Should I Rail a old JC Higgins

[Gerd33]

$5-600 you have to be kidding me.

The price really jumped when Remington shut down,
I paid $275 for my daughter's (JM) 30-30 about 4yrs ago on an estate sale, which was a little bit of a bargain since those were going in the $350ish range in the local area.

This past summer while I didn't see any of the JC Higgins sell, the JM (and one Remington Production) were selling in the 7-800 range at the same type of estate sales. This is what I recorded from a couple of sales I attended. I do think yours would have brought at least 500 on the same sale.

June:
$700 - 1988-336CS 30-30 JM
$700 - 1974 - 336 30-30 JM (rough stock)
$825 - 1983 336CS JM
$775 - 1960 336SC JM

October
$700 - 336W REM
$700 - 336W 1990 JM

Prices were higher for other calibers (35 Rem, 32 specia) and variants (336A model).
It will be interesting to see if prices come back down if/when Ruger gets production going.6

 

[Speedo66]

What's next, a red dot scope and laser on your open top black powder Colts? lol

 

[BreechFace]

What's next, a red dot scope and laser on your open top black powder Colts? lol

No that’s silly the black powder smoke will fog up the glass…now tritium night sights…

 

[jmorris]

I think you should go for it, some people will hate it but others will get a good laugh.

 

[BreechFace]

once I get a new Lever Ruger Marlin, I’ll put the JC back to original and start fresh with a modern lever rail gun. Hoping for a threaded barrel for a hush can too.

Friends are worth more to me than my feelings or antics. Old JC can go back to bring Old JC. I love shooting that gun. Very mild recoil, and locks up tight, lever action is like a bank safe.. No Slop!

You must have snowflakes for friends! Grow a set and be comfortable in your own skin!

A well worn in JC Higgins would be perfect for what your wanting to do. My preference for a utility lever would be stainless and threaded, but sometimes you just got to dance with the girl that brought you.

I think fixing the rear buttstock and adding wood M-Lok to the forend would have looked nice. Put a nice light on the for end and a nice light Leupy LPVO with their firedot and you got a nice brush/pest gun.

I would go the next step and have it threaded as well. The sound of some 200+gr RN subs coming out of that through a can would be music for my ears and, “it’s for the children.” You wouldn’t want to harm your children’s ears right?

 

[Varminterror]

I wouldn’t count on “friends” which wouldn’t be friends just for customizing my own rifle. Personally, I don’t call those folks “friends,” I call them “whiny bitches.”

 

[Mark_Mark]

You must have snowflakes for friends! Grow a set and be comfortable in your own skin!

A well worn in JC Higgins would be perfect for what your wanting to do. My preference for a utility lever would be stainless and threaded, but sometimes you just got to dance with the girl that brought you.

I think fixing the rear buttstock and adding wood M-Lok to the forend would have looked nice. Put a nice light on the for end and a nice light Leupy LPVO with their firedot and you got a nice brush/pest gun.

I would go the next step and have it threaded as well. The sound of some 200+gr RN subs coming out of that through a can would be music for my ears and, “it’s for the children.” You wouldn’t want to harm your children’s ears right?

It’s going to look crazy! Better start my Can paper now!

 

[Mark_Mark]

I wouldn’t count on “friends” which wouldn’t be friends just for customizing my own rifle. Personally, I don’t call those folks “friends,” I call them “whiny bitches.”

I have tons of Guns and very few friends. But that’s OK with me

 

[BreechFace]

It’s going to look crazy! Better start my Can paper now!

Yes, it's currently a 7.5 month wait! A suppressed lever gun is a barrel of fun!

 

[Mark_Mark]

What's next, a red dot scope and laser on your open top black powder Colts? lol

Seen this at the Gun Shop! Nice Colt G1, woild look great with a Red Dot

 

[Speedo66]

Seen this at the Gun Shop! Nice Colt G1, woild look great with a Red Dot

View attachment 1119426

Make sure to drill and tap it for a solid mount.

That red dot would sure add to it's value.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Make sure to drill and tap it for a solid mount.

That red dot would sure add to it's value.

I would jump off the Golden Gate first before I do that! lol

 

[Mark_Mark]

I think you should go for it, some people will hate it but others will get a good laugh.

thanks! for S&G I’ll do a mock up Mloc Wood panels. The Mloc looks very easy to make my own wood panels

 

[BreechFace]

Something like these would look really nice against the aluminum, and playing off the wood stock.

https://www.etsy.com/market/mlok_wood_panel

Put a nice handstop version underneath, I think it would be a nice homage to the homely JC Higgins, certainly more attention then they ever got standing in the shadows of the Win's and Marlin's.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Something like these would look really nice against the aluminum, and playing off the wood stock.

https://www.etsy.com/market/mlok_wood_panel

Put a nice handstop version underneath, I think it would be a nice homage to the homely JC Higgins, certainly more attention then they ever got standing in the shadows of the Win's and Marlin's.

THAT LOOKS GOOD!

maybe get a cheap CNC wood router and go to town!

 

[theotherwaldo]

I don't like to seriously modify a gun that has made it through the generations unchanged or was modified long ago to make more useful or more accurate.
There are plenty of modern, repro or Bubba'd guns out there that are fair game for me to improve.
YMMV.

 

[Gerd33]

Seen this at the Gun Shop! Nice Colt G1, woild look great with a Red Dot

It's not a Gen1 Colt but someone did that to this 45 Colt Ruger Bisley that showed up on a sale this past summer.
I was looking for a handgun to bring along during our deer season and this one checked all the boxes that I wanted, Ruger Single Action in 45 Colt with and Optic already installed, and I got it at what I consider a decent price because it was "ruined".

 

[Mark_Mark]

It's not a Gen1 Colt but someone did that to this 45 Colt Ruger Bisley that showed up on a sale this past summer.
I was looking for a handgun to bring along during our deer season and this one checked all the boxes that I wanted, Ruger Single Action in 45 Colt with and Optic already installed, and I got it at what I consider a decent price because it was "ruined".

View attachment 1119496

WoW so much Rail and so high!!! lol

I would remove that rail and replace with something not so UGLY! lol

 

[Gerd33]

WoW so much Rail and so high!!! lol

I would remove that rail and replace with something not so UGLY! lol

Yep, I personally think it's hideous, but.....
It's also dead on at ~35yrds with ammo in the 950-1000 FPS range like the Hornady FTX's which is exactly what I wanted so I'm not inclined to mess with it.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Yep, I personally think it's hideous, but.....
It's also dead on at ~35yrds with ammo in the 950-1000 FPS range like the Hornady FTX's which is exactly what I wanted so I'm not inclined to mess with it.

Does it embarrass you to carry that thing? asking for a friend

 

[Gerd33]

Does it embarrass you to carry that thing? asking for a friend

There's not many others to see it out in my woods.
I might find it amusing taking it to a range though just to watch others wince when they see it.

 

[3Crows]

The price really jumped when Remington shut down,
I paid $275 for my daughter's (JM) 30-30 about 4yrs ago on an estate sale, which was a little bit of a bargain since those were going in the $350ish range in the local area.

This past summer while I didn't see any of the JC Higgins sell, the JM (and one Remington Production) were selling in the 7-800 range at the same type of estate sales. This is what I recorded from a couple of sales I attended. I do think yours would have brought at least 500 on the same sale.

June:
$700 - 1988-336CS 30-30 JM
$700 - 1974 - 336 30-30 JM (rough stock)
$825 - 1983 336CS JM
$775 - 1960 336SC JM

October
$700 - 336W REM
$700 - 336W 1990 JM

Prices were higher for other calibers (35 Rem, 32 specia) and variants (336A model).
It will be interesting to see if prices come back down if/when Ruger gets production going.6

A rising tide floats all boats.

I think there will be a reset after Ruger-Marlin has a good line up of models including some basic models (a plain Jane 336 for example) on the shelves but the prices for used (or new) rifles is not going to drop back to pre-Covid disruption prices and the shortage caused by Marlin shutting down really for nearly four years plus will take a few years to correct.

 

[adcoch1]

I have tons of Guns and very few friends. But that’s OK with me

Better than the other way around if you ask me. I'd thread it and put a can on too. Especially with the rail. That and a light, some suppressor height night sights or a red dot and it's the perfect modern camp protection rifle.

 

[Mark_Mark]

Better than the other way around if you ask me. I'd thread it and put a can on too. Especially with the rail. That and a light, some suppressor height night sights or a red dot and it's the perfect modern camp protection rifle.

I’m going to Project a Ruger Marlin 44 mag when they come out. why not! Supress heavy .44 mag, Lever Tactical, with all the goodies!!

 

[tmd16556]

Brown Bess musket, shark fin front grip, rails for thermal sight, laser, and chainsaw bayonet.

*Drops mic*