In the Kenmore area of Buffalo on Elmwood Avenue.
I have read that the barrels from the X-Caliber were made by Ithaca in Ithaca, NY. When Sterling went under Ithaca bought the rights and produced the gun for a short time.
Time Line of Events
Another view of 2209 Elmwood
The building in Gasport at 4436 Prospect, just a block from the old Erie Canal still stands.
The two locations in Lockport still exist, they are next to each other at 211 & 221 Grand Street
Sources
The first product was a copy of the Hi-Standard HD model (which is ironic as the original Hi-Standard was a copy of the Colt Woodsman). It came in 4 variations with different barrel lengths, all in .22 Long Rifle. Although the number 300 was associated with these pistols their model numbers were the 283, 284, 285 & 286
Next came a "pocket" version of the 300 series, called the PPL. The PPL was made in both 380ACP and 22 LR
In 1968 The U.S. Congress passed the Gun Control Act of 1968, among its many restrictions was a ban on the importation of small pistols.
This put Streisand Effect into action....the unintended consequence of this was the void left by the absence of cheap imported pistols was soon to be filled with dozens of domestic gun makers (see my write up on the Los Angeles Ring of Fire here).
Sterling decided to build a copy of the Italian Rino Galesi pistol, seen below, that was no longer being imported.
The new Sterling pistol would be called the model 300, chambered in 25 ACP
It was soon followed by the model 302 in .22 LR
According to at least one source the company moved from Buffalo to Lockport, New York, about 35 miles away.
In 1971 Sterling Arms was contacted by a machine shop (E&R Machine) in Lockport about becoming a subcontractor or licensee of their pistols. I have no other info on this exchange except that Sterling accepted the offer and a deal was struck.
The following year E&R Machine set up a second and larger shop in nearby Gasport in order to manufacture the Sterling pistols.
In December of 1973 the owners of E&R Machine, Eugene Sauls & Robert Lindke purchased Sterling Arms and the headquarters was moved to Gasport.
In 1975 Eugene Sauls bought out his partner and became the soul owner of E&R Machine and its subsidiary Sterling Arms.
During the late 70's more models were designed and brought online including a 380 pistol, the model 400, which was a bit of a copy of the Russian Makarov (which in turn was a bit of a copy of the Walther PP)
Then a single shot pistol was added, this was similar in concept to the Thompson/Center Contender, it had interchangeable barrels. They dubbed the gun the "X-Caliber" and also like the Contender it could fire both center and rimfire cartridges.
Available chamberings included .22LR, 22 Magnum, 357 Magnum and 44 Magnum. Barrel lengths were 8" or 10".
I have read that the barrels from the X-Caliber were made by Ithaca in Ithaca, NY. When Sterling went under Ithaca bought the rights and produced the gun for a short time.
Time Line of Events
1961 - E&R Machine started in Lockport NY by Eugene Sauls and Robert Lindke
1963 - E&R Machine moves to nearby Gasport
1967 - Sterling Arms is incorporated in Buffalo
1968 - The Gun Control Act of 1968 is signed into law
1968 - Sterling Arms moves to Lockport
1971 - Agreement between Sterling Arms and E&R Machine to produce parts for Sterling pistols
1973 - E&R Machine buys 100% of Sterling Arms
1975 - Eugene Sauls buys out Robert Lindke and becomes soul owner
1978 - E&R Machine and Sterling Arms moved to a new facility in Lockport
1984 - Due to product liability lawsuits Sterling Arms is closed
1991 - Eugene Sauls retires, his son Garry takes over
2010 - Eugene Sauls passes away
What Remains:
It took some hard searching to find the original Buffalo factory in which the Sterling pistols were produced.
I had three addresses from their time in Buffalo, 2206 Elmwood, 2209 Elmwood and 2215 Elmwood. I believe the 2209 address to be the correct one. Here is a overhead view of the three addresses, 2206 is in the center left of the photo, on the corner of Elmwood and Hinman, it is now a Tim Horton's. The 2215 address no longer exists, but the 2209 address is the building in the upper center of the photo on the corner of Elmwood and Ramsdell.
Another view of 2209 Elmwood
The building in Gasport at 4436 Prospect, just a block from the old Erie Canal still stands.
The two locations in Lockport still exist, they are next to each other at 211 & 221 Grand Street
Sources
I had a blue Sterling Mk II .380, from 1979 until sometime in the mid 1980s when it was stolen from my parent's home. It was an okay pistol, but the safety apparently was cast pot metal or such, because I had 2 of them break off their tabs (original and warranty replacement). The magazine feed lips were also flimsy and easily bent. Other than that, it was a good "truck gun".
ReplyDeleteWhere can I get a sterling pistol 22 caliber pistol repaired
ReplyDeleteI have the 300 and 302...both very good...they still work 100%
ReplyDelete