Remembering the Past: The Forgotten World of Sears Firearms
Andrew opens the book on Sears and Roebuck’s long-forgotten history as one of the nation’s biggest gun sellers. From J.C. Higgins to Ted Williams, discover why these guns might be worth more than just nostalgia.
Ahh yes, the good old days before the mindless anti gun mobs were in control.. My grandfather, my dad's stepfather, passed away when I was very young and some of the things he left behind were shared amongst the families members.. He had a Singer 1911 single action Army, ?,, pistol and a leather flap holster that went to a family member from his side.. I was too young to realize what I was holding in my hands back then and have often wondered where it ended up.. JD
Great memories. In the early 80's I worked the gun counter at Montgomery Ward. Sold some really nice revolvers in those days. And with little fuss. Cheers!
Proud owner of a Western Field bolt action, magazine fed 12-gauge goose gun. It was originally purchased by my bride's stepdad, and I think it was made for Monkey Wards by Savage. It's very clean and functions flawlessly. Tom, its original owner, died in a car wreck just a few years after he bought it and it rattled around the family until it was bequeathed to me.
Still have my dad's Western Field. 410 bolt action tube fed hanging on the wall. I remember him having me shoot it when I was around 7 years old. I landed. My ass in snow, still remember him snickering...
65 yrs ago went to Sears with my mom, "which one do you want?" I pointed. We walked out of Sears with a war surplus Lee Enfield bolt action. ... $12.95.... Mom and Sears were awesome. Those were the days !!!!! A homogenous law abiding culture.
I've had a JC Penney's bolt action rifle made by Parker-Hale and a Sears 30-30 lever, both long gone. Used to be all those department stores had a sporting goods section with at least a few guns in them.
Most of my firearms came from Sears or Ace hardware. I still have boxes of ammo with Ace hardware price stickers. Had to go downtown for Sears, Ace was walking distance.
Monkey Wards had a catalog store in town. I bought truck tires, clothes, boots, ammo, firearms from them. I do not recall ever one problem in late delivery, wrong size, or anything.
Yup. J.C. Higgins Model 50. Commercial 98 Mauser action by Fabrique Nationale, barrel by High Standard. Referred to as "The Cadillac rifle with the dime store pedigree". It was a serious competitor to the Winchester Model 70 in its day. And you get to write "NSN" on the form 4473.
Still have my copy of the 19th edition "Gun Parts" catalog just for its complete cross-over list of store brands to manufacturer.
Dad's favorite places to shop for firearms - Sears and Western Auto. He told me that they bought my first rifle (Winchester 250 lever action 22) from Western Auto.
I still have my grandfather's Hiawatha 12g shotgun that he bought from Gambles.
I have my grandfather's Ted Williams magazine fed bolt action 22LR. It has the military peep sight and I thought it was made by Savage for years. I lost the magazine and there was not a Savage mag that fit it. The 7 round Winchester mag fit. It turned out Winchester won the bid to supply Sears with the bolt action magazine fed rifle for 2 years and I have one.
As a kid, I learned to hunt with my Grandfather's 'Ted Williams' 12 g bolt action (Sears). Sadly, when he got sick, my grandmother got rid of all his weapons.
Bought a model 20 JC Higgins 12 guage with the cutts compensator back in the mid 70's when I was a teen for 40 bucks. From clay pigeons all way to geese,I swear I couldn't miss with that gun.
I remember that. Sold Sheridon or Benjamin pellet rifles. Silver and bule streak. Wood stock. Those pellets are $29-49 now and the rifles can go for 400. Never mowed enough yard to buy one back.then
as soon as I could hold a rifle and go hunting, my next thing was a Ted Williams hunting jacket that my grandfather bought in the 1950's. wool liner, big inside pockets for the handwarmers, a lined "game pocket" on the back that I used to carry my lunch. it was way too big for me but a few sweaters took up the extra space, and being able to pull my hands into the sleeves to keep them extra warm was a bonus. I still have it. doesn't fit me any more. I've yet to find anything close to it.
We still have several J.C. Higgins bolt action shotguns. Also, a few bolt action 22s. One of the 22s is marked for shooting Shorts, Longs, and Long Rifle.
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Ahh yes, the good old days before the mindless anti gun mobs were in control..
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather, my dad's stepfather, passed away when I was very young and some of the things he left behind were shared amongst the families members.. He had a Singer 1911 single action Army, ?,, pistol and a leather flap holster that went to a family member from his side.. I was too young to realize what I was holding in my hands back then and have often wondered where it ended up..
JD
Great memories. In the early 80's I worked the gun counter at Montgomery Ward. Sold some really nice revolvers in those days. And with little fuss. Cheers!
ReplyDeleteMy Single-Six Convertible was purchased at Wards in 1969. Cost $69.40.
DeleteIncluding tax.
A friend of mine has a Marlin 30/30 that is branded "Western Auto".
ReplyDeleteA good friend of mine 40 years ago had a Western Auto single action in 357 magnum.
DeleteHere is a great story about Marlin which made the firearms for Western Auto, MW, Coast to Coast Hardware, and others.
Deletehttps://www.msgo.com/threads/the-marlin-story.91995/https://www.msgo.com/threads/the-marlin-story.91995
Proud owner of a Western Field bolt action, magazine fed 12-gauge goose gun. It was originally purchased by my bride's stepdad, and I think it was made for Monkey Wards by Savage. It's very clean and functions flawlessly. Tom, its original owner, died in a car wreck just a few years after he bought it and it rattled around the family until it was bequeathed to me.
ReplyDeleteStill have my dad's Western Field. 410 bolt action tube fed hanging on the wall. I remember him having me shoot it when I was around 7 years old. I landed. My ass in snow, still remember him snickering...
Delete"Proud owner of a Western Field bolt action, magazine fed 12-gauge goose gun" 36" barrel?
Delete65 yrs ago went to Sears with my mom, "which one do you want?" I pointed. We walked out of Sears with a war surplus Lee Enfield bolt action. ... $12.95.... Mom and Sears were awesome. Those were the days !!!!! A homogenous law abiding culture.
ReplyDeleteI've had a JC Penney's bolt action rifle made by Parker-Hale and a Sears 30-30 lever, both long gone. Used to be all those department stores had a sporting goods section with at least a few guns in them.
ReplyDeleteMost of my firearms came from Sears or Ace hardware. I still have boxes of ammo with Ace hardware price stickers. Had to go downtown for Sears, Ace was walking distance.
ReplyDeleteMonkey Wards had a catalog store in town. I bought truck tires, clothes, boots, ammo, firearms from them. I do not recall ever one problem in late delivery, wrong size, or anything.
DeleteI have a Sears .22 pump rifle. It's a great plinker and has served as a gateway for children and nephews.
ReplyDeleteYup. J.C. Higgins Model 50. Commercial 98 Mauser action by Fabrique Nationale, barrel by High Standard. Referred to as "The Cadillac rifle with the dime store pedigree". It was a serious competitor to the Winchester Model 70 in its day. And you get to write "NSN" on the form 4473.
ReplyDeleteStill have my copy of the 19th edition "Gun Parts" catalog just for its complete cross-over list of store brands to manufacturer.
Dad's favorite places to shop for firearms - Sears and Western Auto. He told me that they bought my first rifle (Winchester 250 lever action 22) from Western Auto.
ReplyDeleteI still have my grandfather's Hiawatha 12g shotgun that he bought from Gambles.
I've got a western auto 22 mag. And 410 bolt from sears. My first hunting gun my Dad got me 60 yrs ago.
ReplyDeleteI have my grandfather's Ted Williams magazine fed bolt action 22LR. It has the military peep sight and I thought it was made by Savage for years. I lost the magazine and there was not a Savage mag that fit it. The 7 round Winchester mag fit. It turned out Winchester won the bid to supply Sears with the bolt action magazine fed rifle for 2 years and I have one.
ReplyDeleteI still have a brick of Sears 22LR ammunition that I am working through.
ReplyDeleteMy first shotgun was a JC Higgins single shot .410. It was butt-heavy, but it handled really well.
ReplyDeleteFor all the troubles of the 60s, overall we were much freer then.
ReplyDeleteAs a kid, I learned to hunt with my Grandfather's 'Ted Williams' 12 g bolt action (Sears). Sadly, when he got sick, my grandmother got rid of all his weapons.
ReplyDeleteBought a model 20 JC Higgins 12 guage with the cutts compensator back in the mid 70's when I was a teen for 40 bucks. From clay pigeons all way to geese,I swear I couldn't miss with that gun.
ReplyDeleteAnd you could bring them to school and maybe hunt on the way home
ReplyDeletePaul J
I remember that. Sold Sheridon or Benjamin pellet rifles. Silver and bule streak. Wood stock. Those pellets are $29-49 now and the rifles can go for 400. Never mowed enough yard to buy one back.then
ReplyDeleteas soon as I could hold a rifle and go hunting, my next thing was a Ted Williams hunting jacket that my grandfather bought in the 1950's. wool liner, big inside pockets for the handwarmers, a lined "game pocket" on the back that I used to carry my lunch. it was way too big for me but a few sweaters took up the extra space, and being able to pull my hands into the sleeves to keep them extra warm was a bonus. I still have it. doesn't fit me any more. I've yet to find anything close to it.
ReplyDeleteI have my Dad's Sears .30-30, has a hairline crack in the buttstock. Nice having a caliber backup for my Stevens 325C.
ReplyDeleteWe still have several J.C. Higgins bolt action shotguns. Also, a few bolt action 22s. One of the 22s is marked for shooting Shorts, Longs, and Long Rifle.
ReplyDelete