My sister & BIL bought a piece of property at a Sheriff's sale. In a mobile home on the property, which is going to be trashed, they found a Winchester/Sears lever action with numbers 417*. I'll be seeing the rifle Dec. 25. Sorry, no pics at this time. She doesn't know if they're serial numbers or what. I'll check it Wednesday the 25th. Merry Christmas! Does this sound like something that was made for Sears? Also, she said the scope is missing but it looks like it had one? I'll give more updates after Christmas. Just wondering if anyone knows about this "Sears" rifle. Jeff
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Winchester/Sears .30-30
- Thread starter jeffrefrig
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Sears marketed a lot of different rifles thru the years but most if not all carried the J. C. Higgins name. I am pretty sure they had a lever action rifle but I think it was made by Marlin, not Winchester. But I am very far from being an expert but the first two guns my folks gave me were .J. C. Higgins models of a 22 and 12 ga. Looking forward to seeing what they have. Happy Holidays!
I believe that Winchester made a version of their post 1964 model 94
for Sears. A member on here had one listed for sale a while back in the
classifieds.
for Sears. A member on here had one listed for sale a while back in the
classifieds.
Sistema1927
US Veteran
Sears, Montgomery Wards, Western Auto, and others had firearms with their private house brands made for them by the major manufacturers. There are folks who collect this niche.
Nothing wrong with a J.C. Higgins (Sears), or Ted Williams(Sears, after Higgins), or Western Field (Montgomery Wards), or Revelation (Western Auto) guns.
Nothing wrong with a J.C. Higgins (Sears), or Ted Williams(Sears, after Higgins), or Western Field (Montgomery Wards), or Revelation (Western Auto) guns.
DWalt
Member
That is correct. It had a metal fore end cap instead of a barrel band which was very distinctive. Regarding Marlins, Wal-Mart once sold a specific Model 336 in their stores, but it wasn't marked any differently, except the model number was changed to 336W (the W indicating Wal-Mart I suppose). It sold for about $100 less than usual.
double-dipper
Member
Jeff, I would have them check the ser#'s with local law enforcement to make sure it's has not been reported stolen. If it's clean enjoy it.
Gene L
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I had a Montgomery (Marlin ) 30-30. I thought it was a Western Field, but I might be wrong. In no way did Marlin skimp on this rifle. I'm not that into Marlin lever guns, but my buddy is, and he felt it was equal or superior in fit and finish to a Marlin 336. It had a fore end cap rather than a band, too.
Some of these rifles on the cheaper end had hardwood stocks.
Some of these rifles on the cheaper end had hardwood stocks.
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For a long time I didn't know there was any other place to buy a gun than Sears-Roebuck. Most all the long guns I've owned have come from there, and most of those were "Sears" brand.
Winchester, High-Standard, Mossberg were just some of the companies that I remember making guns for Sears...wait...they imported some really nice AYA doubles under the Sears name for a couple of years too.
Sears actually had two grades of gun they sold for most guns. They had the "Ted Williams" version and the "Sears" version. They would usually have the "name" brand version at the same time, with three different price points.
The "Sears" (shot)gun would have a plain hardwood stock for example. And just for easy numbers, let's say it was $100.00. The Ted Williams gun would have a nicer stock, pressed checkering, and a PolyChoke (adjustable choke) and would be priced at $125.00. The name brand gun would be the factory offering of the same gun, usually with a walnut stock, nicer checkering, and so on at $150.00. The three would be beside each other on the display, and you could comparison shop right there. (I almost always picked the cheap one. It was all I could afford.)
I've still got one Sears gun. A 12 gauge pump I bought about 1977 or so. I think it's a Mossberg, but others have said it might be a High Standard. I did the "Bubba" camo job myself.
I also had a Sears double 12 (Stevens 311) that was the first gun I ever bought myself, a Winchester Model 70, 30-06, and the one I really kick my butt for getting rid of, an AYA side by side 20. I've gotten rid of all of them, but oh man that was stupid getting rid of that AYA. Really nice gun for $200.00. (insert headbang emoji here).
Winchester, High-Standard, Mossberg were just some of the companies that I remember making guns for Sears...wait...they imported some really nice AYA doubles under the Sears name for a couple of years too.
Sears actually had two grades of gun they sold for most guns. They had the "Ted Williams" version and the "Sears" version. They would usually have the "name" brand version at the same time, with three different price points.
The "Sears" (shot)gun would have a plain hardwood stock for example. And just for easy numbers, let's say it was $100.00. The Ted Williams gun would have a nicer stock, pressed checkering, and a PolyChoke (adjustable choke) and would be priced at $125.00. The name brand gun would be the factory offering of the same gun, usually with a walnut stock, nicer checkering, and so on at $150.00. The three would be beside each other on the display, and you could comparison shop right there. (I almost always picked the cheap one. It was all I could afford.)
I've still got one Sears gun. A 12 gauge pump I bought about 1977 or so. I think it's a Mossberg, but others have said it might be a High Standard. I did the "Bubba" camo job myself.
I also had a Sears double 12 (Stevens 311) that was the first gun I ever bought myself, a Winchester Model 70, 30-06, and the one I really kick my butt for getting rid of, an AYA side by side 20. I've gotten rid of all of them, but oh man that was stupid getting rid of that AYA. Really nice gun for $200.00. (insert headbang emoji here).
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Pisgah
Member
Sears sold Winchester 94s under at least two different model numbers, the Sears Model 54 and the Ted Williams Model 100.
OP
Yes, they are going to. That trailer had a lot of lower-tier people renting it over the years, so they are going to if they haven't already. Thanks.
Oh, that looks like a pretty nice camo paint job up there! Before Bubba had a few PBRs!
Sears was THE store for everything. They even made metal houses.
Thanks all. Hope the holidays are safe for all.
The Model 54 "Searchester" was sold from 1975 through 1973.
It had a stamped sheet metal forend cap that was painted black and they came with birch stocks as standard, although you could order walnut for an additional cost. The forend caps came in a long and a short version and if I recall correctly the long version was earlier. However, despite having a more or less rifle style forend cap, they used a flat barrel band, rather than a hanger for the magazine tube. The magazine tube also stopped about 1/2" short of the end of the barrel. I've seen them with ramp and non ramp front sights.
The last of the Model 54s were regular looking 20" Model 94 carbines except for the roll marks.
The Ted Williams label was Sear's high end sporting goods label and replaced the JC Higgins label in 1962.
ancient-one
US Veteran
My first shotgun I bought after getting out of the Navy was a 12 ga. pump purchased from Sears. I don't remember the name on it but it was made by High-Standard.
When I got a Franchi 20ga. I gave it to my future son-in-law and he used it for years. My grandson has it now.
When I got a Franchi 20ga. I gave it to my future son-in-law and he used it for years. My grandson has it now.
Marlin/Remington still makes the 336W.
You might be thinking about the Marlin 30TK
Produced exclusively for KMart.
Great rifle in a great configuration. I have one.
mdf9183
US Veteran
I have a Marlin 336W that I bought a Academy so I don't think the W is for Walmart.
Recall High Standard made guns for Sears too. Friend had a 12 gauge pump. Think they had the steel receiver at least. Bought a Ted Williams model 200 in 20 gauge but was made by Winchester. Not exactly a Rem 870 but OK for bird hunting. Paid around $115 back in 72 for it.
DWalt
Member
From what I can find, the difference with the 336W is that it used a walnut stained birch stock, a rubber buttplate, and (possibly) a slightly different rear sight design, and was intended for sale through discount stores. I imagine that would be mainly Wal-Mart, but not necessarily exclusively. I did find one reference which said that Academy sold them.
Grayfox
US Veteran
Quite often the Store Brand guns were made a little different per the stores request so that they could sell them cheaper. Usually the wood and finish wasn't quite as nice as the name brand. However they were just as good otherwise.
In the back of the Blue Book is an index where you can cross over the store brand guns to the exact make and model of its name brand. Many times it also lists the years that model was sold. If it is indeed a Sears rifle, look for the Sears product number on it. You'll need that to cross reference. If you don't have a Blue Book, I'm sure most anybody here would be glad to look it up for you.
Oh yeah! Pictures! We want pictures!
I just remembered, my FIL was an avid deer hunter. The only rifle he had was a well worn Sears Model 54 .30-30. (That is a Winchester Model 94.) He was always happy with it, never considered replacing it with something else and always got his buck.
In the back of the Blue Book is an index where you can cross over the store brand guns to the exact make and model of its name brand. Many times it also lists the years that model was sold. If it is indeed a Sears rifle, look for the Sears product number on it. You'll need that to cross reference. If you don't have a Blue Book, I'm sure most anybody here would be glad to look it up for you.
Oh yeah! Pictures! We want pictures!
I just remembered, my FIL was an avid deer hunter. The only rifle he had was a well worn Sears Model 54 .30-30. (That is a Winchester Model 94.) He was always happy with it, never considered replacing it with something else and always got his buck.
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OP
I got to look at the rifle today but wasn't able to get pics. It's a Ted Williams model 100. It has Weaver scope mounts on but no scope. The offset mount was covering much of the lettering on the left side of the barrel. Looked like Ser.# V94***. It has the black painted cap at the end of the front stock as mentioned above. It was well used but pretty solid. Action cycles, trigger works but is loose, as if some spring or something is broken inside. Hammer works well, half-cock safety. I told them if serial number is clean, we'll settle on a price, but it's not worth much as is; it needs some TLC. You guys' knowledge of minute details of guns never ceases to amaze me! Thank you!
One of my close friends bought a Sears Model 54 that had the metal forearm cap. It shot better than another friend's Winchester stamped M94.
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