Thanks for all the information. I was mistaken, the Ithaca 16 gauge gun was not marked Syracuse. The side plates factory engravings were faint (the gun was probably re-blued). The Lefever 12 gauge, serial num. 607xx, was marked Syracuse, but it also looked re-blued over pitting on the outside of the loose barrels.
The JC Higgins was marked model 100 and 2 3/4" , mod. on one barrel and full on the other, on the top near the breach. It looked almost new as to bluing and oil finish on the wood (not shiny varnish finish). It looked "similar" in appearance to a Winchester model 12. The single trigger was non selective. I have heard these guns were of very good quality when Sear's first contracted them ("Sear's Best" probably from AYA), later production the quality dropped.
If you get one it's luck of the draw if it's finely made or a problematic poor shooter depending on year of production.
Still learning. Thanks Again
That's the first time I heard later 100s were poor quality!! They had the long receiver bar like the model 21 and looked very much like a 21. Sears only sold them for 4 years, then the Matador with SST came out in the last year 100s were being sold. Never saw a 100 without Sears name on it. Matadors were never sold by Sears; sold by Firearms International.
