Weaver did make many of the J.C. Higgins scopes. I have a K3 that is marked Sears.
Ditto on replacing the trigger on the JCH/FN rifles. It is a rinky-dink set-up. I don't know who came up with that one! Luckily any trigger designed for the 98 Mauser will work.
Montgomery Ward also imported a high-grade Mauser 98 rifle in the late 1960's, sold under their Western Field brand. These were built by the well-known firm of Heym in Germany, on good German military 98 actions that were spiffed up considerably, including having one of those little German locking levers on the bottom of the hinged floorplate. The safety is similar to the JCH/FN's, but the trigger is a standard 98 design though single-stage. The barrels were by Heym (and hence very good) and the stock wood generally of better quality than on the JCH rifles, though of typical German design. The Model 720 was a standard sporter with an FN-style bolt handle, Monte Carlo stock and 24" barrel, while the Model 724 had a Mannlicher stock, flat bolt handle, and 22" barrel.
Montgomery Ward also used FN commercial actions in their rifles.
