My uncle's old shotgun

[KySongDog]

My uncle passed away over 10+ years ago.  Since his passing I've tried to help my aunt with financial affairs since she never got involved with that sort of stuff.  Recently she decided to down size from her house to an apartment.  She is almost 80 and wanted to make the move while her health was still good. 

She was cleaning out a closet and found a long forgotten shotgun which my uncle had bought back in the '50's and she asked me if I would like to have it to remember him by.  The gun is a J.C. Higgins model 20 12 gauge which was sold by Sears, Roebuck.  I took the gun home and cleaned it up a bit.  It doesn't look like it has been shot much as I don't remember my  uncle doing much hunting. 

This morning I took my uncle's memory and his gun for a squirrel hunt.   After a lot of walking, we manage to find a big female fox and a small grey.   They are in the crockpot as I type this post. 

It is amazing to look at the fit, feel and finish of those guns made "back in the day" when compared with today's production.  To me there is no comparison.  This old J.C. Higgins might have been a poor man's gun back then but it definitely shows quality that is missing today.

Here is a short video of its slick action:



And the result of me and my uncle's walk this morning:




Like most of you, I have several guns available to me.  But this one is special and I'll never sell or trade it.

[HaMeR]

I'm really happy you ended up with that shotgun Johnny!! It's a fine looking piece & it sure looks good up against that tree!! 

[Frogman]

Great story Semp!! 

Jim

[slagmaker]

OH man!! What a great gift from your uncle.

Hope you have many walks with him.

[riverboss]

Man what a great gift!! You can hear how slick the action is. They dont make them anymore like that.

Sent from my SCH-S738C using Tapatalk

[msmith]

Pretty nice! Heirloom guns are the best.

[nastygunz]

Classic steel!

[FinsnFur]

You wanna sell that??

I'm kidding What an honorable gift for sure.

[centerfire_223]

Semp, if you get another red squirrel or two. Could you send me the tails? I will be more than happy to pay to ship them out here. I'm wanting to use them tieing flys. Just dab a little salt over the ends of them, that is if you don't mind mailing them my way.

By the way, nice shotgun. Over the last few years, I have picked up two of my grandpa's old guns and one of my great grandpa's. Wouldn't take nothing for them.

[gravesco hunter]

Seems like when you have a firearm from passed kin you remember them every time you look at it,i know i do,congrats on the shotgun and the hunt

[KySongDog]

Semp, if you get another red squirrel or two. Could you send me the tails?

No problem.  PM sent.   

[Coulter]

That's a dandy piece Semp! Ya just gotta love a firearm that has some history behind it.

Steve

[Okanagan]

Yep, that's heritage kind of history.

[Hawks Feather]

It is great that it is staying in the family and also you have an heirloom.

Jerry

[riverboss]

Ive owned a couple old 22s that were jc higgins the fit and finish beats 90 percent of the 22s sold today and a many tree rats fell to them.

Sent from my SCH-S738C using Tapatalk

[JohnP]

That may well be a Win Mdl 12.  Winchester made a bunch of shotguns and rifles as did Remington that sold under various names during that time period.  Put three in and hold the trigger back, jack them into the chamber and if it fires them it's a Mdl 12.  Looks exactly like my Mdl 12.

[riverboss]

I think your on to something Johnp.

Sent from my SCH-S738C using Tapatalk

[shaddragger]

Nice story Semp. I know you enjoyed one more walk with in the woods with your uncle.

[Roundman]

Sweet little gift. I love the old guns.

[Dave]

Nice Semp.  Nothing like a gun passed down from your family.  They're always far more accurate and lighter than if you'd buy it.