Hi folks,
I was in the local gun store today. They had a Sterlings Arms X-Caliber, new in box for $250. This is a 10" oct. barrel with very nice wood on it. It is a 357 Mag. At one time they were made in the town i live in but i don't remember to much about them. Is it worth $250 ? My wife said to go ahead and get it but she won't give me the money for it. Should i buy it?


Thanks,
Bob

Hello Bob, welcome to the board. Being that the X-Calibers are no longer made, you might want to consider it from the standpoint of procuring other barrels in the future. These will be hard to come by.

If you just want it for the novelty, by all means, purchase it as that seems a reasonable price.

Decide what you would be using it for and how suitable the chambering would be for the task.

Regards

Would it be safe to assume no one knows what an X-Caliber is but Headstamp? They were single shot switch barrel pistols like the Contender. You are right Headstamp, no barrels. A call to a custom barrel maker and was told they never heard of it and probably wouldn't want to try to make a barrel for it. I don't even know what calibers it was made in. Does anyone know? At one time i knew the man that owned the company. Maybe i'll see if i can find him and dig up some info. I sure don't need another 357 Mag. but that X-Caliber sure is a nice looking gun.

Bob

As I understand it, the rights for the pistol were purchased from Sterling by Ithaca as it was manufactured by them until about 1993 or so.

It basically fell by the wayside in one of Ithaca's numerous changes of ownership and reorganizations.

According to my 1993 Gun Digest the Ithaca version was available in 22 LR and 44 Mag. in 10" and 15" bbl lengths.

Yours must be a Sterling Arms (earlier) model which were available in 22LR,22Mag,357 Mag and 44 Mag. and 8" to 10" bbl lengths.

I doubt your bbl would be a candidate for rechambering either due to it's octagon design and length except for maybe a 357 Max rechamber.

If you intend to get into a switch bbl handgun for the utility, I would pass on this gun due to the bbl availability problem. Also to say nothing of parts and repair.

An e-mail to Ithaca some time back, revealed no interest from them about this gun.

Regards

I know them.... never seen one. If it was made by Sterling.... eh.... (Sterling semi auto's are j-U-NK.) If it was made by Ithica... Hmmm.

I think NIB for $250 it's a deal. Even from an oddball collector standpoint. Buy it and put it on Auction arms for $350. or shoot it.

Well i did it. I bought the X-Caliber. Got it for $235. I don't know when i'll get to try it out. Our snow melted and my range is under water. Oh well, guess i can wait till spring.

Bob