mossberg/ westernfields anybody got some to

[duke21]

just checking to see if anyone outhere has any mossberg/ westernfield guns that they want to show off.   i have begun collecting primarily westernfield firearms which where sold by monty wards.    as most of you know majority of westernfields are mossbergs,  there are also savages, marlins, and a few others mixed in.   i have 6 or 7 of the westernfield/ mossys,  and a couple westernfield/ savages included a sweet 22 pump gun.   i like the old mossbergs a lot.   just want to see if there is anything i havent seen before or is real rare.   does anyone know of a store brand collectors group?   i am into the westernfields,  and i have a freind into the old sears JC HIGGINS  brand.  

thanks so much

d :lol:

[EVOC ONE]

My only Western Fields are shotguns. I have a 20 ga pump and bolt action, both made by Mossberg.

I like buying the store brands. They are often inexpensive versions of decent firearms.  Currently they are unique to me because I doubt we'll ever see department store labels on firearms again. They bring back fond memories of the fine sporting goods departments that were found at Sears and Montgomery Ward, etc.  Our local Wards had tents set up, motor boats and canoe's on display and a decent hunting and fishing section.

I am looking at a Revelation .22 semi-auto at a local pawn shop that is a Marlin Mod 60 variation, but I am puzzled by what looks like peep sight holes drilled into the side of the receiver.  It's unique to me, but I'm undecided.

My current store brand collection includes J.C. Higgins, Sears, Roebuck & Co, Revelation and Western Field.

EVOC ONE

[duke21]

 hey thanks for getting back to me,  i really thought we would see more feedback on this thread.   what do you have on the higgins?   an old friend of mine has probably 10 or more,  mostly rimfires that where made by savage and high standard.   he even has a higgins 22 semi auto pistol made by high standard, which is a sweet shooter.  I know he has a couple revovlers as well, but one of the high standard type revovlers frame cracked and cant find one, even from numric.   would love to hear avoutr youdr guns more

d :-)

[EVOC ONE]

I was curious what type of response your post would get as well.  

The store brands are not very popular and one rarely reads any write ups on them.  I've seen questions in the magazines for time to time regarding someone who has had one handed down to them and the replies are the same, "There is little or no collector value or interest in the store labled models".

No problem.  It keeps the prices down.

As a hobby I enjoy buying guns in need of TLC and refurbishing them.  The store brands are plentiful in this regard.  I look them over well and don't usually pick up anything that needs more than a part or two or re-finishing.

I recently picked up a Sears Mod 200 for $95.  I refinished the wood and metal.  It needed no parts and shoots just fine.  Its actually a plain version of a Winchester Mod 1200.  I really didn't need to do anything to it.  It was just a good project.

Both of my Higgins are shotguns.  A 16 ga. and a 12 ga.  The 12 ga is not on the recall list Sears put out a few years back.  It has a blonde stock with a black tip.  Kinda cheezy, but a product of its era.  The 16 ga has a beautiful walnut stock and was well maintained by its previous owner.  The bluing is exellent.  I picked up the 12 for $59 and the 16 for $69.

None of my store brands are rifles.  But I'm looking!   As I previously mentioned, I just havn't settled for anything yet.

I find it interesting discussing them.  There were so many variations and models.

EVOC ONE

[duke21]

hey EVOC ONE

you and i seem to think quite a bit alike.   to heck with this misguide crap about store brands being inferior.   In most cases they are simply standard mossys, remmis, winchesters, whatever, that  have been dressed down a bit to sell for a cheaper price,  or dressed up a bit to make them seem more exclusive than the major brands.   If that means i can get them for less money,  more power to us.   They still function and shoot the same as the name brands .    I barely remember being able to got to sears and wards to see the sporting goods departments ,  i even remember the western auto stores and most major hardware stores having gunrooms.    i think those days are gone for good.   My dad has an 1917 or ? Enfield rifle that sears supposed sold back in the day to him.   my grandfathers shotguns where jc higgins from sears,  so you can see i get it honest.    

keep in touch and good luck hunting for new finds.   if you like we can be on the look out for each other.

d

[EVOC ONE]

I agree.  If either of us add's to our collection we could post on this thread or PM each other.

Good luck and enjoy!

EVOC ONE

[duke21]

hey Evoc,

since we seem to both be into the store brands, i would love to stay in touch with you.   being new to this type of communication i dont know how to email you.   let me know. and i will save your address

thanks

d

[EVOC ONE]

If you look at the bottom of each post there are small boxes indicating "Profile" "Friend" "Ignore" "PM" (personnal message) or "Email"

Click on "PM" in one of my posts and another page comes up with a box where a message can be written.  My Log-on name should already be addressed at the top.  Type in your message and send it.

When you initially log onto the site there will be an indication on the upper right of the page indicating whether you have a personnal message or not.

The PM is an exellent service provided by the administration which allows members to communicate without posting a private e-mail address on a public forum.  Personnal e-mails can be sent through the PM's without all to see, with exception of the GB administration.

I'll send you a PM.

EVOC ONE

[Victor3]

I have a Western Field Savage Mod 6 22 auto. I recently sold a WF Moss 500 pump 12 ga.

I have an old J.C. Higgins 9 shot 22 "hog leg" style revolver (H&R?) and several Ted Williams (Also Sears) items like a Weaver K4 scope and airguns made by Crosman.

It's interesting that Sears specified that their Crosman airguns be a bit higher class than the standard models. Better wood, white-line spacers, different stock contours, etc. Never seen that on the firearms with their stamp on them - They all seem to be standard models with just the name changed.

[duke21]

victor, thanks for replying back.   sounds you have a few of the store brands as well that is cool.   i am not familar with the particualr savage you have, i will try to find a pic of it.   Now you mentiioned the revolver.   What do you know about it?   I got into H and R revovlers kinda as a qurik when i popped off to my JC HIGGINs collecting freind that it was not fair,  there are Higgins brand handguns, but i could not find a one, in westernfield.   His collection was a bit neater because he had some nice revolvers  and i had none that said Westernfield.   So while we were at an auction one day looking at revovlers and black powder stuff,  we started looking at some old H and R and older colts.   I ended up buying a real cool old H and R 922 with octaganal barrel and 9 shot cyl in 22 .   I got this brilliant idea that if i couldnt have westernfield revolvers and pistols that i would collect some H and R ,  couldnt let me friend out do  me, you know!!   I now have probably 10 or so H and R revolvers,  from little pint sized pocket pistols to cowboy styled double action jobs.   So needless to say you have  a store brand revolver i would love to know more about it.   I had gotten myself into a finacial pickle several months ago and couldint really figure out what i was doing wrong.   Then i realized how many firearms i had helped my friend buy and he hadnt paid me back on any of them.  So being upset with myself,  i kinda quit buying cold turkey for a long time.   Then as kind of a fluke,  i was bored one day and frustrated at he shop and decided to go to gunbroker online.   What do you know,  there is a WESTERNFIELD  revolver!!!   Can you imagine my suprise.   It  is a iver johnson,  which made some good oldies,  that is not perfect, but it is a shooter and says westernfield(  can you feel my excitement)    Sorry to ramble on,  just got excited,  my dad doesnt even understand my passion for store brand guns,   guess it all relates to another era of time gone by.   I really dont think we will ever see major stores have there own brands again.   The closest we came was with wally world selling firearms,   I thought for sure they would subcontract some of there own brands,  but for liability reasons probably decided against that.   If you have any pics i would love to see them .   Also like i told evoc who responded about,  i would not mind keeping in touch when we find one for sale the other guy might want.

good hunting,

d :grin:

[Victor3]

Here are a couple of pics. I'm not positive it's an H&R -  Just going from memory of when I saw something that looked just like it in an old Numrich catalog years ago...





I have a soft spot for Sears stuff. I spent a lot of time in the Santa Monica CA store growing up. The original building is still there, and I've been meaning to take my son there. I understand that they are thinking of tearing it down. I have hundreds of Craftsman tools from my father, including some machines like a power hacksaw, bandsaw, table saw and drill press. All 50's and earlier vintage stuff. I used to have a lathe and mill also.

My Dad and I also spent a good number of nights in Montgomery Wards, Western Auto, White Front, Fedco, JC Penney and other stores that I still have all kinds of doo-dads from, many being major brand items re-badged with store names. Everything from chrome Eveready flashlights to BB guns. For me, links to simpler times that I would like to remember. I think that is the attraction to store brands in my case...

[duke21]

victor, sorry i missed your pics,  must have gotten sidetracked somehow.  i tend to get lost on rimfirecentral once in a while especially getting onto the subject of 22's .   darn this stuff is addictive.   anyhow,  that is a sweet little revolver.   is this the higgins you are speaking of?  get the model number off of it and we will try to figure out what it is.   I think most higgins handguns are actually high standards,   a buddy had one similar to your and it was a sweet shooter, but somehow the frame cracked and has not been able to get a replacement.     thanks for your feedback and sorry for the delay!!!

god bless


duke21

[jayj]

I have a Westernfield Model 815 22 Cal. Single Shot had from 1960's.With a Mossberg S330 Peep Sight

[35Rem]

Victor3, that looks like a Hi Standard Double Nine.  My Dad has one.

I have a Coast to Coast Hardware store brand bolt action 410, think it' s a Stevens.  

I like the store brand guns for the same reasons.  It's a pice of Americana that's gone for good.  I'm not that old (26), but I remember going into Service Merchandise as a youngster ang drooling on their guns.  
Dad's had a couple of guns from Sears or J.C. Penny's in years past, too.

[Duckbill]

I've got an old Wards Westernfield mod 32A which is an actual Mossberg 20/21.  It's a small single shot .22 rifle.

[Phoneman]

Hey guys
Been thinking of buying one of the old .22's. There is a small gun shop near me that has a ton of old mossberg and westernfield. some H&R pistols. most are in pretty good shape. peep sights that flip to the side and adjustable front sights. What is the accuracy of these things?

[duke21]

hey, phoneman,

where in blue blazes are you at?    a gun store with a bunch of mossys and westernfields and a few h and r guns.   i am game.  these are all up my alley!!!!    around here,  those are not very common to see on the shelfs at all.   i am in western indiana, if this joint is anywhere around here , i am gone!!!!    i collect the westernfields which is mostly mossberg, but also have a couple savage,  an iver johnson revolver and ohters that all say westernfield on them.    i also have a few neat H&R revolvers,  including a 949 western style,  a 922 with otagonal barrel, and a hole slew of the small pocket guns.    i really wish H&R would still make their handguns, they where really decent inexpensive little guns.   For that matter, i REALLY wish mossberg still made a domestic 22 rifle.   

oh well, glad to here about all these store brand guns

god bless,

duke21

[Phoneman]

he has a web sight that lists all his guns. exnerssportsmansparadise.com  I think someone bought the h&r pistols. I'm going to buy the mossberg 141 he has listed.

[duke21]

thanks phoneman, i will look him up.   i recently added another to the family.   it is a western field bolt action 22.  it is very similar to the mossberg model 46b which is a very good rifle.    i have already stripped and refinished the stock,  man does it look a different gun now.   it has the factory 4 position front site with removalble hood.  a nice barrel site, and i just added factory type s-130 peep site to it.   i also installed factory swivels and will be looking for an older leather sling next.   i even polished some of the scratches out of the plastic butt plate.    the barrel is a little thin on blue, but the rifleing is real sweet and she feeds and fires just fine.   i have rough sited it in ,  but not at the range yet. 

also put a new bushnell 3-9 x 30 scope on the westernfield version of the mossberg palomino lever action 22.   i have it shooting pretty straight, but still need to work on the eye relief a bit.   I am finding myself bobbing my head back and forth trying to get the view want without tunnel vision .   gotta spend more than just a few minutes wtih it and get that part right.   squirrel season opens in a couple weeks and i am itching to go.    thought about going crow hunting, but dont have any experinece in doing so this time of year.

talk at you later, hopefully with some pics

duke21