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This is a JC Higgins 16 gauge. It was bought by my co-worker's uncle in 1954 at Sears. It had seen a lot of hunts and abuse. He wants it as a wall hanger but I believe there are a lot of good hunts still left in it. The bore is clean, and it handles well. I got 98% of the pitting off without over sanding the metal around the stamps. The wood was trashed but came out very well, considering. I want to keep the original pad with the Higgins name on it and can't find a replacement. There is a black spacer that is a permanent part of the pad and it has a small piece missing on the bottom. I will fill in the missing part with black epoxy. Not the bolt retention screw, this is why the had a recall, folks would take it out and not put it back.
Nice worthy rescue.
I have two a 16 and 20
The 20 has taken lots of bunnies and partridge for me starting way back.
IIRC and I think I do the recall was only for 12 gauge ones.
Gene L wrote: ↑Sun Mar 30, 2025 3:40 am
Good rescue. I think Mossberg made those guns for Sears.
I'm ALMOST positive that you are correct
"Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it." - Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain)
Gene L wrote: ↑Sun Mar 30, 2025 3:40 am
Good rescue. I think Mossberg made those guns for Sears.
I'm ALMOST positive that you are correct
Per the Store Brands Cross-Over list in the back of the blue book, the J.C. Higgins 583.13 through .23 were High Standard Model 10's.
The recoil pad is probably a long shot, but a search for "J.C. Higgins recoil pad" will pull up photos of pads in old cardboard boxes, so they were a "sold separately" thing at one time. The N.O.S. probably exists somewhere, but intersecting with it would be the real challenge.
Otherwise, Midway has a few that would be close enough to fake it for a functional resto.
WWJMBD?
Those who study history are destined to lose their minds watching those who don't repeat it.
JunkCollector wrote: ↑Sun Mar 30, 2025 12:05 pm
I'm positive it was H&R then High standard
The NRA agrees with you, saying it was a H&R M120
"Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it." - Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain)
Wow! It's nice to see the originals! I came close. The recall was because bubba would take the bolt retention screw out and not put it back!
Yes, it is the HS Model 10. I used their schematics and video to build a jig to strip the bolt.
Mossberg did make a bolt action shotgun and I've seen a few through the years. I haven't seen one made for Sears though they may have made them for Montgomery Ward.
The bolt action shotgun was a way for a broke butt to get multiple shots without the expense of a SxS or pump shotgun. Many I've seen were set up as goose guns. The LGS has one on the rack that has a 36 inch barrel.
Another company I'm familiar with is Crescent Arms, they made their shotguns for at least 50 different companies and had their names stamped on them. They were well made doubles for a working man and could be bought at the hardware store, but like other inexpensive guns they got no respect. The shotgun stock I spoke of in the past is a Crescent Arms and I may still restore it. Alas the semi fit stock and forend will cost $350. Against JSD's advise, I may try to build one, I found a stock blank at a gun show and have the original shattered stock as a pattern.
Bolt action shotguns in the larger gauges are not found very often in the U.K. but I remember some time back having a play about with one which I think was a Mossberg with a box magazine and a screw adjustable choke. The other I had a play with was called a Marlin 'goose Gun' with a great long barrel; a most ungainly beast. Most here are found in .410 and in the domestic market they were made by B.S.A. and Webley & Scott. I have two by the latter in 9mm. rim-fire and one in .22 shot. Here goes with those two I mentioned now I have found a photo:
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