J.C. Higgins Firearms

[wozeyjales]

Name used for Sears brand sporting goods including firearms.
Recently found a Model 31 semi-auto which were made by
High Standard for Sears in the 1950s. One interesting feature
the 31's barrel specifies "shoots any 22 long and long rifle or 22
shorts high speed only". Nice. Some have a retractable sling that
pulls out from bottom of stock. Mine does not have sling, instead
has what is apparently called an inital plate where the sling slot
is located. Mine also has a crescent shape charge handle instead
of the sling model's oblong charge handle. No sling and crescent
leads me to think this is later production. Have heard reference to
generations I II and III but no mention of changes for each one.
Also no mention of begin or end of 31 production run just reference
to made in the '50s. Hopefully some ODTers have Sears catalogs or
Gun Digests etc from 1950s & 1960s that have more information.
Apparently several other J.C. Higgins models of rifles & shotguns
made by different manufacturers. Hopefully enough of them still
around in addition to model 31s to justify a Higgy thread.
Thanks in advance for any related history or background.

 

[Poppa Mike]

Check out rimfire central.com good bit of info on these rifles and a great resource for anything rimfire.

 

[gh1950]

FYI, Sears had a Ted Wiilliams line of firearms (and other stuff) that was the top end line.

I have a Ted Williams O/U that is a rebranded Winchester 101. Even though it has high grade wood and nice embossed engraving, it's worth considerably less than a branded 101.

I had a Model 31 with the retractable sling, It might have worked when it was new, but it didn't come close to working by the time it got to me.

 

[wozeyjales]

GH, sorry your 31 didn't live up to expectations. Hate when that happens.
As I understand it Ted Williams line came along after J.C. Higgins line.
Guess they figured baseball player be more in demand than retired bookkeeper.
Pricing game sounds familiar, works in your favor when buying not selling.

 

[gh1950]

GH, sorry your 31 didn't live up to expectations. Hate when that happens.

i had exactly zero expectations, so I guess it lived up to those.

Truthfully, i had no idea what the sling was, or how it worked. Looked it up on the interwebs. It didn't unwind freely, which wasn't a big surprise and I didn't want to mess with it for fear of breaking something.

 

[wozeyjales]

Semi-surprised no other J.C.H., Ted W., or Sears firearms have shown up.
Can understand the Sears version of other manufacturer's models being
worth less than original. In the case of the Model 31 there seems to be no
equivalent High Std. model, they apparently just made them for Sears.
I like it's old school construction, only plastic the grip end cap & butt plate.

 

[gh1950]

Semi-surprised no other J.C.H., Ted W., or Sears firearms have shown up.
. In the case of the Model 31 there seems to be no
equivalent High Std. model, they apparently just made them for Sears.

My research supports this.

I suspect that's why it's so hard to find parts for the wind up sling.

 

[wozeyjales]

Numrich has some parts for the J.C. Higgins although sometimes
a challenge to tell if getting used parts, nos, or replica. Ordered
gasket for buttplate, received original used. Grip cap gasket was
different material, thicker, and wrong shape (didn't use it).
Fortunately mine is later production w/o sling which I don't care
about anyway. Has dummy plate on stock location where sling
previously came out. Mine also has concave face on charge handle
which I've seen on images of Ted Williams #34 which is also High
Standard. Further research leads me to believe the "JD" on left
side of barrel just in front of receiver is probably a date code which
started in 1957 with 1st letter indicating month and 2nd letter year.
IF so mine would be October 1960. Switch to Ted Williams was 1962-3.
That's about all I know about Higgy 31s.
I assume (yea, I know) the sling assy comes out the end after removing
butt plate. Hopefully R&R w/cleanup & lube would restore function.

 

[Ted Williams]

So High Standard produced the JC Higgins model 20 shotgun for sears years before HS made shotguns under their own name. Find a model 20 if you can. It is one of the slickest pump action shotguns on the planet. I am the only collector of department store firearms that I am aware of. Store brand firearms are the greatest low price, high value guns you can get. I can post pictures of my department store firearms if you interested.

 

[rudydog4r]

I have a nicely restored J.C.Higgins model 51 bolt rifle made by FN in 30.06. It has the rare mannlicher stock. Chrome lined barrel. Anybody got any interest let me know.