I just picked up a nice Sears Model 50 in 30-06 tonight and I have a question about the original stock that came with the gun as I am almost sure that the one on this gun probably didn't come with it. What was the original stock like on these guns?

ON this one its rather dainty, and somebody went through a lot of trouble to put a lot of hand checkering and some small carving on it. Inletting is good, but its a monte carlo type. Could this be an original for this gun?

Doesn't sound original. I have owned perhaps half-a-dozen of those rifles over the years...including back when they were new. All I ever saw or owned had plain, straight-grained stocks with no carving, and definitely not dainty, no cheek-piece or Monte Carlo.

Of course, I didn't own all they made or sold, so who knows? But, it doesn't sound original to me. They're really good little rifles though, so I can understand why some loving owner dressed his "pet" up. Back when money (and plastic debt) wasn't everywhere, a lot of good folk used to do that.

The stock on my model 50 was a plain uncheckered walnut affair. Picture an uncheckered Ruger 77.

I believe Sears also offered a more upscale version of this rifle that had a checkered deluxe type stock, but if memory serves it bore another model number, maybe 53?

The m50 stock had white plastic spacers on the butt and pistol grip. The pistol grip spacer was unique in that it had a "bumpy" pattern along the edge.

well then I am betting somebody spent 2-3 hundred bucks having this stock checkered. too bad its going to ebay as I hate monte carlo stocks.

I have a original model 51 . The 51 had checkering and a cheek piece, Its not danty , kinda like a winchester m70 but the butt is thicker. no montecarlo. The m50 had no cheek piece and most no checkering.

Who actually contracted to make these rifles?
And when were they built?

FN 98 actions, put together by High Standard, with their barrels, which were chrome lined. Early 50's was the time period.

Check out this link, the writer says the guns were put together by FN, but I don't think that's the case.

http://www.gunsandammomag.com/classics/ct0407/

Hell after looking at that i would buy one

They really are a nice smooth action. If I see any more at reasonable prices I would buy another with no hesitation whatsoever.

I believe they are the best value on the used gun market. Typically you can pick one up for about 300.00 and you end up with one of the best actions ever made. Change the trigger, and you have a rifle that is as well made as a pre-64 Model 70.

They don't have the fit and finish of the early model 70's, and the wood can be pretty plain, but everyone I've owned has shot. My JC Higgins 270 is an honest 3/4" rifle. It's light, trim, and for me fits the bill as a "Mountain Rifle."

Now and then stocks come up for sale for those rifles. Lot's of folks buy them for the actions. Keep your eyes open and you should be able to find one, if you are looking for one.

I've owned about a dozen. They go for about $300 nowadays, sometimes less. The only deficiency IMO is the inletting, rather loose. I glass bed the ones I keep. By far the best rifle for the money today. High Standard built these guns. They are now headquartered here in Houston. I spoke with the owner about the old Sears guns, he said he still has all the production records.

quote:

Originally posted by fla3006:
I've owned about a dozen. They go for about $300 nowadays, sometimes less. The only deficiency IMO is the inletting, rather loose. I glass bed the ones I keep. By far the best rifle for the money today. High Standard built these guns. They are now headquartered here in Houston. I spoke with the owner about the old Sears guns, he said he still has all the production records.

If you have any nice ones to sell at $300.00 I will take them.

22, don't have any for sale right now, do have some I'm keeping for projects! They're out there though, I passed on a nice 270 last weekend for $325 (asking).

quote:

Originally posted by fla3006:
22, don't have any for sale right now, do have some I'm keeping for projects! They're out there though, I passed on a nice 270 last weekend for $325 (asking).

Yea, I saw the photo on another thread of the one you are going to "butcher" for some big bore custom rifle

That wasn't a Model 50.

22, you're probably referring to the 300H&H, a 50s vintage semi-custom. When I get through "butchering", even Allen might like it.

Unless we're talking about a genuine collector item, like a pre-64 M70, pre-war Savage 99 or Oberndorf Sporter, etc. it doesn't hurt to upgrade. To me, butchering is drilling extra holes, grinding bolt handles instead of installing the right kind of scope mounts, polishing edges with a wheel, etc. or customizing in some completely inappropriate way.