Merry Christmas to me!

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

This is my Christmas present that we just picked up from layaway today. J.C.Higgins was Sears' house-brand for guns until 1962. This is a Model 20 shotgun, which is actually a High Standard Model 200. In remarkably good condition for a 50-something years old shotgun. The bluing is rich and deep, and there are relatively few use-marks on the wood and metalwork. Function is crisp and feels precise and the trigger is quite nice. Price? $100. I looked it over and asked, "Why so cheap?" I was told 'If it were marked High Standard it would have been $300, but nobody these days knows what the hell a J.C.Higgins is.'

The only issue I have discovered is that the magazine only accepts two rounds- many places only allow 3 rounds in the gun for waterfowl. Typically the magazine is blocked by the simple expedient of a plastic or wooden rod in the magazine spring, which is easily removed. The problem in this case is that there is not immediately apparent how to disassemble the magazine to do this. I'll have a look at Highstandard.org; there are probably instructions or at least a helpful diagram.

This shotgun was bought for the express purpose of shortening the barrel and mounting rifle sights to use it as an economy slug/defensive shotgun, but it's sooooo pretty... I really do already have a surplus of 'wing' guns, so I'm likely to go ahead with it.

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

OK, I was wrong about the model number, and highstandard.org is apparently kaput. Guess I'd better do a bit more research...

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

...and a little more research shows that I was right- just the High Standard Model 200 was originally produced for JC Higgins as the Model 20 and was not branded and produced as a High Standard until after the JC Higgins brand was no longer in use. So Sayeth the Internet; there's at least some chance this information is correct...

OK, the magazine disassembles exactly the way I expected. loosen the barrel band and slip it off over the muzzle to expose the end of the magazine tube. This exposes two small screws on the magazine tube, one on each side of the barrel. Remove them and the end comes off. Pull out the spring and up-end the gun and the capacity limiter drops out. And what is this high-tech wonder that limits the capacity to two rounds? A 9-inch long 1/4" diameter wooden dowel with an O-ring near either end. The weapon now holds five rounds and functions properly.

 

[kudu]

Looks like a nice gun, pity to chop it up, but it would make a nice project gun. Enjoy!

 

[falmike]

Try Numrich, they have schematics on their parts pages.

 

[Duster340]

Very cool find. I have a soft spot in my heart for JC Higgins guns. Me, my brother and both sisters learned to shoot on an old JC Higgins 22 way back when. As did my hirls. Still have it and it shoots just as good as it did back then. Congrats on your new shotgun!

 

[Bullseye]

Merry Christmas to you!
The Best American Made Pump-Action Shotgun of the 19th Century: A Review of the Sears & Roebuck, J.C. Higgins Model 20 (High Standard Arms Co. Model 200)

 

[lemaymiami]

Fine looking old shotgun... Wonder if there's riot length barrels around that would allow to keep that full length barrel intact...

 

[kscharlie]

A magazine capacity of two rounds is exactly correct for hunting laws that limit gun capacity to 3 rounds. You load two in the magazine, cycle the action to put a round in the chamber, then load one more in the magazine. Total=3 rounds. If the magazine itself held 3 rounds, you could then load the gun with a total of 4, which would exceed the lawful limit.

BTW, that is a nice old High Standard. They were good, solid shotguns.

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

Fine looking old shotgun... Wonder if there's riot length barrels around that would allow to keep that full length barrel intact...

I checked- nope. Unlike many other shotguns the barrel is not designed to be swapped out and is effectively permanently mounted. Sure, it can be removed- but it's more like removing a revolver's barrel; not easy or meant to be done casually.

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

A magazine capacity of two rounds is exactly correct for hunting laws that limit gun capacity to 3 rounds. You load two in the magazine, cycle the action to put a round in the chamber, then load one more in the magazine. Total=3 rounds. If the magazine itself held 3 rounds, you could then load the gun with a total of 4, which would exceed the lawful limit.

BTW, that is a nice old High Standard. They were good, solid shotguns.

Thanks! I am quite impressed with the quality, the finish and how slick the action is.

Yes, capacity limiters are common for wing-hunting. As I understand it these regulations were enacted when semi-automatics became common and there was a fear that such weapons would devastate waterfowl populations. However since I am converting the gun for slugs and defensive use that does not apply.

 

[Dog Soldier]

There was a time when my brother and I headed to the Sears Roebuck in the city. Sears back in the day was the largest gun dealer in the country. Our first 20 ga. bolt action shotguns came from Sears. Many folks owned the modified 98 Mauser .30-06 rifles with the reversed rear sights. Yep, J.C. Higgens was sales manager of Sears sporting goods divison.

 

[loose noose]

My first .22 rifle was a JC Higgins single shot.

 

[PabloJ]

I looked over one of these with name of 'Flite King' or similar name. I didn't see any less fit-finish quality than in 50s era Model 12. Another interesting gun was Model 12 look alike from Savage Arms. That was Model 28 if I recall correctly. If one doesn't mind heavy gun good quality is there to be had.