Saw a used "Ted Williams" 30-30 lever in my favorite gun store yesterday. It sure looked like a Winchester. Is it a Sears & Roebuck branded Winnie?

Yes, and they are starting to be somewhat "collectable" if they are clean.

Sears contracted with Winchester, to brand Model 94's with their name (along with other makers/models) from 1964, until Sears stopped retailing firearms ca. 1973.

The Model 94's had non-walnut stocks, and no forend barrel band, IIRC - but otherwise they were regular, post-64 Winchester 94 Carbine's.

Some grades were simply marked "Sears", other grades "J.C.Higgins", and Sear's "top-of-the-line" marked "Ted Williams" (AKA a "signature" model)

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Sears branded firearms go back alot further than 1964. I have a Sears J.C. Higgins 16 gauge double circa 1949 and I know they go back alot further than that.

Looked it up. Sears J.C. Higgins firearms were sold from 1908-1964 and thereafter under the Ted Williams name.

FN Mauser action JC Higgins rifles are climbing in price.

FYI : MODEL 94's were not branded for Sears prior to 1964 !

I stand by my statement !

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I don't know what period of time Sears sold house-brand lever action rifles from both Marlin and Winchester in 30-30, but I remember seeing the Winchester 94s when I was a boy in the 1960s.

All of the Sears branded Marlin 336s that I've seen were the same, or very close, to the standard Marlin branded 336 specs. All of the Sears branded Winchester 94s that I've seen were easy to differentiate for the standard Winchester branded 94 specs because the barrel on the Sears branded rifles extended beyond the end of the magazine tube.

Sears 45, 101.451, 103.450, and 103.451 = Marlin 336

Sears 54, 273.2120, 273.532140, 273.53419, 273.810, and 273.811 = Winchester 94


JEff

Monkey Wards (Montgomery Wards) did the same thing also.

Every blue moon you will find a Sears lever action in 35 Remington.

I've recently passed on a J.C. Higgins and a Revelation (Western Auto) marked Marlin 336.

i just sold a jc higgins L461 sako. also have a jc higgins high standard 22. lots of store brands.

I have several "store brand" guns and I like 'em just fine. For me they bring to mind fond memories of my youth, when I studied the gun sections of the Sears and Wards catalogs with enthusiasm and you could still actually order one and have it delivered to your door ! My first .22 was a J.C Higgins, my first shotgun a Western Field and I killed the biggest buck of my life with a slug fired from a Ted Williams 20 gauge pump.

I have witnessed two blue moons since I started paying attention in the last 7 years but I have yet to see a Sears lever gun in 35 Remington.

I seem to recall the Ted Williams version of the M94 had some sort of funky forend cap. I have a memory going back about 35 years ago - a guy trying to sell me one and he held his hand over the forend cap so I wouldn't see it

I am trying to research the Sears Lever Rifles,
I have come up with 3 different Models. Model 45, Model 54, and Model 100.
The Model 45's (Marlin 336)have two different Model Numbers, 103.450 & 103.451. The examples I have found show a JC Higgins label on the 103.450 and a Sears label on the 103.451. Also it seams they listed the 45 in 1964 & 1965. I have read forums with guys stating they have a Model 45 in 35 Rem.
The Model 54 (Winchester 94) have three identified Model Numbers, 273.2120, 213.810, and 273.811. These are New Model (NM)or post 1964 Winchesters made to Sears Specs. They all have the Stamped Carrier, Steel Butt Plates, and Nose Caps. I should mention here that they all have the long nose cap except the 273.811 which has a short nose cap. These are all listed as 30-30 and availlable from 1966 - 1972.
The Model 100 (Winchester 94) have three identified Model Numbers, 273.532151, 273.582140, and 273.582141. These are also New Model Winchesters made to Sears Specs. I know that Models 273.582140 & 273.582141 have the Ted Williams label and a Plastic Butt Plate. I can't verify if the carrier is Stamped or Cast, the only example I have found did have a cast but it was common practice to exchange the stamped with cast. I have read but can't verify that these were only available in 1973.
Two Models I haven't identified as yet are 273.532140 & 273.53419. I have read postings claiming the 273.2140 is a Model 100.
Any documented info, pictures or catalog pages would be appreciated.

I have a 54 in 30-30. Franks guns in Marcy NY has a Sears Marlin in 35.

There a Model 54 on Gunbroker and the pics hide that strange forend. They also seem to have a pre-'64 buttplate. Strange in a cool sorta way.

Sears Lever Update

I guess I had some Model Numbers wrong on earlier post.

Model 45 listed in the Big Book was available in 30-30 & 35 Rem. and was listed from 1958 to 1964.
Both Models, 103.450 & 103.451 were manufactured by Marlin (336).

Model 54 listed in the Big Book was available in 30-30 only and was listed from 1964 - 1971.
Models 273.810, 273.811, and 273.2120 were manufactured by Winchester (NM94).

Model 100 listed in the Big Book was available in 30-30 only and was listed from 1972 - 1982.
Models 273.532140 and 273.532141 were manufactured by Winchester (NM94).

The Sears Spare Parts page lists the following,
273.810 = Sears 54 Lever Action Repeating Rifle
237.811 = Sears Lever Action Repeating Rifle
273.2120 = Sears 54 Lever Action Repeating Rifle
273.53419 = Sears Winchester Carbine
273.532140 = Sears Model 100 Ted Williams Lever Action Repeating Rifle
273.532141 = Sears Model 100 Lever Action Repeating Rifle
Not listed on Sears Spare Parts Page,
103.450, 103.451, 273.532151

A friend wanted a lever action 30-30 I got a good deal on a Ted Williams model from Joes64gto here on the fire. It was well used but not abused and was a great shooter. As far as I can tell its just a rebranded 94.

I have to agree with both of you - J. C. Higgins goes goes back to 1908 but I have no reason to question that the version of the 94 didn't start until 1964. Prior to WWII however, J. C. Higgins was not used as a name on firearms - Sears used 'RANGER' for their own branded guns starting at least by the mid-twenties. The J. C. Higgins products for 1908 were baseballs & some other related products. Here is some info right from the 'Sears Archives' - /brands/jchiggins

I think from the model numbers listed it's obvious that the three digits before the decimal represent the original manufacturer - as a Savage collector I look for 101.xx. Savage/Stevens/Fox made RANGER branded guns for Sears at least as far back as 1925 and may have been one of the first to do so. The model numbering system appears to have started somtime in the 1940's.

Numrich has a large House Brand Cross Reference - take into account that it is very large and does have some errors. Here are the pages with Sears listings showing that the numbering system started with 'RANGER' branded guns, continues to page 12 - Brand-Cross-Reference.htm?page=4

My first deer rifle was a Sears Ted Williams Model 30-30
Carbine made by Winchester that was 40 + plus years ago.
I miss that old gun!

My recollection is that the Ted Williams 94s have a slightly shorter magazine.