Sterling Arms

[motleystew]

Here's a neat story you might enjoy...My dad gave me a tiny,blued, pocket pistol chambered for .22LR that he was given at some point. It was made bay a firm called Sterling Arms. The gun has a New York town stamped on the side. I got curious (well, bored) and started to gather some info on this pistol and the company that made it. I searched and finally discovered that the company has been out of business since the early 80's. Through the magic of the internet, I found the name of a machine shop in New York who used to make parts for this gun that were then assembled and marketed, etc.. I then found a website to this machine shop and sent them an email. Some time passed and I recieved a letter from the owner of the shop who was just a kid when his father, who ran the shop at the time, machined frames and internal parts for the Sterling Arms company. He said that he had not thought about this in a long time and he was glad that someone, somewhere, still had one of these pistols and still put rounds through it on occasion. The only other mention of these pistols I have ever seen are ads in the old back issues of American Handgunner magazine from the late 70's that are available to download/view on their website. Anyone else around here have/had one of these pistols? Although not the best gun ever made (by far) and not the best shooter (even farther), it's mine and I like it!

[Keith B]

I had a Sterling Arms .25 auto back in the late 70's when I was a LEO that was my BU boot gun. It was reliable. I probably put over 500 rounds through it and never had any FTF. They were fairly inexpensive and the tolerances were poor, but mine was OK for what it was for. Ended up selling it to my Brother-in Law, who later sold it to a friend. Who knows where it is now.

[seamusTX]

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/aucti ... rling+arms

- Jim

[Greybeard]

In one of his videotapes, Mas Ayoob states that Sterling Arms went under as a result of settlement of a lawsuit related to one of their .380s. Teenager did not realize that a round was still in chamber on pistol that had no "trigger disconnect" when magazine was out. This being America, it HAD to be the fault of someone other than the idiot who pointed it at a kid and pulled the trigger ...

[seamusTX]

In one of his videotapes, Mas Ayoob states that Sterling Arms went under as a result of settlement of a lawsuit related to one of their .380s.

That may be, but 99% of the U.S.-based firearms manufacterers that were in business in 1900 were defunct by 1980. I think only Colt and Remington have been in continuous operation without bankruptcy or being bought out. Most just didn't earn enough profit.

- Jim

[Tactical_Texan_CHL]

Not anymore. Cerberus now owns Remington, and Bushmaster, Cobb, and DPMS. Not to mention the majority of Chrysler. There could potentially be ALOT of money behind the fight for our gun rights now.

[seamusTX]

Not anymore. Cerberus now owns Remington, and Bushmaster, Cobb, and DPMS.

I forgot about that. But Remington has been in operation at a coherent company for over 100 years, AFAIK.

There could potentially be ALOT of money behind the fight for our gun rights now.

I hope so.

- Jim

[WildBill]

I remember the little Sterlings. They reminded me of the cap guns I had as a kid.

[MegaWatt]

I have a blue .22 Sterling. My brother bought it for my mother back in the middle 70s. When she died in '92 I got it. I've shot it many times with all kinds of ammo. Never had any problems with it. Couldn't hit squat with it. I actually carried it a few times full of Mini-Mag hollow points as a pocket mouse gun. I never had a round in the chamber because I guess I didn't trust the safety. No particular reason, something about a gun that only cost $90 doesn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling. I don't carry it any more.

[philbo]

At one time (late 70's/early 80's) I owned Sterlings in 22 (Model 302), 25 (Model 300), and 380 (Model 400 MK II). All were dependable little shooters that were completely stainless, something not common at the time. For the money they were hard to beat. Their tolerances for the period they were manufactured in were decent enough, falling between Raven Arms and Walther. Sorta of the Taurus or Bersa of the time... there were some better made, and many that were worse. I generally liked them and traded up as new pistols were introduced in the 80's. In the end, they performed their self defense role admirably when it counted. 'nuf said.