Sears model with scope grooves is a bargain at $50! Pat
Look for a number on the rear breech cap, that should tell you the age and give you sn idea on exactly what it might be.
As I remarked in your other thread, that’s a weird one! I’ve seen one other like it. Speculation is that it was a very early transitional 140/1400. Your’s may be a bitsa but the one piece barrel stamped 140 is certainly unique.
A Sears gun, with the white spacer. Heavy barrel/receiver, I think these were the forerunner of the 1400. Clever scope mounting but I'm not a fan of the Weaver V22.
I have 3 of these "mystery" one piece breech/barrel 140 marked Crosman's all of which are dated 269 which is Feb '69. I also have a 1400 marked Crosman dated 169 which is Jan '69. This indicates the "mystery" 140's were manufactured AFTER the 1400 was put into production. The following is my view as to what the "mystery" guns are.The '68 gun control act was signed into law and became effective in Oct of '68. Sears responded by getting out of the gun business almost immediately after its signing. As a result, Crosman lost it's biggest and best customer. I believe Crosman reacted by deciding to adopt the Sears one piece breech/barrel (without the Sears scope grooves) and butt stock/pump handle configurations as a revised 140 and started marking un-grooved one piece breech/barrels as 140's; this is consistent with what Crosman did when they adopted the one piece breech/barrel with the 150 pistols. At some point Crosman changed it's mind and decided to call the Sears configuration a new model, the 1400. My Jan '69 1400 has a black barrel spacer and butt plate; the Sears guns had a white barrel spacer and no butt plate. As a result of the name change and butt plate upgrade, Crosman had left over obsolete parts: the 140 marked one piece breech/barrels, Sears white barrel spacers and butt stock/pump handles. I believe Crosman used these obsolete parts to assemble the "mystery" guns.So far, I've not been able to determine how these factory assembled parts guns were marketed and sold.Also, should these parts guns should be considered a unique model separate from the 140 and 1400 or a variation of one or the other??? Keep in mind, these were manufactured after the two piece breech/barrel 140 was discontinued and the one piece breech/barrel 1400 adopted.I've seen about 8 or 9 of these guns over the years, and all of them, including my 3 were in rough, rode hard and put away wet condition.
Very interesting gun Rick. It’s got the white spacer but no dovetail on the breech. It looks almost identical to my first model Sears 126.19300. Minesays “ Sears Roebuck and Co.”. Not JC Higgins on the barrel. Be interesting to see if that one is marked JC Higgins. That would add a new layer. Maybe some other oddball variations?
Be interesting to see if that one is marked JC Higgins. That would add a new layer. Maybe some other oddball variations?