[Bigbash]

I recently purchased a JC Higgins model 30 , 22 rifle Identification # 583.70. One thing that makes this rifle unique to me is the retractable sling. I would like to find out any info anyone has on this gun. Also it has a Foremost model8112 3-7x20 nitrogen filled scope on it that I would like to find out about. I appreciate any info. Thanks

[rcmodel]

The rifle was made by High-Standard for Sears prior to the 1968 gun control act that stopped mail-order firearms sales.

The JC Higgins tradename from used 1946 to 1962.

I remember drooling all over the big Sears catalog looking at that rifle when I was a young'n in the late 50's - early 60's.

I have no info on the scope.

rcmodel

[Bigbash]

Thanks for the info---this will give me a starting point--havnt been able to find this rifle in any gun buyers guides i have looked at-- Thanks , Bigbash

[Jim K]

IIRC, that was a version of the High Standard Model 34, but the retractable sling was a feature exclusive to the guns made for Sears. Again, IIRC, Foremost was another Sears trade-name, but I am not sure of that.

FWIW, I found it in the 1962 Gun Digest, as the J.C. Higgins Model 31, $42.95 for the rifle, $53.95 with scope.

Sears never made anything, but used a number of trade names to sort of cover up who did: J.C. Higgins and Ted Williams (sporting goods), Silvertone (radio/TV), Kenmore (appliances), Craftsman (tools), are just some of them.

Jim

[Steven Mace]

Bigbash, here is a link to an owner's manual for your rifle.

http://www.histandard.info/manuals/sears/rfrifles/1080D150R.pdf

Steve Mace

[John Stimson]

The Model 30 was the first of several variations of aluminum receiver rifles designed and manufactrued by High Standard specifically for Sears. There were four versions of the Model 30 and teh 583.70 was the earliest. The last model in this group was the model 34 and Model 34 carbine. The design of these rimfore rifles are based on the work of Fred Humeston an employee of High Stadanrd and formerly of Winchester where he had several of the patent for the M-1 carbine among others. Humeston had patents for features on the High Standard/Sears/ J C Higgins models 10, 20 and 30.

The following link is to a chart showing when these models appeared in the Sears catalogs.

http://www.histandard.info/PDF/Sears%20Rifles.pdf

Foremost was a tradename used by J C Penny.

Remember that most of the gun guides are published and copy writed in teh year befor the cover date.

John Stimson
www.histandard.info

[kragluver]

I fell into one of these rifles about 6 months ago (also a Model 30). If you haven't shot yours yet, you will probably be pleasantly surprised -- they are quite accurate and handy little rifles.

[Bigbash]

Mr Stimson, Thank you so much for the info. It is greatly appreciated. I'm still interested in what the value of the rifle might be . I have already been offered $100 more than i have paid for the rifle, although I am not interested in selling it. I'm just curious. To me , it is a very beautiful gun and still very accurate.I love the way they joined and overlayed the forearm wood with the stock. Also I had never seen a gun with the action bar handle on the opposite side of the shell ejector , and the hidden retractable sling was a very nice surprise---------as you can tell , I'm very pleased with this new addition to my small gun collection--------Thanks , Bigbash