Who's the bullet expert here?:nerd:

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah 444, that was it. I knew Marlin made the others and my buddy had a Ruger 44 Mag auto. What I most remember about the Krag was that silky smooth action. Was a great deer and elk gun. Did the Auto-Mag ever make a come back?

I've got a Ruger 22 Mag converible single six that I bought in about 1969 or 1970 for $69.50 new. Now they are worth a ton. Got a 357 single six made by U.S. Arms ( now owned by Mossberg ) that has a mirror finish on it. It's on a 44 frame and is a beautiful piece. Also got an old Erma 22 automatic ( baby Luger ).

Got a real old Sears 22 bolt action ( think it's probably a Stevens or a Remington ) that is about 70 years old and a real tack driver. I used to head shoot ground squirrels with it. Have no idea whether it's worth anything or not. Used to have a Western Auto ( Marlin ) 30-30 lever action. It's surprising how many private label guns manufacturers shuck out,or everything else for that matter. Most folks aren't even aware of that.

One of my early detectors was a private label made for Kellyco by Tesoro - a Silver Sabre in disguise. Remember the Pillar detectors? Another Tesoro product.

Bill

 

[DavHut]

Did the Auto-Mag ever make a come back?
Actually, they are back in new production, last I knew. Nows the time to get one.

I've got a Ruger 22 Mag converible single six that I bought in about 1969 or 1970 for $69.50 new. Now they are worth a ton.
I dunno about a ton - NIB's can be had for $250-300. However, any way you shake it, its a nice little holster gun.

Also got an old Erma 22 automatic ( baby Luger ).
THese were quite nice, as I recall.

Got a real old Sears 22 bolt action ( think it's probably a Stevens or a Remington ) that is about 70 years old and a real tack driver. I used to head shoot ground squirrels with it. Have no idea whether it's worth anything or not. Used to have a Western Auto ( Marlin ) 30-30 lever action. It's surprising how many private label guns manufacturers shuck out,or everything else for that matter. Most folks aren't even aware of that.
You're right. They're called "house guns" and there have been plenty. Your bolt action .22, at that age, is likely a Savage or Stevens, but it could be a Remington as they, too, were in the house gun business back then.I recently got a "Glenfield" .30-30, which is really a plain Jane Marlin 336. Glenfield was the "generic" housebrand name carried by many, like Montgomery Wards. Western Auto had the "Revelation" brand and Sears had their "JC Higgins."

One of my early detectors was a private label made for Kellyco by Tesoro - a Silver Sabre in disguise. Remember the Pillar detectors? Another Tesoro product. Even detectors arent immune from this are they? Tesoro, did it, we know Bounty Hunter has. Probably Whites, too. The Troy detectors are basically Tesoro's in disguise, as Troy Galloway used to work for Tesoro, didnt he? Somethign like that...

 

[Uncle Willy]

I've also got a Marlin 22 automatic still in the box upstairs someplace. TRoy's first detectors were made by Tesoro. The X5 was made by Fisher. I field tested that one for him. Don't know who will make the next one he is conjuring up. Whites used to make detectors for a number of concerns including Sears And Wards. Many years ago when Kaiser cars were still in existence you could order a Kaiser Henry J from a Sears catalg.

Garrett makes the Predator detectors for Kellyco. Virtually everything Sears sells is made by some major manufacturer with Sears name on it. I have a Sears VHS video camera that is made by Hitachi. Their tires are all made by Firestone, Goodyear, Michelin, Bridgestone, or whoever gets the contract. There mechanics tools are made by Snap-on or Proto.

I think my J.C. Higgins 22 is probably a REmington because it has that Remington look. One of the best 22 rifles I ever owned was a Winchester 91 single shot my folks bought for me for Xmas when I was 12. My old man said he got me single shot so I would learn how to shoot and hit my target the first time. He had me practice by driving 16 penny nails into a fence post. Needless to say I'm a dead eye.
I used to knock rabbits down on the run with that single shot.

Bill

 

[DavHut]

My first .22 was single shot, as well. I can still recall the first tin can I hit on my own - with my Dad's Ruger MkI. Id like a shoot off with you sometime, Bill. That would be fun.

I remember when I was in the NAVY and qualified expert on everything they had, they wanted to know how a Rent-A-Crow (advanced electronics specialist) could shoot so well!

Sears, of course has long history of selling other peoples stuff - from the beginning in fact. They were the first department store with a catalog. There is nothing new about it, either. Contract manufacturing is as old as can be.

Somewhere on my home computer I have web site that crosses Store Brand guns to maker. Email me and Ill get it to you.

 

[John 'n' W.Va]

My J.C. Higgins 30-06 I got from my grandfather from the 50's, I think is Husquvara. I could really be wrong on that. It says model 51-l, HVA action- made in Sweden. My 16 ga. Is a J.C. Higgins also. I never could find out what it is . All it has on it is the model number.

 

[DavHut]

Made in Sweden about cements it! Husq it is. You would be amazed at how many makers have done this.

 

[Uncle Willy]

Yeah "private labeling" is a very old and very lucrative business. Clothing manufacturers have carried it to a new high. The designer stuff is made in the same sweat shops as Wal-Mart and K-Mart's stuff is made - they just sew in different labels. I remember many years ago I was shopping at Xmas for a winter coat for my girl friend. I looked at the identical coat at nine different stores with nine different labels and nine different prices.

The island of Saipan is just one huge clothing manufacturing complex making most of the clothes sold everywhere and they have large crews of workers who do nothing more than sew "Made In U.S.A." labels on everything. It costs Phil Knight $2.00 to make a $250 pair of Nikes in Viet-Nam where the annual average wage is $500. One reason I don't fall for the designer label scam. A $50.00 to $75.00 designer shirt costs fifty cents to make by a seamstress that is paid twelve cents a garmet to sew them up.

Bill