My most prized gun, mainly for sentimental reasons. It was my father's Sears J.C Higgins Model 60 semi-auto purchased from Sears in Camden in 1957. Killed my first duck with it. The gun still functions flawlessly and is built like a tank. High Standard made these for Sears. I still have a full box of Sears 00 Buck for it too.
It seems that people back then were much smarter than they are today. In the entire Owner's Manual there is not one warning about the fact that you had just purchased a gun and that it might be dangerous. Today, the first ten pages of any manual are in bold, red text warning you not to shoot yourself or others.
It came standard with a solid butt plate and one time while carrying it into the house, it slid out of the unzippered case and slammed onto the sidewalk. It took a small chip out of the heel of the stock and cracked the plate. My father was furious. He eventually cooled down and I told him I would have it repaired. So, with my grass cutting and paper route money we took it to a gunsmith who fixed the chip and installed a solid Pachmayr recoil pad on it. I think it cost me $75. Dad was very happy and so was I.
