High Standard Pistols

[Sirius]

A collector has placed a half dozen or so High Standard Pistols (22lr) on consignment at the local shop. The prices are rather high, around $700-$800 although they look well built. Does anyone know much about these pistols?

[Sutcliffe]

Only fired a few

Always seemed to be quite accurate. I don't see enough of them to know what they are worth, but they might be rare enough to have some kind of collector status

[naimad]

High standard made some nice 22 autos there were some at a gun shop a while back that were between 600.00 and 800.00 they were all in very good condition

[DB2]

Semi auto or revolvers? I've been looking for a western style High Standard Double Nine .22 revolver. I would love to find one.

[phish]

The original High Standard company made very high quality pistols, and even shotguns when they existed. They're the only American pistol so far to have won the gold medal in the Olympics.

Some High Standard models can still be imported into California since they are on "the list" for exempted target pistols.

The price range you posted is reasonable and what the California market will bear if the pistols are in good shape, especially if they're off "the list". I tried bidding on a HD Military, a civillian clone of the pistol used by the OSS, that was put up for auction by CCC, but the reserve was too high for my blood

btw, where is this gunshop?

[Sirius]

I believe they are all semi-autos. I will double check. All are in like new condition.

[Sirius]

Gun shop in the LA area. PM for details

[phish]

A thing to check for is the place of manufacture. It's a generally accepted rule of thumb that the pistols made in Hamden were better in quality than the ones made in East Hartford, although there are exceptions.

If any of them even come with the original box, paperwork and any add-ons, bonus!

[phish]

@#$%!!!! I was just there for X-Mas!!!

[CALI-gula]

Certain early "letter" guns are HIGHLY collectible, and the "lever" guns of the 100 are prized, but what people consider most often from High Standard are the .22LR target guns of the 101 - early 107 guns made in the 1950's through mid 1970's, though they were continually made throughout the 1980's and early 1990's by other ownership, and are still made in Houston (and the quality of the current guns is supposedly very good). The current Houston made pistols are good, but the early Houston pistols in the early 1990's had sketchy quality and finish issues.

Do some research; the Hamden years are most collectible. Hartford guns are good too. If you see a copy-cat gun that LOOKS like a High Standard but is made by Mitchell, run away from it - pure junk.

You will do best to find them with their original box, and especially if it comes with the original set of barrel weights. Citation models are easy to come by, Trophy models a little harder to find, and certain Olympic models tougher to find than other Olympic models.

There are whole books dedicated to the 100 to 107 series, noting their differences, manufacture, rarity, etc. One book is "High Standard: A Collector's Guide to the Hamden & Hartford Target Pistols" by Tom Dance, and should still be in print.

If the guns you mention are in the 102 to 106 range, and like NIB, the $700 to $800 price range is not ridiculous for mint models with everything, especially under SB15 here in CA. However, you can find a beat up 102 to 107 series, in the $300 to $400 range if you are not concerned about collectible quality. People often used them as occasional plinkers, and they would be thrown around in a closet or under a car seat, but rarely shot. High Standard made a lot of other good stuff too, and some of their derringers are really prized, but the former are the most seen.

I like them over the Colt Woodsmans, Ruger Buckmarks, and Smith 41, however the Smith 41 is probably the best and most accurate of the bunch. Yet my mid-series Citation and Trophy models are just as accurate as my older slightly longer barreled Smith 41.

If you are looking for a more accurate .22LR handgun, there are plenty of other custom models, Italian beauties, and high-end Olympic pistols that make all of the former look like something cave-men would use.

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[ivanimal]

I have a sportking ant it is flawless in accuracy and function. I have extra mags that are unopened, I understand they are worth a pretty penny. I will never sell it.

[Coastey]

Although we had newer S&W 41's, the majority of cadets on the Coast Guard Academy pistol team in the mid '70s preferred the High Standard target autos. They were very accurate pistols.

[tankerman]

They made many models, all fun guns. The model will determine the price, Olympic, Supermatic, Sportking, Military, etc.. The Olympic with a barrel weight set, is at the high end, with primo condition specimens going for well over a $1000. They are great guns go for one you won't be sorry.

[tzahoy]

I've got a High Standard Victor that I've had since about 1982. Super accurate great gun. Shoots 2" groups at fifty yards when the wind is calm. Easy to swap barrels too. I've got iron sights on one and a reaaly old aimpoint on the other. Grip angle and shape is similar to a 1911 as well, so it's a nice gun to practice with if you shoot 1911s.

[CSACANNONEER]

I saw them the other day but did not inspect them. I will try to be as non-bias as possible because I work there on occassion. The collection in question appeared to be 70s and before, all would probably grade 95%-100%. The prices were not low but I don't think that there out of line. You don't often see a collection like this for sale locally. Also, remember the prices marked are the prices the seller (not the shop) is asking. These are consighnment pieces and the owner of them sets the price, not the shop. Over the years and at various shops, I've seen people pay close to double what a gun lists for only because it was priced that way. I have even paid over list for a couple of pieces because I knew I'd never get another chance at those exact pieces. That said, I know that you would be very happy with any of those High Standards but, it is up to you to decide if you want to pay that much for them. I'm sure that several , if not all, will find new homes before the Ventura gun show is over.