --

262 A-Grade 01.jpg