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I'm trying to find out info on a J C Higgins Model 51 - 270 Win. The side of the receiver is marked with a symbol and the words "action made in Belgium". Thanks for your help - Mike
J C Higgins
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jc higgins rifles
They pop up for sale from time to time, model 50 and 51 are most common, only in .270 Win and .30-06. Straight-grain walnut stocks...not fancy, but some later models were checkered.
I bought one here locally for $300...Gunbroker.com has 2 model 50's for $300 and $400!
All parts seem to be available, after all it is one of the most popular actions in the world.
Use it as a hunting rifle...mine is a tack-driver...or swap out the barrel for some custom and have a head start on something nice and personal.
Good luck!
Your model 51 was made up in the USA with a FN-Belgium 98 Mauser Action with a barrel from (reportedly) High Standard and assembled by them for Sears. Good hunting guns!
They pop up for sale from time to time, model 50 and 51 are most common, only in .270 Win and .30-06. Straight-grain walnut stocks...not fancy, but some later models were checkered.
I bought one here locally for $300...Gunbroker.com has 2 model 50's for $300 and $400!
All parts seem to be available, after all it is one of the most popular actions in the world.
Use it as a hunting rifle...mine is a tack-driver...or swap out the barrel for some custom and have a head start on something nice and personal.
Good luck!
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620 Posts
Most likely an FN Mauser receiver. Nice rifles, If you want to sell it PM me. They were commercial Large ring Mauser actions made for the civilian market. One of the nicer Mauser actions you can get.
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I don't agree with this statement on the Chuck Hawk's page.
"The Model 50 was originally produced by Belgium's Fabrique Nationale using a commercial 98 Mauser action and 22 inch chrome lined barrel from High Standard. The chrome-lined barrels were limited to Models 50 and 51."
The above statement infers that the rifles were 'made' or assembled by FN using High Standard barrels.
I don't think thats true. My late dad owned a tool and die shop in CT and he made tooling for High Standard to use on that rifle. I went with him to the High Standard plant in the 50's to pick up two new M51's. One was for him and the other for his brother. Both were 30-06's and I still have his rifle.
"The Model 50 was originally produced by Belgium's Fabrique Nationale using a commercial 98 Mauser action and 22 inch chrome lined barrel from High Standard. The chrome-lined barrels were limited to Models 50 and 51."
The above statement infers that the rifles were 'made' or assembled by FN using High Standard barrels.
I don't think thats true. My late dad owned a tool and die shop in CT and he made tooling for High Standard to use on that rifle. I went with him to the High Standard plant in the 50's to pick up two new M51's. One was for him and the other for his brother. Both were 30-06's and I still have his rifle.
Those model 51s are fine rifles. I have a friend with a collection of big-store-brand 1950s and '60s centerfires based on Belgian M98 actions, several of them Sears Model 51s. They can usually be had for very resonaable prices.
Another Sears-branded "sleeper" is the Ted Williams Model 53. These are just post-'64 Winchester Model 70s. Laying aside any prejudices against the post-'64, these are well-built, slick-running, accurate rifles. I bought an absolutely mint example a couple of months back for $275, Bushnell scope included.
Another Sears-branded "sleeper" is the Ted Williams Model 53. These are just post-'64 Winchester Model 70s. Laying aside any prejudices against the post-'64, these are well-built, slick-running, accurate rifles. I bought an absolutely mint example a couple of months back for $275, Bushnell scope included.
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Model 1951
I managed to locate several of these fine rifles in .270 and ,30-06 at very reasonable prices. The only thing I changed was to replace the two-piece trigger arrangements with Timney triggers. All the best...
Gil
I managed to locate several of these fine rifles in .270 and ,30-06 at very reasonable prices. The only thing I changed was to replace the two-piece trigger arrangements with Timney triggers. All the best...
Gil
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36,686 Posts
Are all the barrels supposed to be chrome lined? Someone gave me a 98 mauser barrel a few years back and I happened to look at it today and it is marked as a JC Higgins model 51 and also Sears, etc.
However the bore appears to be blued.
However the bore appears to be blued.
I surely do remember some of those model 51 J.C. Higgins rifles! There used to be a turkey shoot down around Blue Eye years ago. You could shoot any center fire caliber you wanted from the picnic bench. There were a couple of fellows who had model 51's and they were regular winners at the weekend meat shoots.
You shot at a target 100 yards away with iron sights.........target the size of a playing card with a V-shap printed on the card. The man who busted center or closest that round won. I stayed on my fathers back for a J.C. Higgins rifle for Christmas that year but it did not arrive until the following Christmas. It was indeed a dandy, even if it was a .22LR.
You shot at a target 100 yards away with iron sights.........target the size of a playing card with a V-shap printed on the card. The man who busted center or closest that round won. I stayed on my fathers back for a J.C. Higgins rifle for Christmas that year but it did not arrive until the following Christmas. It was indeed a dandy, even if it was a .22LR.
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