Store Brand Rifles from 50's, 60's, Wards, Western Auto, etc.

[jds holler]

I thought it might be fun to see or hear about these old rifles that you could see in any department store, or their catalogue back in the day. I remember lusting for them when I was a kid. I think some of the names were Ted Williams, Western Auto, Western Field, ummm PennCraft??

Seems like they were made by Mossburg, Savage, Stevens, Marlin, ???

I've got this one that is a pretty nice rifle, and perfect for what it was made for. Nice wood, nice blue, comfortable to carry, -- Western Field Model M780. It's a Mossburg, but marked no where on the gun. This one was given to me along with a Rem 788. After shooting them both, I kept this one. Crazy, I know.


My first 22 was a Western Auto "Revelation", also made by Mossberg I think.

Anybody got any of these, or see them around? jd

 

[Twicepop]

Weren't those early Mossberg rifles made by TIKKA?

 

[ShootDots]

I had a Stevens single shot .22 (Sears) when I was about 14-15. I put a Weaver scope on it and believe me that thing shot very well! I may be mistaken as to the actual price, however, I know it was not over 25 bucks!
I also remember it had 1" "Tip-Off" mounts that did not need any bases! They were slits cut into the receiver!

 

[Mulligan]

My family had a Ted Williams 20 ga pump, and a JC Higgins 12 ga pump shotgun. Both were very serviceable shotguns. I grew up on Whidbey Island in Puget Sound..... both of these shotguns got a LOT of use from my brothers and I. They are still in service today, a darn good value indeed.
CW

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Revelation was marlin i think. I have a tube fed 22 auto and the only difference in it and my brother’s marlin is the acorns in the grip checkering and a gold trigger. My revelation has no checkering.

 

[ShootDots]

Revelation was marlin i think. I have a tube fed 22 auto and the only difference in it and my brother’s marlin is the acorns in the grip checkering and a gold trigger. My revelation has no checkering.

I may be mistake Dusty, but I think the "less expensive version" of Marlin was called a "Glenfield"..

 

[jds holler]

Weren't those early Mossberg rifles made by TIKKA?

Naahh, they were made in Murica in New Haven.

Those rifles would often come outfitted with scopes, slings, all ready to buy a box of shells and kill your buck saturday morning. Sometimes they'd have a standard or Delux version of the same gun. jd

 

[Twicepop]

I think Revelation was Monkey Wards.

 

[pikespeakgoat]

Here's a good Western Auto list and who made them.
https://gun-data.com/western_auto_revelation.html

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I may be mistake Dusty, but I think the "less expensive version" of Marlin was called a "Glenfield"..

I have seen those and once owned a glenfield 30-30. I think glenfield and revelation was just sold in different stores

 

[pikespeakgoat]

And also for Sears branded:
https://gun-data.com/sears_roebuck_guns.html

 

[SSL]

As a kid I had a Sears J.C. Higgins bolt action 20 gauge with adjustable choke (Mossberg) and later bought a Coast to Coast 12 gauge pump with 28" modified choke (Mossberg 500 with full, checkered, forearm-not the ribbed).

 

[ShootDots]

I have seen those and once owned a glenfield 30-30. I think glenfield and revelation was just sold in different stores

I did not know that.. Glenfield was up in New York and maybe the Northeast>>>>I don't know.. It is amazing what you can learn from various areas in this country..

 

[pikespeakgoat]

And the Montgomery Wards branded:
https://gun-data.com/Montgomery_ward_firearms.html

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I have seen both locally back in the 70’s/80’s. I believe i heard our western auto sold both. Ill ask my father

 

[mousegunner]

My dad bought me a used Ted Willaims .22. (Marlin Mod 60?) and shot thousands of rounds above what it already had on it. One of the pin holes cracked in the trigger assembly and a piece broke off. At 16 years old I drilled a new hole close to the other one, reinserted the pin, don't remember what that pin held but it worked!

Shot it a lot more then got $50.00 bucks for it on a police buyback and bought a new Marlin at K Mart for $75.00. Took a lot of jack rabbits with it and a couple of crows.

 

[Lee in Texas]

I have a J.C. Higgins .270 Winchester. It’s an FN Mauser that was sold by Sears.







It’s ummm...going to be taken apart to build a custom rifle.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I have a J.C. Higgins .270 Winchester. It’s an FN Mauser that was sold by Sears.






It’s ummm...going to be taken apart to build a custom rifle.

my dad still raves about his jc higgins pump 12ga he had back in the day

 

[Lee in Texas]

JC Higgins shotgun?? Hey- did any of the department stores sell side by side shotguns with exposed hammers? I’m looking for a bargain. Just kidding about the bargain part.

 

[jds holler]

My old 22 single shot said "Western Auto - by Revelation" on the barrel. But I think it was actually by Mossberg.
I got it for Christmas 1962, at the age of 12. and it was used at that time. That's the rifle that started this wonderful hobby for me. jd