Picked up birth year gun plus a unique one

quietman123 · Jul 18, 2026

There is a cool gun shop in a small town near me in Central Virginia. I have gotten to know the owner and he knows I like older guns. First gun’s serial number is 711xx which my online search indicates 1955, my birth year. He cleaned up nicely in the bluing it’s not perfect, but has a mirror like finished that appears to be original. He showed it to me with the holster and Tyler adapter. It was just too nice of a package to pass up. The second gun, I walked away from and went back and had to fill out another firearm form because I felt like I just had to get it. It is a J.C, Higgins model 85 in 22 long rifle in amazingly good condition. It’s very hard to find out much about these guns. It was made in France and I’m guessing sometime in the 1950s. The known problem with the pistol is the mag release has a very firm spring, which makes it very difficult to load. Anyway, thought I would share my good fortune with a forum.

FZ1Tom · Jul 18, 2026

Any day you snag a nice birth year gun is a good day, and so much the better when you pick up a bonus gun. As you might imagine, JC Higgins is most likely the importer of your little .22, which was made by the manufacturer referenced on the other side. Googling led me to Unique, but not quite the correct model, but then there was an article on the Ruby Llama, which may possibly be this gun, BUT see the Wikipedia article - it was produced by about FIFTY Spanish gunmakers, one of which could be yours. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pistolet_Ruby

Tom

quietman123 · Jul 18, 2026

Thanks, Tom. I was leaving the gun shop and went back and looked at it one more time. It is extremely well-made considering it was an inexpensive gun.

Truckman · Jul 18, 2026

FZ1Tom said:
Any day you snag a nice birth year gun is a good day

Indeed...I already had three birth year guns, and recently received a birth month and year gun, the next thing to new and with the box...When the letter gets here I'll have a 1 in 31 chance of it being the birth day gun...Got my fingers crossed...

...Ben

raljr1 · Jul 18, 2026

I have 5 birth year guns.

Wingmaster · Jul 18, 2026

JC Higgins was a Sears brand. They private labeled several different models. Most of them were good quality.

I have a Model 50. It's a bolt action rifle made by FN chambered in 30-06.

GSP Fan · Jul 19, 2026

I have 4 birth year guns but nothing that would be month and year.
Good luck Ben

Hondo44 · Jul 19, 2026

The .38 S&W Terrier, Model of 1953 New I Frame is a nice find.

Might be a reblue with those scratches between the flutes on the cylinder, which appear to be blued over.

quietman123 · Jul 19, 2026

Thanks for the reply Hondo. I bought it thinking it is a Chiefs Special. I guess a Terrier is earlier and rarer. You think my gun is refinished? I have wondered. It is marked 38 S&W SPL on the barrel. All 3 serial numbers match. How can I determine if it is refinished. I realize this is your area of expertise. Was the frame same size as Model. 36 by this serial number? I guess this was not a 1955 gun afterall. Would this be a 1953-54 gun? Sorry for all the questions….

Serial number under barrel 71123
Serial number on cylinder 71123
Serial number on bottom of grip 71123
number on crane 79121, is that an assembly number?

ShootinInNC · Jul 19, 2026

I’m very jealous of your pre model number chief, I’ve been looking for one and got one that was made just after model number assignments but it just doesn’t scratch the itch. 55 was my dads birth year, great pickup there, the hunt conintues

quietman123 · Jul 19, 2026

This is getting interesting…my barrel is marked 38 S&W SPL.. According to AI (I know, AI) because of the caliber and 4 screw (I will confirm this) it is a rare transitional model. AI calls it a Transitional model and a Chiefs Special. Any thoughts? It also says 4 screw flat latch is unusual only in 1953-55.

Hondo44 · Jul 19, 2026

quietman123 said:
Thanks for the reply Hondo. I bought it thinking it is a Chiefs Special. I guess a Terrier is earlier and rarer. You think my gun is refinished? I have wondered. It is marked 38 S&W SPL on the barrel. All 3 serial numbers match. How can I determine if it is refinished. I realize this is your area of expertise. Was the frame same size as Model. 36 by this serial number? I guess this was not a 1955 gun afterall. Would this be a 1953-54 gun? Sorry for all the questions….

Serial number under barrel 71123
Serial number on cylinder 71123
Serial number on bottom of grip 71123
number on crane 79121, is that an assembly number?

Entirely my mistake, I've been looking at too many Terriers. You're right,
it's a .38 S&W Spl Chiefs Special, Model of 1953 New J Frame!

Might be a reblue with those scratches between the flutes on the cylinder, which appear to be blued over. Also check the flush pin at the top of the left side of frame; it's a retaining pin for the firing pin bushing. It's been over polished in that area which makes the end of the pin visible and slightly proud to the surface. The factory would never make that polishing error.

I think you're 1955 date could be accurate or a little early. It has the new style hammer spur with course checkering. Does it have 3 or 4 screws in the side plate? Be sure to count the one under the top of the right grip.
Here' a few serial numbers near yours with confirmed ship dates:

69616 shipped Nov. 1955, nickel
70480 Chiefs Spl, 2”, shipped in February of 1956 in a blue box
71249 4 screw, fine knurled (early hammer) shipped 1/27/56
72195 latest 4 screw and fine knurled hammer ~ 2/56

Yes the 79121 is an assembly number on the yoke, also in the yoke cut in the frame and on the inside of the side plate in the milled groove for the hammer block lever.

Other serial # locations, 6 total:

4. Yoke - on rear face only visible thru a chamber with a flashlight (except the .32 Model 1896 and no doubt a few others).
5. Extractor star – backside (which is actually the side facing the muzzle).
6. Right stock only - on back

Still a great find.

quietman123 · Jul 20, 2026

Thanks so much Hondo! I am in it for $550. May have overpaid if we finished but may still be at birth year.

quietman123 · Jul 20, 2026

Hondo, as you can see, it is a four screw. My reading suggest that it may be a transitional model due to being a late gun with four screws. Does that make sense? The first photo below shows the finish and I agree that something is up. You can see my fingers reflection under the latch. I’m thinking it may have been buffed or polished to create such a mirror finish. It definitely was not dipped. Any thoughts?

A10 · Jul 20, 2026

Congrats on your birth year gun! I had an HP birth year gun but let it go years ago. I did, however, recently acquire a Heavy Duty that is an April 1955 gun. She's a few months older than me, but I always did like older ladies!

Hondo44 · Jul 20, 2026

quietman123 said:
Hondo, as you can see, it is a four screw. My reading suggest that it may be a transitional model due to being a late gun with four screws. Does that make sense? The first photo below shows the finish and I agree that something is up. You can see my fingers reflection under the latch. I’m thinking it may have been buffed or polished to create such a mirror finish. It definitely was not dipped. Any thoughts?

Thanks for the additional photos!

To a degree, most firearm production has periods of transition when minor design or parts changes take place and do not correspond exactly with new model changes. But that doesn't make them "Transitional Models" pre se. That term as applied to S&W Hand Ejectors has a very specific meaning and only applies to early post WWII models which are virtually the same as pre war models except for the addition of the new post war sliding bar hammer block safety. This can be seen in the hammer channel going up and down when the hammer is cocked and de-cocked slowly.

As far as a reblue, there's no date on the grip frame left side indicating a factory rework/refinish. And the side plate seam is very good, which usually has rounded edges indicating refinish outside of the factory, if it had been.
The flush pin at the top of the left side of frame I referred to in my last thread, I'm just not seeing it. I can't trust my eyes anymore or thinking of a photo in another thread

The scratches on the cyl that look blued over in your first post are still puzzling.

Picked up birth year gun plus a unique one

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