J.C. Higgins pistols

[nutsforsmiths]

So, here's the short history on the two J.C. Higgins pistols and J.C. Higgins accessories shown below.

The semi-auto Model 80 (Sears version of the High Standard Duramatic) was my dads. He told me he traded something for it in the early 1960s. It came into my possession some five years ago. My dad is much more into shooting 22 rifles, so as a kid I never shot this pistol. And he didn't shoot it very much either. I started "borrowing" it from him in the early 2000s and was amazed at how accurate it is! I also have the 4 1/2" barrel for this pistol, but I forgot to add it when taking the picture!

The Model 88 (Sears version of the High Standard Sentinel) I found at a LGS about 5 years ago. I bought it for $125.00 (couldn't let it just sit there for that price, right?) and am amazed at how well it is made. It too is very accurate. Lots of fun to shoot, but since it's an early version, there is no ejector rod return spring, which is kind of a pain.

After buying the revolver, I went back to the same LGS about a year later and they had the pistol cleaning kit, complete. I thought since I had the two pistols, I needed the accompanying cleaning kit to go with them!

Then I started on a quest to find the factory boxes. I am not one to usually look for factory boxes to go with pistols I have the didn't come with their original boxes. But the hunt was on! I actually had been looking a bit for the Model 80 box for many years, and one appeared on eBay just before I inherited the pistol. So I bought that one. The Model 88 box seems to be a lot easier to find, as I have seen many of them for sale over the past 5 years. Found the one I have about a year ago. The Model 88 box came with the original owners manual. The Model 80 original owners manual I found on eBay.

As for the holsters, I found a J.C. Higgins catalog from 1958 that listed all the holsters for their pistols. I purchased the holster for the Model 80 from a LGS and the Model 88 off eBay. Both holsters are marked J.C. Higgins and have the catalog number. Both are probably made by Hunter.

The empty J.C. Higgins 22LR ammo box and shooting tips brochure are from a friend of mine who collects these kind of things and gave them to me. The crow target I purchased off of eBay as well.

I have to say that I miss a place like Sears where one could walk in and buy just about anything one needed at a single location. And the quality of what was sold was usually pretty good.

 

[quikdraw67]

Yes, I miss Sears. At one time all the appliances in my house said Kenmore, all my power equipment said Craftsman.

I have my Dad's JC Higgins 12ga pump shotgun that is a High Standard IIRC.

I did pick up the owner's manual for it off Ebay.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

Still got my J C Higgins 20 Ga Single Shot.
Probably a Savage.

 

[rockquarry]

Certainly nothing wrong with High Standard / J.C. Higgins guns of all types.

 

[sceva]

I remember drooling on the sears catalogs when I was a youngster. One I remember was a version they called the Fisherman's 88 revolver. if I recall correctly it was the shorter barrel (4"?) version.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Yes, I miss Sears. At one time all the appliances in my house said Kenmore, all my power equipment said Craftsman.

I have my Dad's JC Higgins 12ga pump shotgun that is a High Standard IIRC.

I did pick up the owner's manual for it off Ebay.

I remember when you could order shotguns through the mail from Sears.

 

[Racer X]

I have my dad's JC Higgins 88 revolver, and his JC Higgins shotgun, the private label Flight King. It even has the machine turned bolt.

Everyone loves to shoot that revolver. So much of the finish has either worn off, or is wearing thin. No one cares.

I would absolutely LOVE another 88 revolver.

 

[DWalt]

Back in the days of my youth, the local Sears store was the only gun shop in town. Sears largely abandoned the gun and ammunition business in the late 1960s.

 

[Tenn2]

I also have the J C Higgins Model 80 that was my Dad's. I remember going to the Sears catalog store where he bought it. It would have been in the mid 60s IIRC.

 

[mikerjf]

The Sentinel was a great gun... look up the various colors the snub version came in (pink, even...).

Sears also had guitar stuff, and Italian motorcycles, Cushman and Vespa scooters.

But my Lambretta came from Wards! As did my Stevens Westernfield 30.

Nice stuff, OP. Americana is a wonderful thing.

 

[OLDSTER]

Great old Sears. Two volumes I miss looking through; The Sears and Herters Catalogues.

 

[loc n load]

Nice collection and you are to be commended for your perseverance on hunting down the boxes, holsters,cleaning kits, etc. Makes for a nice trip down memory lane. I remember ogling guns like those in a show case at our local Sears & Roebuck, back in the 60’s.
I have two bolt action JC Higgins 16 ga’s, one belonged to my dad and the other to my grandad. I also have a 20 ga. version of the same model.

 

[SS336]

Great old Sears. Two volumes I miss looking through; The Sears and Herters Catalogues.

Me too. Great times as a youngster. The Herters was a favorite up through the ‘70’s

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Back in the days of my youth, the local Sears store was the only gun shop in town. Sears largely abandoned the gun and ammunition business in the late 1960s.

Sears also sold Sears branded ammunition made by Winchester.

 

[Drm50]

Little story in my family about a Sears 20g pump my old man mail ordered.
Came when he was at work. I took it down by river to try it out. I ran into some other guys down at the river. Long story short, traded the old man’s new shotgun for a m12 Duck Gun, a guitar, 35mm camera and a tape recorder. My old man took longer to convince that I traded his new gun than it did to make the deal. He was a little stunned but I convinced him only sissies shot 20s.

 

[sipowicz]

I had that exact model 88 in a 2”. It was a gift last year to my Godson. Box, papers and all.

 

[dsf]

I have a few. Target grips on the JC Higgins 88 and 80 may have been a bit over the top for an economy handgun but they sure were comfortable. The HS versions were great on their own, especially the bird's head on their snubby

 

[desi2358]

Back in the days of my youth, the local Sears store was the only gun shop in town. Sears largely abandoned the gun and ammunition business in the late 1960s.

I loved trips to Sears when I was a kid, the sporting goods counter was my favorite stop. Sadly Sears abandoned their gun and hunting customers, probably due to concerns over increasing government paperwork and restrictions after the 68 Gun Control act and the political climate of the 70's. I think it was the late 70's or so when they finally got out of the market all together. Dumping their ammo line was the end as I recall the local store still sold ammo for a while after the guns went, then the ammo went away too............. I have several of the late Sears branded boxes in my collection alongside some of the earlier ones. Sad end to what was once "the biggest gun retailer in the world". Not much left of them now

 

[jrm53]

The last gun I got from Sears was a Zoli 20 ga O/U in 1976 made in Italy a nice shotgun, has double triggers. Picked it up at the store in Rogers Ar. Jeff

 

[DWalt]

I loved trips to Sears when I was a kid, the sporting goods counter was my favorite stop. Sadly Sears abandoned their gun and hunting customers, probably due to concerns over increasing government paperwork and restrictions after the 68 Gun Control act and the political climate of the 70's. I think it was the late 70's or so when they finally got out of the market all together. Dumping their ammo line was the end as I recall the local store still sold ammo for a while after the guns went, then the ammo went away too............. I have several of the late Sears branded boxes in my collection alongside some of the earlier ones. Sad end to what was once "the biggest gun retailer in the world". Not much left of them now

I was living in Western Maryland at the time, and around 1968-69 the local Sears store sold out their entire gun and ammunition inventory at half price. I got there too late to get any guns but I did get about 20 boxes of 12 gauge shotshells and five bricks of .22 Shorts. That was all that they had left. I still have some of those.