jc higgins model 50 fn

[simplicity]

I just bought a jc higgins model 50 fn in 30-06, everything I have found says the rifle was made before either 62 or 64. Anyone know where I could find a date of manuacture? The rifle is in probly 80-90% I picked it up for 350 tax and all.( also came with rings and mounts) Anyone have one would like to hear the praises and gripes alike. It's a nice feeling rifle, I haven't shot it yet I'm waiting till after deer season to swap some scopes around I have a nikon 3-9 for it. Thanks for any info.

[john keyes]

sounds like a bitchin rifle

please post some pics   

there was one for sale near me, dude wanted $400 but it was nice

[bcp]

I've had several.  None now.  Some reading attached.

Bruce

[simplicity]

Do you know the date on that add?

[bcp]

I found  the ad on the internet some time ago.  No idea what year.

Bruce

[GatCat]

You might remove the barrel action from the stock, perhaps a date is stamped below the wood line, bottom of barrel?
Mark

[gwindrider1]

Typical FN quality on these rifles.  They are good! 

I did a bedding/accuracy job on one for a friend, and found one thing that is a potential problem.  The trigger on this particular example was hinged/pinned to the bottom metal with a long projection from the sear coming down to meet it.  What I am trying to describe is that the trigger is not attached to the action.  There is a small spring under the trigger to make it return to contact with the sear projection after firing.  If you are not very careful when you reassemble the stock to the action, it is very easy to get this small spring in a bound up situation, which will cause it to bend.

BTW, this little spring is the only way to adjust trigger pull on one of these.  Taking one or two coils off it will decrease trigger pull.  If your rifle is set up as I have described, be very careful when you reassemble it!

Best of luck with your new rifle!

[RWH24]

I just bought a jc higgins model 50 fn in 30-06, everything I have found says the rifle was made before either 62 or 64. Anyone know where I could find a date of manuacture? The rifle is in probly 80-90% I picked it up for 350 tax and all.( also came with rings and mounts) Anyone have one would like to hear the praises and gripes alike. It's a nice feeling rifle, I haven't shot it yet I'm waiting till after deer season to swap some scopes around I have a nikon 3-9 for it. Thanks for any info.

http://www.histandard.info/PDF/Sears%20CF%20Rifles.pdf

Good Page and Info

[Swampman]

Excellent rifles and a great scope choice.  I use one on my .30-06.

[Huffmanite]

From what I remember about the J.C. Higgins/Sears model 50 when I did some research on this model about 8 months ago,  it was built by High Standard useing a FN mauser action.   I seem to remember a chart done by John Stimson that showed when the model 50, 51, 52 were listed in Sears catalogs and I believe the model 50 had been dropped out of Sears catalogs by around 1953 and was replaced by the model 51, which was not made by High Standard.  Mr. Stimson has many of the manufacturing records of High Standard and is quite a source of knowledge on High Standard products and their manufacture.  Here is another Stimson chart with some dates of manufacture of the model 50.

http://www.histandard.info/models/private/Sears/SearsCenter.html

[Savage_99]

The Sears M51 was a checkered stock version of the M50.  Both had the FN action.  My late dad made tooling for High Standard and I was with him when he picked up two new M51's from High Standard in about 1955.

I still have his M51 with the FN action.

[Huffmanite]

Savage 99, thanks for correcting my error on saying the model 51 was not made by High Standard.  Must have been with the model 52 that Sears used either Husqvarna or Sako, forget which, for supplying their larger bore rifles.

[ourway77]

Have a JC Higgins 222 Sako action a real shooter for a old rifle. These were made when pride was taken in building them. High standard assemble them using a L-461 sako actions the 26" barrels? nice walnut stock. I shoot it all the time for ground hogs.Scope with a 12X Leupold, shooting 50 grain bullets. Wouldn't sell it for any amount. Lou

[lucky guy]

Savage 99, thanks for correcting my error on saying the model 51 was not made by High Standard.  Must have been with the model 52 that Sears used either Husqvarna or Sako, forget which, for supplying their larger bore rifles.

Husqvarna made at least some of them, saw a nice one a couple days ago in 06, nice condition, asking 350.

[ourway77]

Just saw the post I have a 222 JC Higgins bolt action that has a Sako L-46 action and from what I understand they were assembled by High satandard. Depending on which model it could have been assembled by huskavarna depending on what store sold them and what model. Montgomery Ward sold rifles and shotguns by mossberg. The action on the 222 is Sako stock ? barrel? It's a shooter for as old a rifle it is. Workmanship in those days was far superior to todays rifles, most anyway not all. When i got it the fellow told me it was immaculate well it is beautiful but the barrel is pitted, while not too bad it still shoots like a house a fire. Lou

[mrussel]

From what I remember about the J.C. Higgins/Sears model 50 when I did some research on this model about 8 months ago,  it was built by High Standard useing a FN mauser action.   I seem to remember a chart done by John Stimson that showed when the model 50, 51, 52 were listed in Sears catalogs and I believe the model 50 had been dropped out of Sears catalogs by around 1953 and was replaced by the model 51, which was not made by High Standard.  Mr. Stimson has many of the manufacturing records of High Standard and is quite a source of knowledge on High Standard products and their manufacture.  Here is another Stimson chart with some dates of manufacture of the model 50.

http://www.histandard.info/models/private/Sears/SearsCenter.html

 Those were the days when Sears sold good stuff. I have one of their shotguns. Its a JC Higgins model 20 pump action 12 ga. I have no complaints about it. Back then quality was something companies worried about. A Mauser action made by FN rather than the cheapest lowest grade piece of junk is a testament to those good old days,which were unfortunately before I was born. Just to add insult to injury,you could order one from the catalog and have it shipped right to your house and a waiting period in those days was the time you waited,between dropping the order form in the mail and when the postman brought you that big long box.