Author Topic: ID my 22 (Read 3021 times)

graytex · « **on:** March 17, 2003, 03:31:25 PM »

I have a J. C. Higgins model 30 with a retractable sling in the butt. I have looked at every gunshow and searched the net. I would like to know when it was made and how rare it is. I have showed it to many people and no one has seen anything like it. Any info would be appreciated.

stuporman · « **Reply #1 on:** March 17, 2003, 04:59:59 PM »

Sometimes I feel like my butt is in a sling, too...but its not retractable.

Have you tried a Google search on the net?

Iheard you can find anythung on that there internet!

:shock:

jh45gun · « **Reply #2 on:** March 17, 2003, 06:48:51 PM »

Greytex, J.C.Higgens is a Sears Store brand. I see a Sears Mod 30 that was listed as a pump 22 that was made by High Standard that is the only 22 I see listed as a model 30 by Sears. If that is correct that is the only info listed High standard also made them a pump 22 that was a M35. If your gun is not a pump post what action it is and recheck the model # and I will look it up again. The retractable sling is just too little to go on with out knowing what type of action it was if it was not a pump. answer this post and let me know. Jim

graytex · « **Reply #3 on:** March 18, 2003, 02:19:03 AM »

It is a semi-auto with a tube feed magazine. I know that j c higgins was sears store brand and that sears did not manufacture their own guns.
The charging handle is on the left hand side and sits foward of the reciver. The gun looks well made. thanks for the input.

Ka6otm · « **Reply #4 on:** March 18, 2003, 04:51:49 AM »

graytex,

The Gun Parts Corporation Catalog shows a parts breakdown for the J.C. Higgins Model 28, 29, 30 & 31. It states that almost all of the parts are interchangeable between models and that they are all semi-auto .22s.

How I know is this: I have a Model 31 J.C. Higgins. It was the second gun I got as a kid. This was in 1955 and it was used then, and purchased from a friend of my father's.

So, I don't know exactly when it was made, but it was around the early to middle 1950s.

By the way, I love this gun. I have no idea how many rounds I have put through it, but it's in the tens of thousands easily. Hunted with it all over the Fairbanks, Ak. area as a kid and it still works great.

Ka6otm

jh45gun · « **Reply #5 on:** March 18, 2003, 09:02:06 AM »

Thanks Ka60tm!! Glad you like your gun! :grin: I did not look far enough I looked in the back of the book under the crossreference section but did not look IN the book under JC HIGGINS. I would think that this gun would not be rare

Graytex as it was a catalog and store gun I would guess that many were sold. Who ever made them for sears and I am guessing High Standard probably had their own out also. I have no idea the years they were made but I would guess no later than 1968 when the gun act come in agaisnt mail order gun sales and other gun acts. Jim

Ka6otm · « **Reply #6 on:** March 18, 2003, 09:19:39 AM »

jh45gun,

Man, you are a GOOD guesser. After reading your post, I looked in the Catalog for High Standard .22 rifles and guess what....It's a High Standard Model 34. The picture in the catalog is essentially identical to what I have, so High Standard made them for Sears.

This is amazing. I've owned the gun continuously for 48 years and never knew who made it.

As you say, I'm sure there is no appreciable value for this rifle but, I've never seen another one either, and I got to a lot of gun shows.

Oh well. Some day I'll pass it on to a Great Nephew along with all the others and let them know who made it.

BTW, my first gun, which I got about 6 months before this one is a Single Shot .410 Gauge from Crescent Firearms Company. Nice case hardened receiver. No value there either, but you can still get parts from Gun Parts Corp. Bought a new firing pin a couple of years ago.

Take care,
Ka6otm

jh45gun · « **Reply #7 on:** March 18, 2003, 09:23:45 AM »

Ka60tm, glad I could be a help to you and greytex and thank you for steering me straight on the model # as I only looked in the back of the book and not for JC Higgins in the book it's self. So I learned something today also. Jim

graytex · « **Reply #8 on:** March 18, 2003, 12:18:00 PM »

The gun traders guide 24 third edition does not have a listing for a semi-auto under sears brand. It does not look like any of the high-standard autoloaders. It just has some intresting features, the retractable sling, the cocking handle is located on the left hand side mounted forward of the receiver and stock is a two pieces but looks like a one piece. I have drug this gun to shows for two years and no one has a clue..thanks for the input everybody

jh45gun · « **Reply #9 on:** March 18, 2003, 12:48:10 PM »

I would contact some of the gun mags that have the question and answer collumns if you still want info and ask them. If you send a pic or 2 and give a detailed description they might find it worthwhile and interesting enough to check it out for you and do a piece on it in one of their collumns. The retractable sling and cocking handle I would think make it a interesting enough gun for their collumns. I did that in the new Shooting Illustrated NRA Mag and was pleasantly suprised that they answered me on my question. I would contact all of them some have email and some you might have to write to but would give that a try as they have more resources for checking out guns than Ka60tm or myself.

Ka6otm · « **Reply #10 on:** March 19, 2003, 04:46:25 AM »

graytex,

Let's try one more thing. Go to this link and tell me if it looks anything like your rifle.

http://www.gunsamerica.com/guns/976224598.htm

Your description of the stock and the retractible sling sounds just like mine and I'm curious. By the way, the one in this picture doesn't have the retractible sling.

Ka6otm

graytex · « **Reply #11 on:** March 19, 2003, 06:21:48 AM »

Thats it exactly. Was that made by high standard? thanks Ka6otm

Ka6otm · « **Reply #12 on:** March 19, 2003, 08:10:26 AM »

graytex,

As you noticed, that was a model 31, the same as I have. That one's identical to mine except for the retractible sling....which the first owner of mine removed and it's somehow lost...

Anyway, since they look identical, I don't know what the difference was but as I mentioned earlier, Gun Parts Corp. says almost all of the parts are interchangeable through the four different models.

Yes, it was evidently made by High Standard. If you can find a picture of a model 34 High standard, you'll see it's pretty much identical except for the stock. If you took the front portion of your stock off and looked at the receiver, they are pretty close in appearance.

The one in this listing was listed for $169.00..or something like that. Great shooter but not much value. On the other hand, I got mine for #20.00 so I guess I can't complain.

Glad I could help,
Ka6otm

graytex · « **Reply #13 on:** March 19, 2003, 10:53:27 AM »

Mine was given to me by a friend who does estate sales. I never thought it would be worth much. I just could tell it was well made and rather unusual. Thanks for the help!

Flash · « **Reply #14 on:** April 04, 2003, 01:51:06 PM »

Graytex, my Dad owns one of these and has had it since the early 70's. He bought it in Baltimore where Sears had a major catalog/distribution store. With Balto. being a major hub of Motgomery Ward and Sears, there were always odd Ted Williams and J. C. Higgins articles showing up in the local newspaper. The thin piece of wood on the receiver gives an example of the uncommon craftsmanship, as does the retractable sling. Even though your rifle is of fairly low value, it is still a fine example of the "Old Hardware Store" 22's.

Flash · « **Reply #15 on:** April 04, 2003, 02:12:58 PM »

Also, according to my reference,(Gun Digest 1962) the J.C. Higgins Model 31 was introduced that year and cost $44.95.

Ka6otm · « **Reply #16 on:** April 05, 2003, 06:09:30 AM »

Hi Flash,

BTW, Flash was my nickname in the Army. Always liked it but can't use it on forums as it is almost invariably taken on most of them.

Hate to say it but the Gun Digest is wrong about the Model 31. Mine is absolutely a Model 31 by the engraving on the barrel and I got it used in 1957.

Ka6otm

Flash · « **Reply #17 on:** April 05, 2003, 06:21:37 AM »

Ka6otm,
This is believable because it also lists the Lyman 310 tool as a new product and this has been around since the dawn of time. My Dad kept references of most of his guns and we never had found any material printed about this gun before that date. We never contacted High Standard about the gun and always felt that this was the begining of the 31. Thanks for sharing that with me. Do you know when it was introduced?

Ka6otm · « **Reply #18 on:** April 05, 2003, 09:31:10 AM »

Flash,

Sorry, but I can't help you about when the Model 31 was introduced. This one I have, purchased in 1957, belonged to a friend of my father. He had owned it for around 2 years by then, so he bought it new around 1955. I shot this rifle for 2 years before buying it as the friend used to go shooting with us whenever we went and, as a kid then, I loved the idea of shooting semi-autos. He was single and had no relatives within 2000 miles, so we were extended family, I guess.

By the way, this really shows you how times have changed...for the worse. I bought this gun (with my father's permission) when I was in grade school. I used to go downtown to the local Sporting Goods store and buy .22 LR shells without my Dad being with me, too.

Funny but....we never had any school shootings then and all of my friends owned guns and we went off into the woods with them on a regular basis and shot up things...

However, that doesn't mean that 1955 was the introduction either...might be and might not be. I really don't know.

Ka6otm

Lisa · « **Reply #19 on:** December 14, 2008, 07:48:41 PM »

I also have a JC Higgins .22 Model 31 with a retractable strap. I have tried very hard to find out any information I can about it and you are the only other person that I have seen with one. Here's what I know about it---My grandfather bought it new from Sears in 1955 or 56 for my father. He doesn't remeber the exact year but around the time he was 14 or 15 yrs old. Sears had recently gotten a contract with JC Higgins to supply guns for their stores or had actuaaly bought out JC Higgins. I'm not sure about which story is correct. My father gave the gun to me when I turned 13.
The gun itself is such a sweet rifle. I can drive nails with it. I remember learning how to shoot very well as I would hunt quail and dove using it. It has a few features that I have yet to see in any other guns. The retractable strap being one. The second is that it takes long or short bullets. I believe it's 25 longs or 28 shorts. You can also load long or short together. It doesn't matter.
I'm not sure what the original cost of the gun was or what it is worth now. Though it really doesn't matter as I have decided to give it to my grandson when he turns 13.
I hoped this helped you a little. Anymore information would be appreciated.
Lisa

Lisa · « **Reply #20 on:** December 14, 2008, 09:00:13 PM »

Well.... I was wrong on some iformation. Hope this helps. It's a great site and you can find many manuals there. They actually have the owners manual for the JC Higgins Model 31. It's a copy of the original manual. Follow this link thedisease.net/?ejaculate=library&your_poison=Firearms+Manuals
and at top you will see Library. Click it open. Then to left click the +. Under Weapons you will find Firearms Manuals. Then just scroll down to JC Higgins. Its all alphabetical. Very vintage!!! Have fun!!!.
Lisa

Keith L · « **Reply #21 on:** December 14, 2008, 11:18:21 PM »

Hi Lisa,

Thanks for the information. Sounds like an interesting old gun.

I was surprised to see this post. I don't know if you looked at the dates on the thread, but it is nearly six years old. I haven't heard from many of those who posted to it for a good long time. Maybe it will generate some new interest.

Welcome aboard GBO. I think you will like it here.

Ladobe · « **Reply #22 on:** December 15, 2008, 03:58:54 AM »

I too have a JC Higgins Model 31 I got new as a kid in about 1958 or 1959. I also picked up both period correct scopes for it later, the J.C. Higgins Rifleman and Rifleman Jr. While they are a very fine rifle in their own right, they have not drawn much collector interest or value, so getting the right information on them is a huge undertaking. I took it on some time back... and only accepted what I found reference to in at least 2-3 places.

These rifles were made by High Standard for Sears from 1953 to 1962, and supposedly in 4 versions (583.70, 583.71, 583.72, 583.74) that included up to engraved models. But even that is not totally correct, because my rifle is a 583.75 (does have the sling, maybe better wood, fit and finish, but not engraved). As far as I have ever been able to confirm, they are not a model that High Standard ever listed in their lineup for sale under the "High Standard" name, but rather a contract gun made exclusively for Sears under the J.C. Higgins moniker despite some references to the HS mod 31. IE, the JC Higgins moniker was generally used for contract guns made for Sears from 1946-1962 by Browning, High Standard, Marlin, Mossberg, Savage, Stevens, Winchester, etc. Some were standard models already offered by those companies, but with less frills so they could be sold cheaper by Sears to be more competitive (lower quality wood, finish, features, etc). But not all of them... some were models made just for Sears.

Value is a product of supply and demand, but even that is speculative as there is not much interest in these by collectors. Too bad as it is a very finely made rifle with huge ammo capacity, is very reliable and way accurate enough for serious hunting and not just plinking. Mine is as clean as it was the day it was bought and still functions flawlessly. I never did get around to mounting the scopes on it though - not sure what is the correct period mounts.

None of this is etched in stone folks, just what a ton of research turned up abbreviated in a nutshell. Regardless, a fine rifle well worth what ever you have to pay for one if you want to shoot an old school semi auto that was probably mostly hand made and so will probably last several lifetimes.

Larry