The JC Higgins Model 31

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I took possession of a JC Higgins model 31 today. My FFL has a place to shoot so I loaded 4 rounds in it and shot it. Rifle worked perfectly and ejected the empties about 15 foot away. Brought it home and tore it down and cleaned it and it was DIRTY. The only part of the rifle that doesn't look new is the right side of the barrel. Looks like someone took a pot scrubber to it and wasn't much bluing left. I'll probably have my gunsmith duracote the barrel sometime so it will look like new again. Fun little rifle to shoot. Like everyone else I'm trying to figure out when it was made. It is the 583.3100 model with double claw extractor and no built-in sling. The bottom claw of the extractor is broken off and gone but it still extracts fine with just the top claw. If anyone has an idea as to when it was made please let me know. Thanks.....Lonnie
 
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Alas, it was not mean't to be. I cleaned and inspected the rifle last night after only shooting 4 rounds thru it. I found that the dovetail which is part of the receiver that holds the ejector in place was broken. The only thing that was keeping the ejector in place was dirt and grime and once it was cleaned the rifle jammed up between every round. Took it to my gunsmith today and he diagnosed it for me. I called the seller from the gunsmith's shop to tell him about it and he said to ship it back to him for a refund. Rifle is back together now and all boxed up waiting for UPS to pick it up.
 
That's too bad... I imagine it could be silver soldered but it might be more trouble than it's worth. Glad the seller's taking care of you. Keep your eye on gunbroker; these pop up there from time to time.:cool:
 
Pics of JC Higgins sear and spring

I have received a basket case JC Higgins 36. It appears to be there except for the disconnector. I am looking for any photo's of the assembled trigger group. It all appears pretty self explanatory except for how the sear and spring, and the disconnector and spring fit together. Could a generous soul please post some photo's and or drawings to help me assemble this? I have all the manuals, owner's and Gun Digest Rimfire book, but they do not show detailed pics of how the springs fit. Any help would be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Dale
 
Model 31.....a great find, this thread.....ditto

Hello all, I want into the club as well.......

I was just given:) a model 31. A gentleman said it was his grandfathers and had been stored in a damp basement for YEARS..:banghead:... It was in the original cardboard box that Sears sold them in but the finish of the barrel is rusted. Not as horrible as the Mossberg 20ga stored with it but enough. The wood had some mildew spots and the sling would not function. I was able to tear the entire rifle down, used #0000 steel wool to clean up the barrel and magtube. The trigger assembly and reciever looked as if the were a lead depository. There was so much junk in the bolt and firing pin channel I thought it would never come clean....
I took the wool to the wood lightly and they came out nice as well. I just put it back together minus the sling, gonna try that 12" tape measure spring mentioned in one of the posts a while back to see if I can't get that thing to function as well.
Think I'll take her out to see where she hits and MAYBE go the old-style scope route.

Keep the posts coming and if anyone can provide numbers for scope rings, please post em up here as well.
 
Iwould like to remove the bolt for cleaning,can you help with the trick.This is a model 34 jc with the jc scope.Shoots great,thanks john new member 1st time post thanks
 
jc 34

The 34 is identical to the 29.Both are instructed to shoot 22 long rifle only.Trigger mech.are interchangable,and look same.My question is removing the bolt for maintainance.The recoil spring and rod appear to be holding the handle in,but to remove the spring without damage seems tricky. john
 
If it is indeed identical to the 29/31, you remove the side screw and forend screw, remove the trigger group, pull the bolt rearward far enough that it clears that interior lip/shelf thing, and lift up on the front of the bolt (this is with the rifle upside down, obviously). This lifts the bolt off of the handle and you can decompress the spring as you remove the bolt. In this regard it's similar to the Ruger 10/22 with the exception that the J.C. Higgins has a separate bolt handle.


Getting it lined back up again is a bit tricky but it goes in the reverse way it came out. Good luck.

BTW if you search this thread I believe one or two people have posted links to the manual for the model 29/31, if that helps.
 
36 not 34

Your help did the trick,easy out tricky in.A good thing to clean an old rifle,every thing but grandmas out house was in the meck.gritty black stuff.My mistake on the model,not a 34 but a 36 and a 29 but identical.Except for the workmanship,the 29 machineing is much finer smoother,the 36 is very good and works great,the 29 innerds are prettier.Thanks big help john
 
One more member!

I have a Model 31, sling works just fine. My dad bought it new from a Sears store in Tampa back in the late 50's. Great gun, first real gun I ever shot. When I was in high school we'd go down to some old phosphate pits and shoot bottles, cans, etc. I've probably put over 10,000 rounds through it, and it is still one of the most accurate .22 rifles I've ever shot. Haven't had it to the range in a couple of years, might go use up a brick of ammo with it sometime soon.
 
Hello everyone, I was cleaning out my grandfathers house and found his model 31. I took it apart and went to clean it and discovered the Cartridge Lifter Spring was sitting in the bottom of the trigger assembly. I have found the break down online but it really does not show how it goes in. I'm assuming it goes on the small pin that is between the two larger pins but not sure. Anybody have any good photos or diagrams of this.
ps..not real sure that it is the correct spring.
 
I have the 28, 29, a few 30's and a few 31's. I have my own little club. Great shooters. Even have the original box and cleaning kit for one of the 31's.
 
Newbie here, but researching the 22s I inherited from my Dad, and 2 uncles led me here. Those rifles are - 1) J.C. Higgins, Model 31, with sling. 2) Stevens, Model 34, and 3)Winchester, Model 67. The 67 is the first I shot, and most used. Lots of great memories. My son is looking forward to getting these handed up to him. Thanks for the info posted.
 
1KPerDay,

What a fascinating thread! I don't own one of these rifles, but you've done one heck of a job getting guys the right info and other places to look for help.

On one aspect of the cleaning and re-oiling segment. One can use whatever to lube, Rem oil or whatever, one thing I've found, and would suggest to use, Gun Butter. I am in no way associated with this company, or its products, however....... I bought an older Beretta 1935 .32 auto from a pawn shop, nice little pistol, hadn't been cleaned since it left the factory! Ha I bought new springs and had a smith install them, after a 1/2 can of brake cleaner used to clean out years of gunk. I applied this GB "sparingly", this little pistol shoots like a house afire. The GB comes in a small bottle, a short 2" needle attached, gets into small crannies and places normally one can't get to. Might try this lube on the slide and extractor parts of your rifle. Again, use sparingly, this stuff works wonders, like greased lightning!

Thanks for your time.
Jim
 
Seriously,

I saw one in my local gun shop today. I have to go take another look. The stock was light in color, maybe a restock because it was a like striped maple furniture. You know where the grain looks like tiger stripes? I forget what they call it but its common in guitars and such. Anyway the barrel was just a slight bit dirty, but not pitted or anything and the lands and grooves were well defined and sharp. The receiver looked recently cleaned and well oiled.

No marks on the stock, have to go back and see if there is a retractable sling. The barrel had lost most of its blue and had a patina on it that resembled parkarized finish. The stamp JC Higgins was practically worn off, barely legible. At first I thought it said model 313, I could not find a serial number.

Price? $109.00 Should I? The thing caught my attention right away because the light color stock stood out from the other rifles in the case. Is $109 a bargain or am I buying a project?
 
Wait a minute, the rifle I was looking at today was a JC Higgins .22 BOLT ACTION tubular fed rifle. The mark said model 31 or model 313, it was worn off. I assumed it was a model 31 until I watched 1kperday's Youtube video with his son shooting a model 31 that was semi-auto action.
 
Sounds like it's pretty worn. However, IMO, if the bore looks good and all the parts are there, it's hard to argue that it would be worth less than a new $100ish rifle today. The old ones have character and history and style that you can't get for $100 bucks today.

I'd take some dummy/action proving rounds and see if it cycles them. If it does, you're probably good to go.

But it's your money. :)
 
Everybody needs one of these!
 

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