Last of these rifles built in 1959 and sold through Sears as J C Higgins. Marlin name on rifle in 40's and earlier. Just got back this afternoon from Magnolia RPC where I put several rounds through this 40+ year old .22SL Lr bolt action. Had to do a minor fix today but it worked. Anyone have one of these old bolt actions. It seemed to like the shorts much better than the Lr's but really seemed to like Remington Thunderbolt in LR. She has a 24" barrel. Sights are really poor fixed but useful. Parts are, of course, really hard to come by.
J C Higgins Model 103.18 a.k.a Marlin 100
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I regret selling a 81D I had for years, hard to beat the old Marlin bolt actions. I put a Williams receiver sight on mine, and a higher front blade from Numerich...and the squirrels feared it lol. Bought it in a pawn shop for $45 waay back, after a detailed cleaning it fed everything. Over the years they can collect a lot of junk in the feeding mechanism.
This Model 103.18 is a one-round at a time deal. No magazine. One round in fingers-one round in chamber. No one else cared about this old rifle anymore so I kept it and am slowly cleaning it up as far as finish. It's been setting for years unshot until I got really interested in it along with the upkeep I do on everyday guns. Had to fix the bolt handle for some time and finally got it so today. It's sights are the cheapest ever on a gun but they're in the plans too. I just want it to be a decent shooter again. It took several critters in its' day but a bolt action .22 is just plain fun.
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My Granddad had one that was semi auto as well. Can't rememnver too much about it since my brother has it now. I do remember it shot everything(s,l,lr) and had a yellow looking wooden stock. Never did fire it but my Dad said my Granddad used to shoot at dogs messing with cows he had.
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Sorry. Should have checked before I posted. His was a Belknapp not a J.C. higgins
I started the clean-up project today. Basic gun cleaning with lots of attention to the barrel and bolt face and chamber. I tapped out basic adjustable rear sight from '74 Marlin model 60 and used it to replace sight on Higgins since they are both 1/4" length (down barrel) dovetail cuts and 60 is wearing a BSA .22 Special 4x32 scope now. Next it will be some finish work on barrel to clean and retard future rust. Today I polished the screws holding trigger guard, stock pad and main stock screw to receiver and started on barrel. I'll post picture when I finish the project sometime this spring. Stock is in pretty good shape but may do it also. I have in mind a Williams fire sight for front but front sight looks as if it would have to be ground down. There isn't space to drill and tap for a small scope so I want to improve sights.
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Sweet, I love seeing these old shooters brought back into nice shape. :thumbup:
I realize this is an old post, but I have this same model rifle. My dad gave it to me before my parents moved. I consider it my first gun. I had to have a buddy repair it before it could shoot. The firing plate spring had kinked and the bolt catch had to be reworked. Before it was fixed you could gently shake the gun and it would fire. All is fixed now, a year later and shoots like a pro. Now I just need to sit down and sight it in.
Glad to see the response. I took mine out again just about 8 weeks ago. Hopefully will this weekend. Had to put original rear sight back on because Marlin 60 sight would move a little between rounds. Still looking at other sights for rifle. She really likes the CCI CB shorts.
I have one of these rifles. I got it from my dad in 1979 for 4-H riflery competitions. As I recall, he paid about $65 for it in a pawn shop and I have managed to keep this rifle working all these years. One problem that has plagued this weapon since I first shot it in 1979 is that it absolutely will not extract a spent casing. I am looking for a replacement extractor as I am sure the current one is long past worn out. I had a small pen knife and would use that as my extractor between shots...very inconvenient.
Keep shooting those old irons, fellers as they are becoming ever more scarce as days become years and the years decades. I intend to keep mine until my last breath. I cannot ever get broke enough to ever sell this thing.
Thanks for introducing this thread. I hope my post will spark more crossfeed and interest in preserving these nostalgic pieces of history. Perhaps we can meet up at a range some day and make some noise with them.
Keep shooting those old irons, fellers as they are becoming ever more scarce as days become years and the years decades. I intend to keep mine until my last breath. I cannot ever get broke enough to ever sell this thing.
Thanks for introducing this thread. I hope my post will spark more crossfeed and interest in preserving these nostalgic pieces of history. Perhaps we can meet up at a range some day and make some noise with them.
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I found one of these JC Higgins 103.18 rifles at a local gun shop, brought it home and forgot about it for two months. After a good cleaning, my son and I shot target for an hour yesterday, using Remington shorts and Federal Lightenings. It is a nicely balanced, well-mannered little gun, and after some sight adjustments, wonderfully accurate. I like it better than my Savage Mark 1. The Higgins does seem to like shorts, though the Remington cartridges seem uneven in quality. Perhaps CCI's will be more reliable. I agree with others who feel that a single shot bolt action is a whole lot of fun.
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I have one with:
J.C. Higgins (in script)
.22 S, L, & LR, Mod. 41
103,19***
Sears, Roebuck and Co.
on the barrel. The barrel is about 18". I got it when I was about 12 from my cousin. His Dad bought it for him new. I think I paid $15 for it around 1960. I cut the stock down when my son was about six to teach him to shoot. I recently ordered a Marlin model 100 stock for it from Numrich and put the 4x15 scope that came on my Marlin 60 on it. I put a Tasco 3-9x32 on the model 60 and 783 .22 magnum. And I have been itching to shoot all three.
J.C. Higgins (in script)
.22 S, L, & LR, Mod. 41
103,19***
Sears, Roebuck and Co.
on the barrel. The barrel is about 18". I got it when I was about 12 from my cousin. His Dad bought it for him new. I think I paid $15 for it around 1960. I cut the stock down when my son was about six to teach him to shoot. I recently ordered a Marlin model 100 stock for it from Numrich and put the 4x15 scope that came on my Marlin 60 on it. I put a Tasco 3-9x32 on the model 60 and 783 .22 magnum. And I have been itching to shoot all three.
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