DID YOU KNOW: High Standard pistols
Without writing an entire book on the subject, I thought this article might help some owners or even potential owners learn some basics about High Standard pistols.
The first High Standard pistol was actually a borrowed design from the Colt Woodsman. The creator of the first High Standard was a former Colt employee by the name of Carl Gustave Swebilius in 1929. After the firms collapse in 1984, Al Arenstein is credited for saving the company's name with his reintroduction of the firm in 1994.
Since there are literally hundreds of major and subtle changes throughout the history of this firm, plus the existence of revolvers, shotguns, and rifles, I felt it necessary to stick to just semi auto pistols with this post. There are many books on the subject of High Standards. I would strongly suggest our readers become familiar some of these:
`High Standard, A Collectors Guide,' By Tom Dance, 1991, Andrew Mowbray Publishers, Lincoln, R.I..
`High Standard Pistols and Revolvers, 1951-1954' By James Spacek, 1998, Copyright, James V. Spacek Jr., Cheshire, Conn..
In the past I've been helping you all from memory created from years of collecting and shooting. Its now time I write it down before I forget it. Here are some basic facts that may save you from having to post long threads to find out details about your guns:
Factories:
1929 - 1930....Hartford Arms, Hartford, Conn
1931 - 1957....High Standard New Haven
1957 - 1977....High Standard Hamden
1977 - 1984....High Standard East Hartford
1990 - 1995....(Clones:) Ft Worth Arms, Mitchell, Stoeger
1994 - Present...High Standard Houston
Progression of Frame Designs:
1929 - Small frame slant
1937 - Large frame slant
1947 - Small frame slant takedown
1947 - Large frame slant takedown
1965 - Military frame takedown
Order Of Series Introductions:
1929 - Hartford Arms
1932 - Alphabetical: (SMALL FRAME) B, C, S
1937 - (LARGE FRAME) A, D, E, Hammers
1947 - G Series: GB, GD, GE, GO, .380
1950 - SUPERMATIC: 100
1954 - SUPERMATIC: 101
1957 - SUPERMATIC: 102,
1960 - 103
1963 - 104
1965 - MILITARY: 106
1967 - 107
1969 - Numbered
1975 - G Prefix
1977 - ML
1981 - SH
1984 - V Suffix, Out Of Business
1994 - HOUSTON MILITARY
1994 - AF
1994 - 105
1995 - Numbered
Models:
Alphabeticals
Citation
Duramatic
Experimentals
Field king
Flight king
Higgens
Olympic
Olympic citation
Olympic free pistol
Olympic ISU
Olympic trophy
Plinker
Sharpshooter
Sharpshooter M
Shea 10x
Slant grip Victor
Sport king
Supermatic
Tournament
Trophy
U.S. Govt.
U.S.A.
Victor
10x
Progression of Bbl Design:
1929 - Fixed bbls to frame
1947 - Dovetail & lever bbl takedown
1954 - Dovetail & small button bbl takedown
1957 - Large button & bbl stud takedown
1981 - Allen screw bbl to frame takedown
1994 -Return to large button & bbl stud takedown
Bbl styles............
Fixed to frame:
4.5", 6 _", Navy customs
Takedowns:
4.5", 5 ?", 6 _", 7 ?", 8", 10", & aftermarkets
Designs:
Tapered
Space gun
Bull
Fluted
Ribbed
Threaded and silenced
Calibers:
22 short
22 shot
22 LR
.380
9mm
Front Blades:
Field grade with staked front sight
Match grade with staked front sight
Match grade with dovetailed front sight, friction fit
Match grade with dovetailed front sight, Allen screw fit
None
Porting:
Non ported bbls
Factory Ported bbl
Accessory slip on porting
Ported chambers
Weights:
Non weighted bbls
Weights, hung on dovetail, w/ straight slot screw
Weights, hung on hangers and groove w/ allen screw
Weights, attached W/ allen screws
Location of Rear Sight:
On slide
On barrel
On rib
On frame
None
Type Sights:
Fixed
Match, 1st issue..1930's
Match, 2nd issue....1951
Match, 3rd issue....1957
Match, 4th issue..1960
Match, 5th issue..1965 to (current)
Optics
Finishes:
Blue
Canadian military parkerized
Citation blue
Electrolite
High luster blue
Matt blue
Nickel
Parkerized
Stainless steel
Serial numbers are too vast and too subject to debate. So, rather than posting them all here, feel free to contact me and I will give you my opinions. Remember, since High Standards are capable of being randomly interchanged, there is a big chance that unless someone with a skilled eye looks at it, you may be mislead to its true value and its originality. Always consult an expert. Therefore, I make myself available to all your High Standard questions. Feel free to call or post a question on Mauser Central. I will be glad to help. Who knows, by the time we're all done posting our questions and answers, we'll have our own book right here! Happy shooting and collecting!
Bob Ski
The first High Standard pistol was actually a borrowed design from the Colt Woodsman. The creator of the first High Standard was a former Colt employee by the name of Carl Gustave Swebilius in 1929. After the firms collapse in 1984, Al Arenstein is credited for saving the company's name with his reintroduction of the firm in 1994.
Since there are literally hundreds of major and subtle changes throughout the history of this firm, plus the existence of revolvers, shotguns, and rifles, I felt it necessary to stick to just semi auto pistols with this post. There are many books on the subject of High Standards. I would strongly suggest our readers become familiar some of these:
`High Standard, A Collectors Guide,' By Tom Dance, 1991, Andrew Mowbray Publishers, Lincoln, R.I..
`High Standard Pistols and Revolvers, 1951-1954' By James Spacek, 1998, Copyright, James V. Spacek Jr., Cheshire, Conn..
In the past I've been helping you all from memory created from years of collecting and shooting. Its now time I write it down before I forget it. Here are some basic facts that may save you from having to post long threads to find out details about your guns:
Factories:
1929 - 1930....Hartford Arms, Hartford, Conn
1931 - 1957....High Standard New Haven
1957 - 1977....High Standard Hamden
1977 - 1984....High Standard East Hartford
1990 - 1995....(Clones:) Ft Worth Arms, Mitchell, Stoeger
1994 - Present...High Standard Houston
Progression of Frame Designs:
1929 - Small frame slant
1937 - Large frame slant
1947 - Small frame slant takedown
1947 - Large frame slant takedown
1965 - Military frame takedown
Order Of Series Introductions:
1929 - Hartford Arms
1932 - Alphabetical: (SMALL FRAME) B, C, S
1937 - (LARGE FRAME) A, D, E, Hammers
1947 - G Series: GB, GD, GE, GO, .380
1950 - SUPERMATIC: 100
1954 - SUPERMATIC: 101
1957 - SUPERMATIC: 102,
1960 - 103
1963 - 104
1965 - MILITARY: 106
1967 - 107
1969 - Numbered
1975 - G Prefix
1977 - ML
1981 - SH
1984 - V Suffix, Out Of Business
1994 - HOUSTON MILITARY
1994 - AF
1994 - 105
1995 - Numbered
Models:
Alphabeticals
Citation
Duramatic
Experimentals
Field king
Flight king
Higgens
Olympic
Olympic citation
Olympic free pistol
Olympic ISU
Olympic trophy
Plinker
Sharpshooter
Sharpshooter M
Shea 10x
Slant grip Victor
Sport king
Supermatic
Tournament
Trophy
U.S. Govt.
U.S.A.
Victor
10x
Progression of Bbl Design:
1929 - Fixed bbls to frame
1947 - Dovetail & lever bbl takedown
1954 - Dovetail & small button bbl takedown
1957 - Large button & bbl stud takedown
1981 - Allen screw bbl to frame takedown
1994 -Return to large button & bbl stud takedown
Bbl styles............
Fixed to frame:
4.5", 6 _", Navy customs
Takedowns:
4.5", 5 ?", 6 _", 7 ?", 8", 10", & aftermarkets
Designs:
Tapered
Space gun
Bull
Fluted
Ribbed
Threaded and silenced
Calibers:
22 short
22 shot
22 LR
.380
9mm
Front Blades:
Field grade with staked front sight
Match grade with staked front sight
Match grade with dovetailed front sight, friction fit
Match grade with dovetailed front sight, Allen screw fit
None
Porting:
Non ported bbls
Factory Ported bbl
Accessory slip on porting
Ported chambers
Weights:
Non weighted bbls
Weights, hung on dovetail, w/ straight slot screw
Weights, hung on hangers and groove w/ allen screw
Weights, attached W/ allen screws
Location of Rear Sight:
On slide
On barrel
On rib
On frame
None
Type Sights:
Fixed
Match, 1st issue..1930's
Match, 2nd issue....1951
Match, 3rd issue....1957
Match, 4th issue..1960
Match, 5th issue..1965 to (current)
Optics
Finishes:
Blue
Canadian military parkerized
Citation blue
Electrolite
High luster blue
Matt blue
Nickel
Parkerized
Stainless steel
Serial numbers are too vast and too subject to debate. So, rather than posting them all here, feel free to contact me and I will give you my opinions. Remember, since High Standards are capable of being randomly interchanged, there is a big chance that unless someone with a skilled eye looks at it, you may be mislead to its true value and its originality. Always consult an expert. Therefore, I make myself available to all your High Standard questions. Feel free to call or post a question on Mauser Central. I will be glad to help. Who knows, by the time we're all done posting our questions and answers, we'll have our own book right here! Happy shooting and collecting!
Bob Ski
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Other High Standard info can be found on my website at www.histandard.info 0 -
I have a Hi-Standard Olympic Citation with the 8" 22LR bbl.
I am looking for more information on it. It has been in my family since it was purchased new.
The information that I need to find is the correct manual.
My father had custom made a set of grips for the gun many years ago to fit his hand. I would like to find an original set of grips and possibly additional clips for this gun.
Any history or information on this gun would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Jim T0 -
Hello Look on the auction side of this site or other internet auction sites for the original grips and extra magazines. if you give us the serial number we will give you the year made.
edit Most likely made late 1958 As John stated it should be 22 Short "I missed that important part on my first reply". Unless it has the conversion kit Be aware High standard sold 22 LR conversions for the 22 short built pistols and 22 short conversion for the pistols that started out as 22 long rifle in the model 102. Make sure that the pistol has a steel slide installed if you shoot 22 long rifle cartridges If you shoot 22 long rifle with the aluminum slide on you pistol you most likely will damage the pistol and maybe hurt yourself.0 -
Thanks. I will look on the auction sites.
sn 8429440 -
The Olympic Citation was only available in .22 short. It would have a .22 short barrel, an aluminum slide and a .22 short magazine. There wer some conversion kits that contained a new barrel, slice amd magazine to convert this model to .22 LR.
A copy of the original manual can be found on my website.
Original grips for this model were a bakelite like plastic with a brass logo insert with the High Stadnard eagle logo.0 -
What the heck. . .
Here is my first Hi Standard, which is actually my absolute favorite gun from my personal collection. I should add that I bought it right here on Gunbroker.com, on the specific advice of Mr. Bob Ski!
Its a Supermatic Citation, slant grip, model 104, serial number 1361XXX, with matching numbers on the slide and frame, made in Hamden CT. 5 inch bull barrel. Its MA-compliant, and used to be owned by a gentleman who used in competitively back in the day, but has since passed away.
Came with the match grips. . .I don't have the originals. I added the barrel weight and muzzle brake myself (but later took off the muzzle brake, leaving rather ugly bluing wear, and a little divot in the barrel from a "walked" set screw).
The magazine is interesting, in that it has a screw welded into the bottom to allow removal with the oversized match grips. Its basically impossible to remove ordinary magazines with those grips in place
Gun is MA-compliant, and yes, that's a legitimate group, 50 feet, slow fire, one-handed, by yours truly:
If anyone wants to guesstimate a value, go ahead. The lower picture pre-dates the muzzle wear I described earlier.
My guesstimate is about $650 with the accessories, but in truth, I don't really care what its worth, since I'm never going to sell it. My kids can have it. . .AFTER I DIE. [;)]
Anyway, to keep this thread going, here are a few questions:
a. What year was it made?
b. Is there anything else "cool" or interesting about this gun anyone can tell me?
c. I've heard that some of these guns have the initials of the gunsmith who assembled and tuned them inside somewhere. Is that true, and if so, where should I look?0 -
Hello Bean Town your pistol made 1964. The model 10X had the persons name that put the parts together . Yours most likely did not unless sent back for customer work. . If you know the original shooters name I will check my records to see if he ever fired in the national matches At Camp Perry 1972-2005 I have records of every pistol shooter that fired during that time frame and their score shot. Cheers Perry Shooter. 0 -
The partial serial number suggests a early 1964 manufacture and ship date but I have found some guns that seem to have gotten stuck in assmelby for over a year and thus shipped later than the serial number would suggest. Other guns finished in assemlby in a timely manner but were stuck in inventory for months or years.
This gun is late enough that it might have an assmelby date code stamped in the top of the frame at the left front of the magazine well. Later the assemby date code was on the bottom of the barrel just forward of the frame.
If you can find teh assembly date code we can tell you when it was assembled and with a complete serial numebr I can usually fins teh original ship date.0 -
I just bought one a few months ago. I love it. My uncle has about 9-11 differant High Standerd semi auto pistols, which I have ben shoting for years befor I got mine. Here is a pick of my favorite gun that I own.
[img][/img]0 -
He dog,
Thanks indeed for that post. I do wonder though that my HD Military isn't in that list specifically. I do know of 4 variants of them. Mine is the basic one with no frills.0
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