22 Caliber Rifle Appraisal

J.C. Higgins Slide Action .22 Caliber Rifle Barrel

This is a vintage steel barrel from a J.C. Higgins Slide Action .22 caliber rimfire rifle, likely the Model 29 or Model 31 series. The barrel features a dark blued finish which shows considerable signs of age and use. Stamped clearly on the metal is the text 'J.C. HIGGINS SLIDE ACTION' followed by 'MODEL NO. 126.102940'. The '126' prefix indicates it was manufactured for Sears, Roebuck & Co. by the High Standard Manufacturing Company. The item exhibits a significant amount of surface patina, including localized areas of bluing loss and minor surface oxidation (rust) consistent with mid-20th-century firearms from the 1950s or 1960s. The cylindrical steel construction represents classic American sporting rifle manufacturing from the post-war era. While only a portion of the firearm is visible, the stamps are legible and have not been worn flat by over-polishing. There are visible scuffs and scratches along the length of the barrel, indicating it has been handled frequently. This component is essential for identifying the specific Sears-branded catalog model produced during High Standard's peak production period for mass-market sporting goods.