J.C. Higgins Model 28 .22 LR Semi-Auto Rifle, 24 inch Barrel, Tubular Magazine, High Standard Contract (583.71)
This 1950s J.C. Higgins Model 28 is a U.S.-made .22 LR semi-automatic rifle built under contract by High Standard for Sears, catalog code 583.71. It features a 24 inch steel barrel, an under-barrel tubular magazine with a stated 15+1 capacity, and a left-side charging handle with right-side ejection. Period markings, practical controls, and solid steel construction make it a distinctive Sears-branded rimfire from the era.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair condition, showing extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling - Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Details: The metal and wood show handling wear with scratches and blemishes. The finish has noticeable loss in multiple areas. The receiver has holes drilled and tapped on the right side.
What’s Included
- J.C. Higgins Model 28 .22 LR semi-automatic rifle
Contract-manufactured by High Standard for Sears, this Model 28 carries the Sears catalog code 583.71 and reflects U.S. production during the 1950s. The barrel is marked 'U.S. PAT. PENDING' and 'CHAMBERED FOR .22 L.R.
ONLY,' underscoring its dedicated .22 LR chambering.
The rifle uses a simple blowback, semi-automatic action. It has a left-side charging handle paired with right-side ejection, a practical layout for this design. The receiver and barrel are steel, with two drilled-and-tapped holes on the right side of the receiver.
Feeding is handled by an under-barrel tubular magazine with muzzle-end loading and a stated 15+1 capacity. The barrel length is 24 inches, a classic rimfire configuration that complements the tubular magazine system.
Sight elements are straightforward and useful: an iron set with a ramped blade front and an elevation-adjustable notch rear. The hardwood stock is uncheckered and fitted with sling swivel studs. Length of pull measures 13.75 inches, and the butt is capped with a J.C. Higgins-branded cast metal buttplate.
No serial number was observed, which is common on many pre-1968 rimfire rifles.