SEARS J.C. Higgins model 126.19300 White Line vs Crosman 140 - 1400 White Line

[JohnnyS]

My first airgun was a Sears J.C. Higgins Model 126.19300 with the "White Line" spacer.  I fairly recently replaced it with a very nice copy found online.  In the meantime I've noted a few, but seemingly very few, Crosman labeled versions that also sported the "White Line" spacer.   Curious if there is more known about these variations?   What's the current known history of these ??    Here is one recently acquired labeled "Crosman 1400" but still looking to be a Crosman 140 configured airgun and on first glance thought it to be a Sears J.C. Higgins ... but no grooved receiver.   

I've noted in the forum a 2022 discussion about the Crosman 140 variant.  Always like to know as much as practical on the history.   Maybe some form of "transition" build or a "Parts" build ?

[Blowpipe Sam]

What is the manufacture date on your gun?

[JohnnyS]

I have not yet found a serial number on the gun ... there is quite a bit of surface rust in the area where a serial number might be located.   Working on that slowly.   The breech plug is stamped with a "29" ... not sure on that of course.   Saw one reference where that is sometimes a date sensitive location and number ... maybe Feb 1969 ?   or some other "9" decade ??   But 1969 seems to be "too early" .... and 1979 seems to be "too late" for that to be the date reference.   I do find a 2020 discussion on "date stamped breech plugs" that suggests that a "no serial number" option prior to 1975 might be correct and that the "29" might well represent a "pre-serial number" version .... here's the link to that thread:  "https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=178374.msg156022776#msg156022776"  .... this thread suggests that Feb 1969 for a first variant 1400 with the breech cover would be possible.   

Add in the "White Line" spacer and I'm "likin" this one more and more.   It pumps and holds air for a short while but bleeds out fairly quickly.   

[Blowpipe Sam]

I rebuilt my model 126 19300 several years ago and opted for a black anodized aluminum barrel spacer from Precision Pellet.  This gun is pretty much identical to yours except for that and of course it has the dovetail on the barrel.  The end plug is marked 78 which indicates that it was made in July of 1968.  Mine is a very early production gun.  Sears got the new models (as premium models) before Crosman released them under their own brand so the 1400 actually debuted as a Sears product in the 1968 Sears Roebuck Christmas catalogue.  So yours is probably a February 1969 production gun.  The stock and all the other fittings are consistent with an early production gun.  I can’t explain why it has a Crosman marked barrel but accidents do happen.

[JohnnyS]

Thank You ... Blowpipe Sam.  For the discussion and the image.   Both very helpful.   Love the history.   My original Sears J.C. Higgins must have been a 1968 model then.   It would have been a very early edition in any event.   I was into "powder burners" much more shortly there-after.   

[JohnnyS]

And as to the history of the gun ... it came from a location in NY about 75 miles from Fairport, NY.   It didn't have much (any?) provenance beyond the name of the owner from whom I purchased it and the location.   I will see if I can get more of a provenance from that connection.   

[Blowpipe Sam]

I took a closer look at the rear sight on your gun.  I believe it has a moveable plate on the sight that allows fine adjustment of the sight aperture.  I’ve seen this sight on different iterations of the 1400.  I think it’s a feature from early guns because I’ve never seen it on Crosman’s later guns.

[JohnnyS]

Very good ... thank you.   Here are a couple more images of that portion of the sight that you are referencing I believe ....

[Blowpipe Sam]

I have a sight like that on my June 1972 production 2nd model 1400.  I'm not sure if it was original since the 2nd model also had the wrong (later style) foresight and had been extensively rebuilt by a previous owner.  Your gun should have a metal foresight.

It could be a "Bitsa".  Bits a this and bits a that.  All three of my current 1400's were modified to some extent by other owners and I've helped several people restore/revive old 140's and 1400's with spare parts.  The breed has always been popular with folks who like to tinker. At this remove from the era of production it's getting hard to find one that hasn't been repaired or modified somehow.

Some errata in my previous post.  My Sears model 126 19300 is actually stamped 77 not 78 like I misremembered.  So It's actually a 1967 production which your original gun could also have been

[JohnnyS]

It is metal ... see attached.

[JohnnyS]

I did learn from the previous owner that he acquired this gun in Pennsylvania out of a gun shop.   SO ... the provenance is unknown beyond that.   I'm at least the fourth owner.   The screws do NOT look to be too messed up ... so any gunsmithing was done with proper technique and equipment ... OR ... was not done.   I'm almost betting on "never done" ... but that's just a guess.   

[Blowpipe Sam]

That looks like the correct sight for a pre 1972 model.  Perhaps the original or a later owner replaced the barrel?  Back in the day you could order any part from Crosman.  Maybe a replacement barrel would have been Crosman stamped and wouldn't have had the dovetail because they were special production?