I bought this rifle....

[Igiveup]

A J.C. Higgens Sears model 103.13. I researched it and it was made by Marlin, model 81, between 1937 and 1940, just a few years. As you might think, it is a .22 bolt rifle with a tube magazine. The rifle is in excellent shape, it was a bit dirty, but clean now. I purchased this rifle to help train my younger grandchildren in shooting safety. My question is, did they use plastic trigger guards in the era of time before WWII? This rifle has one made of plastic.

[Ivan the Butcher]

have had several adult sized 22's with plastic trigger guards. I think most are the same part number and interchangeable on tube fed and shots!

Ivan

[Igiveup]

Thanks for the reply. I, too, have seen many plastic guards, and come to think of it, they do look alike. I just thought it odd for a 1937-1940 made rifle to have plastic.

[desi2358]

Originally Posted by Igiveup

Thanks for the reply. I, too, have seen many plastic guards, and come to think of it, they do look alike. I just thought it odd for a 1937-1940 made rifle to have plastic.

From what I have read your rifle would actually have been made post war as Sears used the "Ranger" name before WWII. The J.C. Higgins name was used on other sporting goods before the war but wasn't applied to Sears firearms until 1946. Sears continued to offer their version of the 81 series until at least the early 60's. After Marlin switched to micro-groove rifling in 53 the contract guns for Sears supposedly followed suit so if yours has standard rifling it should have been made between 1946 and 1953.

As to the plastic trigger guard many companies were experimenting with increased use of plastics by the 1940's but from what I can find the pre-war model 81's all had metal trigger guards. The plastic guards do appear on post war guns. After WWII Sears also started asking for features to make their guns more distinctive including things like chromed bolts, different wood for stocks and differently shaped trigger guards and other trim pieces. Molded plastic guards made it easier to supply these. Gunpartscorp. has 4 different trigger guards listed for the Marlin 81 series and it's various contract models, 3 of which are simply differently shaped plastic ones

[THE PILGRIM]

I have most likely seen these 22s of which you speak.
Having trouble bringing them up from the depth of yesterday.
Here’s my 1950s J C Higgins 20 Ga (Savage).

[Igiveup]

desi2358, thanks for the information. It makes more sense that the rifle was manufactured after the war. I will have to check out the rifleling and see what catagory it fits.

[Muley Gil]

Savage/Stevens started using plastics around WW II. The trade name was Tenite. I have my granddaddy's Stevens .22/.410 over/under with the Tenite buttstock and fore end. I was told he bought the gun at the beginning of the war to bust the bunnies that got into his garden.

[diyj98]

Mossberg was using plastic trigger guards on the 44US during WWII as well.