jc higgins 20 gauge bolt action

[pops42]

can yall tell me what a j c higgins 20 gauge bolt action tube fed in real good shape is worth ,i dont know the model number of it ,

[Buffalochip]

Could be High Standard or H&R, 1961 or earlier. Markings? Pics?

[goofy]

Can you find any other markings or numbers? It could be alot of guns because jc higgins guns were made by other co. It could be a high standerd mod. 514 but with out more info or pic. I can not say for sure. Can you post some or more info?...................GOOFY

[pops42]

i will have pictures and hopefully some more numbers in a week or so when it gets here,i paid 150 for it and that was with the shipping ,with it being in real good shape i dont recken i paid to much for it ,i was looking for it in my books and came up with what yall did about where it was made by a bunch of differnt ones ,when i get it here i will put up the pictuers and numbers on it

[pops42]

well i finally got some pics of my 20gauge ,and here it is ,i am thinking about just turning it into a sluggun but havent made up my mind yet ,anyone now about what year it is ,it is tube fed and holds 3 shells

[Jim Hauff]

To ME, it looks like an H&R Model 120/121 (20 ga variation was the 120). Blue Book cross reference states that 583.2 was indeed that model. Of course, to me, everything looks like an H&R:D

50007
50008

The Model 120/121 was only made 1941-'42. Sometime during or after the war, H&R sold the rights, drawings, etc to Sears which turned over manufacture to High Standard
In 100% condition (ANIB) these guns are currently selling at RETAIL for around $140 to $150;
lesser condition, let's say average 80 - 85% - sell in the $85 to $105 range.

[SGVictor]

There is a fair bit of confusion about the Harrington & Richardson models 120 and 121 and the Sears J. C. Higgins Model 10 shotguns. There are a number of references with cross references that list sever of the early Model 10 variations as being Harrington & Richardson
Here is data from the Jack First and the Numrich Gun Parts catalogs.

http://www.histandard.info/PDF/Crossref.pdf

Note that neither Numrich nor Jack First have complete listings of the Sears bolt action shotguns.

Note that some Numrich data on page 1179 contradicts their own data on page 1181

Note that both Numrich and Jack First list 583.20 as a pump shotgun model which is an error.

It is my opinion that most variations of these two catalogs form the basis for the other cross references that I have come across. The Blue Book dnd Brownells both credit Numrich for their crossover data.

The Harrington & Richardson shotgun Models 120 and 121 came in 16 and 20 Gauge where as the Sears Model 10 came in 12 , 16 and 20 gauge.
Early examples of the two brands do look alike externally right down to the style of rubber recoil pad. With the stock off there are some obvious differences. The Numrich parts picture of the models 120 and 121 are different from the High Standard shotgun. Specifically the lugs that are the mounting points for the magazine tube, the sear and the trigger are different from the High Standard shotguns. The H&R uses three attachment pieces while HS uses only two. There is a H&R patent that has an illustration that looks more like the High Standard than the pictures in the Numrich catalog
.
This patent is often cited as proof that H&R owned the design and the illustrations suggest that they are similar. However the patent if not for the shotgun design but for a feature for bolt action guns that automatically applies the safety whenever the bolt is cycled Since the Model 10 did not have this feature the patent is not really a persuasive argument.

The recoil pad for the first few years of the Model 10 and the H&R model do look alike. I would propose that both High Standard and H&R both bought the pads from the same vendor. I have removed the pad from my 583.1 and there is no name or any other identifying marks on the rubber. High Standard appears to have changed the recoil pad design with the introduction of the Sears Model 20 pump action shotgun beginning at 583.53.

My model 10, 583.1 has a stamped steel stock reinforcement which is covered by a Post war High Standard patent
High Standard began selling shotguns to the gun trade in 1940. The earliest ship date I have found is January 3, 1940 and the shipping records slit a large number of well known gun dealers and distributor. Sears was one of the customers but was not a significant percentage od the shipments. These gusn continued shipments during the war with the customers being a who’s who of the defense plants.- High Standard manufacturing C0( the machinegun company), A C Spark Division, Foot Brothers Gear, Ford Motor, Springfield Armory, Pontiac Cadillac International Harvester, Flannery Bolt, Guide, Lamp Ithaca, United States Treasury Frigidaire, L c Smith Corona, Buick, American Locomotive, Carrier, Auto-Ordnance, O. F. Mossberg, Bullard, Singer, Smith & Wesson, Remington Rand, Colt, Nash Kelvinator, Lycoming, Wright Aeronautical and many others. After the war, several of these war time customers continued buying these but the majority were being shipped to the normal commercial gun trade. High Standard was in a good position to reenter the shotgun market after the war.
These guns could well have been designed by High Standard’s owner Gus Swebilius without any input from H&R. Swebilius had risen from barrel driller to chief engineer for Marlin in the 1920’s and had several dozen gun design patents including rifles, and the Marlin aircraft machinegun and the synchronizer which allowed the machine gun to fire within the propeller arc without hitting the propeller. Later after founding High Standard he continued to work as a gun designer for Winchester up until the time High Standard received an large order for .50 caliber M-2 machineguns. Swebilius had done a lot of pump and semi-auto shotgun experimental designs

The High Standard designation for the Model 10 sold to Sears was BA-1 and there are roll marks in the log that shows that Sears was not the only customer. This is different from the Model 20 which Sears commissioned High Standard to design develop and manufacture exclusively for Sears. High Standard did not sell any guns designed for Sears at Sears expense until 1960. In my opinion, the fact that the BA-1 was sold to multiple customers suggests that Sears did not in fact own that design.

The Sears identification numbers 583.1 and higher are composed like the other identification number of the vendor number (583 is for High Standard) and the rest of the number defines the model and variation of of that model. Several have argued that 583 was an in house number buth that flies in the face if the fact that there were several revolvers and a pistok with 583 designations which were not sears owned designs nor were they exclusive for sears. High Standard began selling the police style revolver at the same time as Sears and the Western design revolvers and the Dura-Matic was dold by High Standard before they were offered to Sears.

Another fallacy related to the Sears model 10 is the recall of this model, Sears was apparently confused as to just what to recall since they stated that they were recalling 12 Gauge Model 10’s and the n they list Sears identification number that include all three gauges but they omitted the 583.17A.

Several people on the gun forums say that the guns are safe and that the problem occurs when the owner does not properly tighten the bolt retention screw and when the screw falls out, the bolt can be pulled back into the shooter’s face. That certainly is a plausible story and probably did happen more than once.

However, the real problem has to do with the receiver failing such that the part of the receiver that provides the recoil support to the primary locking ( the base of the bolt handle) cracks and the secondary locking lug is not sufficient to stand the load of the firing shell. I have from the High Standard records photos of these failures and it is not a pretty sight. The photos clearly show the failed receiver and failed secondary locking lug.

I would love to discuss any primary evidence that contradicts what I have said above. Although this is what I believe today , research is never done and all I want is the true and correct story.

John Stimson
www.histandard.info

[north tex]

Wow.. That looks just like a 16 guage one I used back in the late 50's - early 60's. Don't remember any details about it. My brother ended up with it.

[Jim Hauff]

John,
Thanks for the great INFO - I'm adding it to my research files, if you don't mind.

[ozo]

If I had this in my possession,
no matter the value, I would never part with it.
This is pure proof of 'simple and reliable'............
before our world became so complex.
These guns, many like it I have 'lost'
over the years, with but a little TLC,
will function and out-live many owners. :cool:

[ozo]

BTW.......excellent post John !

[SGVictor]

Here are photos From the High Standard archives of a failed Sears J. C. Higgins mode 10 ID number 583.16 . Note this is one of the 12 Gauge Model 10's recalled by Sears.

Note broken stock which I would assume was caused by the bolt opening and allowing gas to escape.

http://www.histandard.info/SCRATCH11/583-16%20failure%20%20no%201.jpg

In the next photo you can see there the receiver fractured ( the area just above the safety) which allowed the bolt to blow back.

http://www.histandard.info/SCRATCH11/583-16%20Failure%20%20no2.jpg

The following photo shows part of the receiver that the bolt locked against is missing.

http://www.histandard.info/SCRATCH11/583-16%20Failure%20%20No3.jpg



John Stimson
www.histandard.info

[SGVictor]

Jim, certainly you may add this to your files and share it as you see fit. This is what my research to date makes me believe but Research is never done and books are simply progress reports on the status of the author's current research.


John Stimson
www.histandard.info

[Jim Hauff]

John,
Thanks!
I agree wholeheartedly about books as "unfinished business" - it seems like every couple months something "newly discovered" turns up. e.g. This past week I learned that there is a 2nd Variation of the H&R DOUBLE ACTION Model 1880 - on another forum a gent who also collects these older H&Rs had a fine example and shared photos which he graciously allowed me to add to my files, also. Too late to get this into Bill G's H&R book, but certainly something to look for in the future of my collection - 1880s just don't show up that often - I bought the two that I came across.

[pops42]

so i recken ,it is safe to say i didnt to to bad buy picking this one up for about 100$,and now i will see just how long this old gun will last ,and i know i will own it till i aint here anymore then one of my boys will have it ,i would like to know though about what year it was made is there any way i can find that out?,i thank yall for all the info on it so far ,and now i recken i will start the hunt for a 410bolt action ,thank yall again

[SGVictor]

A 583.22 is a late variation and later ones might have an assembly date code on the barrel - usually the left side just froward of the receiver. The assembly date code is in the form of two upper case letters.

No earlier than early 1952 or later than about 1958. They began phasing in the model 11 in late 1957. The model 11 replaced teh model 10.

[pops42]

ok ,thanks i will look on it for them

[north tex]

and now i recken i will start the hunt for a 410bolt action



Now I do have one of them, but it is a Stevens with a box magazine. One of my favorite shooters.

[pops42]

i bet it is , that is the only one i dont have i have a pump a sidexside ad a couple of single shots and would love to have a bolt action to go with them

[pops42]

i did not see any letters on it ,so does this mean it was made around then ?

[SGVictor]

No assembly date code means before December 1956 and it was after January 1952

[pops42]

ok thanks for the info. and to think it is that old and shoots as good as it does ,yep this one wont go anywhere

[Rayman]

I just aquired the .410 version Jc higgens model 10125..it shoots grrreat ..finish was damaged so i did a Flat black / Od green paint to it .. looks great and is now one of my varmint guns here in Tx.