Value/info of JC Higgins 20 ga

bigbuck270 · January 16, 2008, 01:45 PM

I have an old JC higgins 20 ga bolt action. The bbl says sears and robuck on it. I cannot find the value anywhere. Does anyone know anything about this gun?

J F Cooper · January 16, 2008, 03:11 PM

From the 1930s up to the 70s. There were several Firms making the inexpensive bolt action Shotguns, Sears used several suppliers, your gun should have a model number such as 101,23 or such. Among the many makers of Bolt action shotguns were: Hunter Arms, Stevens, Mossberg, Marlin, High Standard, Kessler, Noble and others, These guns are worth $35 to $75 depending on condition,,an occasional .410 bore will go a little higher..JFC

BigJimP · January 16, 2008, 03:11 PM

JC Higgins made them for Sears and others - I have a bolt action JC Higgins in 16ga. Mine was probably made in the 1940's / not sure.

Value on a bolt action shotgun - unless its truly in "excellent and unfired condition" which isn't likely - is proably $ 150 - $ 300. It can be a decent grouse gun or something ....depending on what the barrel is choked at.

hogdogs · January 16, 2008, 03:52 PM

Not trying to pee in anyone's wheaties but J.C. HIGGINS was a "private label" brand of sears. Like Craftsmen. There are tons of JC HIGGINS bicycles still around as well! Sears never made anything but money so the gun is "labeled" JC HIGGINS sold only at sears but built by some one else.
Brent

classic095 · January 16, 2008, 07:06 PM

J.C. Higgens was not a gun manufacturer, just another distributor for Sears,, Take the Sears number off the gun and go to the Store Brand cross over section of the Blue Book and see who the gun was manufactured by, and then look up that model number by manufacturer. My thoughts are maybe mossberg as they were the most popular bolt shotgun makers of the time.. Post the
SEARS number if you dont have the book and I will find it for you.. Value 50-100

J F Cooper · January 16, 2008, 08:35 PM

John C Higgins was neither a gun maker nor a distributor, He was a book keeper for Sears Roebuck. Sears first used his name on sporting goods (baseballs and such) in 1908.. The J. C Higgins name appeared on guns sometime, I believe, in the 1940s and continued to about the mid to late 60s..JFC

bigbuck270 · January 17, 2008, 11:46 AM

Thats great info. Thanks

I looked at the bbl again and it does say:

JC Higgins
Model 5 83,1102

January 16, 2008, 01:45 PM	#1
bigbuck270 Junior Member Join Date: January 14, 2008 Posts: 13	Value/info of JC Higgins 20 ga I have an old JC higgins 20 ga bolt action. The bbl says sears and robuck on it. I cannot find the value anywhere. Does anyone know anything about this gun?

January 16, 2008, 03:11 PM	#2
J F Cooper Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2007 Location: Southern Ohio Posts: 125	J C Higgens From the 1930s up to the 70s. There were several Firms making the inexpensive bolt action Shotguns, Sears used several suppliers, your gun should have a model number such as 101,23 or such. Among the many makers of Bolt action shotguns were: Hunter Arms, Stevens, Mossberg, Marlin, High Standard, Kessler, Noble and others, These guns are worth $35 to $75 depending on condition,,an occasional .410 bore will go a little higher..JFC

January 16, 2008, 07:06 PM	#5
classic095 Member Join Date: December 24, 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 71	gun J.C. Higgens was not a gun manufacturer, just another distributor for Sears,, Take the Sears number off the gun and go to the Store Brand cross over section of the Blue Book and see who the gun was manufactured by, and then look up that model number by manufacturer. My thoughts are maybe mossberg as they were the most popular bolt shotgun makers of the time.. Post the SEARS number if you dont have the book and I will find it for you.. Value 50-100 Last edited by classic095; January 16, 2008 at 07:07 PM. Reason: information

January 16, 2008, 08:35 PM	#6
J F Cooper Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2007 Location: Southern Ohio Posts: 125	J C Higgins John C Higgins was neither a gun maker nor a distributor, He was a book keeper for Sears Roebuck. Sears first used his name on sporting goods (baseballs and such) in 1908.. The J. C Higgins name appeared on guns sometime, I believe, in the 1940s and continued to about the mid to late 60s..JFC

January 16, 2008, 03:11 PM	#3
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	JC Higgins made them for Sears and others - I have a bolt action JC Higgins in 16ga. Mine was probably made in the 1940's / not sure. Value on a bolt action shotgun - unless its truly in "excellent and unfired condition" which isn't likely - is proably $ 150 - $ 300. It can be a decent grouse gun or something ....depending on what the barrel is choked at.

January 16, 2008, 03:52 PM	#4
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	Not trying to pee in anyone's wheaties but J.C. HIGGINS was a "private label" brand of sears. Like Craftsmen. There are tons of JC HIGGINS bicycles still around as well! Sears never made anything but money so the gun is "labeled" JC HIGGINS sold only at sears but built by some one else. Brent

January 17, 2008, 11:46 AM	#7
bigbuck270 Junior Member Join Date: January 14, 2008 Posts: 13	Thats great info. Thanks I looked at the bbl again and it does say: JC Higgins Model 5 83,1102