Shotguns and Shotguns

[Pathfinder]

A couple of things about shotguns.

I just picked up a JC Higgins 12ga at a garage sale (all you folks in in CA, IL, MA, etc. eat your hearts out) for $45. That's not a typo. I love North Dakota!

It's made ca. 1955-1960 (no s/n), it's their Deluxe model, cost $100 new in 1955 - lot of money in those days. Also has an amazingly cool looking adjustable choke that actually looks more like a flash suppressor. Short barrel too, even with the suppressor choke.

Only problem is that the bolt handle broke off, but Numrich has replacements. Is this a cool gun or what? Anyone want to offer up ideas, suggestions or what ever about this gun? Any cautions, other than the normal ones for a fifty year old shotgun?

The other thing is I ran across a Brolin Arms SAS 12ga I can get for $250. It is made in China, and appears to be in very good condition. I have never heard of these before, but it is magazine fed and also looks like something that would give the gun banners heartburn. Again, any comments, suggestions, etc.?

Thanks.

[Walter45Auto]

DON'T DO IT!! I Have an SAS 12ga with the bolt stuck half open. I don't now how it happened, but I can't get ahold of any contact info for Brolin arms. And I've been looking for 7 years. Seriously. Get a different gun. Oh, and congrats on the JC Higgins.

[Walter45Auto]

DON'T DO IT!! I Have an SAS 12ga with the bolt stuck half open. Happened the second time we (It was a Christmas Gift from Dad to me and my brother.) fired it. Thankfully the entire shot cup was in the chamber when I pulled the trigger. I can't get ahold of any contact info for Brolin arms. And I've been looking for 7 years. Seriously. Get a different gun. Oh, and congrats on the JC Higgins.

[Scott Moore]

Pathfinder,
Great find on the old JC Higgins. As you might know JC Higgins was the brand name chosen by Sears for their firearms. Later the name was changed to Ted Williams as part of a marketing program with the baseball great /outdoorsman as the spokesman. Sears used many firearm manufacturers to produce their guns, including giants such as Winchester. Your shotgun was produced by High Standard, and I consider it one of the most underrated pumpguns of the era. It is ironclad, yet smooth as a Winchester Mod 12. The choke system you mentioned is similar to the Lyman Cuts Compensator. This system has been used on many different firearms from shotguns to the Thompson submachine gun. It used an expansion chamber that was threaded to accept a screw-in choke; hence the look of a suppressor. Shoot it and enjoy it.