12 GA shotgun questions

Question
My father just gave me a shotgun and I would like to find out everything I can about it.  It has stamped on either side of the barrel "J.C. Higgins - model 583.20 Sears, Roebuck and Co.  Proof Tested 12 GA.- Mod 2 3/4" chamber".  I have not fired it yet but I am itching to, but I would like some history and information about this gun.  My dad used it to hunt deer but has not fired it for quite some time as far as I know.  I would like to know about difference in chokes, characteristics, and value if at all possible, and any previews about it would be very interesting to me.  Any and all information is greatly appreciated!  Thank you for your time!

Answer
Hi Joe.

You have a very common gun with moderate to low value. The primary value would be as a shooter and as a keepsake from your father. There were so many variants of these guns that there aren't a lot of sites or info online about the features, chokes, or characteristics of specific models.

You might be interested to know that most of these guns were made for Sears by other companies and sold under different model names. Your gun was actually made by a company called "High Standard" and they referred to it as a "Flite King" model.


Here are some links which will provide a bit more detail:


Blue book entry for JC Higgins manuf.:
https://store.bluebookinc.com/InstantAccess/Category.aspx?product=5&id=464


Blue book entry for High Standard manuf.:
https://store.bluebookinc.com/InstantAccess/Category.aspx?product=5&id=465


Blue book entry for Flite King models:
https://store.bluebookinc.com/InstantAccess/Model.aspx?product=5&id=869


Blue book cross-over list:
https://store.bluebookinc.com/Info/PDF/Firearm/Storebrand.pdf


General search link:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22flite+king%22+shotgun


Hope this helps!

Bob