Fairyomg

Post subject: Needing help finding the manufacture date of a sears 200..

Hello to all you gun record gurus out there! I love to pickup $150 12 gauge pump shotguns at gun shows and pawn shops that are usually sears, jc Higgins, high standard, and western field brand. Usually they are in ok shape and I take the time to show them some love. I've picked up a sears model 200 - serial number P147832 and I was curious what year it was manufactured. If any forum members here have any reference material on serial numbers on these sears guns or other brands I'd greatly appreciate it if they posted a link so I could view or download the information. Thanks to all here on the forum for your knowledge.
Joe

Post subject: Re: Needing help finding the manufacture date of a sears 200

Joe. The book (Blue Book of Gun Values) is a little confused on the Sears Model 200. It is, of course a 'Store Brand Name' shotgun and cross references to a Winchester Model 1200. The serial number-year made tables for the Winchester Model 1200 shows no serial number with a 'P' prefix, just an 'L'. Dropping the prefix and going on just the numbers alone, the gun would have been made in 1981. Sears quit selling guns of all types in 1982. As a 'Store Brand Name' gun the gun has about 15 percent less value than the same identical gun with the original makers name on it. Remember 15 percent less. When I'm not sure about the model of the gun being asked about I give the values for the lowest valued model in the reference book. Sears would have not sold expensive guns. The lowest value Winchester Model 1200 is a Field Grade with a plain barrel. Those values are:
100%-$200, 98%-$180, 95%-$165, 90%-$140, 80%-$110, 70%-$100 and 60%-$90.
Remember, 15 percent less.

Post subject: Re: Needing help finding the manufacture date of a sears 200

You are probably aware of Cross Reference names lists such as:
http://proofhouse.com/cm/house_brand.htm which shows the Sears Model 200 to be a Mossberg Model G4. I'd expect it may be best to find pics of the original guns online to see if it is the same as yours.
Or:
http://www.gunpartscorp.com/Brand-Cross-Reference.htm.
Some serial numbers can be found at:
http://bluebookofgunvalues.com/Info/PDF/Firearm/Serialize.pdf.
You may be able to decipher some numbers.
Keep up the good work, you may become the Expert!

Post subject: Re: Needing help finding the manufacture date of a sears 200

I would lean more toward the OP's shotgun being made by Winchester as the Sears model 200 (Winchester model 1200) because the post states 'pump'. The Mossberg G4 is a bolt action in 410 IIRC.

Post subject: Re: Needing help finding the manufacture date of a sears 200

The HOOSIER GUN WORKS cross reference guide shows the Sears Model 200 as being the same as a Winchester 1200. You pays your money and you takes you choice.

Post subject: Re: Needing help finding the manufacture date of a sears 200

Since I actually owned a Sears 200 in the late 70's (I bought it @ Sears), I can verify they were Winchester 1200's with a different contour to the rear of the receiver.
BTW, a Sears 300 was the Winchester 1400 autoloader(I had one of those, too)
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