Perhaps a Birch stock instead of Walnut. Maybe the C is for carbine noting that the barrel length was shortened from the first few years.Yes, the stamping on the barrel and a bullseye in the walnut stock on the 56. Otherwise mechanically they are the same incredibly awesome rifle.
Probably a birch stock on the JC Higgins. I don't know about the C, could be carbine if down around a 20" barrel, otherwise perhaps just whatever the guy in charge wanted the model number to be.Perhaps a Birch stock instead of Walnut. Maybe the C is for carbine noting that the barrel length was shortened from the first few years.