Came across a High Standard K1200 riot shotgun today at the vintage / collector gun shop. 18" barrel, walnut stocks, and bead front sight. Assuming made in late 1960's - early 1970's. Excellent+ condition - it came from a local collection. Does not appear to be a departmental issue surplus.
Almost bought it but price seemed high ($500). We used these in the 1970s in law enforcement before transitioning to Remington 870s so I have a fondness to have one. First one I have come across since collecting.

What would be a fair price?

Cool piece but might be on the high side. If it has all the bells and whistles with it, maybe but depends on how much you want it in the safe. Will it be a shooter or a looker? Tack 5 big ones to the safe and see how you feel about leaving it there.

I wouldn't pay over $300 for one. Remember, HS is out of business, and if anything breaks, you'll be lucky to find parts.

And the average so-called "gunsmith" today probably doesn't know those guns well.

I'd rather look for a good used M-870. You should find one under $300, in nice shape, and not the economy Express grade, which has a rough finish and some plastic parts.

I doubt that many collect HS shotguns. In their day, they were mainly seen as an off brand not as popular as Winchester, Ithaca, or Remington. I think they're good, solid pump guns, but not worth any price premium. Sear's sold them under the Ted Williams name and Western Field sold them under their brand, too. Wait: I guess I was thinking of Western Auto. I think Western Field was the Montgomery Ward's brand.

Some famous shooters used their .22 pistols, but the shotguns weren't especially prestigious. I never saw one carried by any but a casual hunter, not a gun enthusiast.

I sold a spectacular example with the dark wood for about $400 last year to make room for other stuff

HS is a really nice riot gun but demand is low

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I've got one my Dad purchased as a duty gun back in the mid sixties. Six round magazine tube and rifle sights. It's a tough reliable gun but a kicker. It came without a recoil pad. I don't know what you should pay for one but I wouldn't sell mine for $500.00.

Yes they were a kicker. We went to Remington 870's about 1978- a great shotgun with the longer barrel and rifle sights. The High Standard is a well balanced shotgun and with the 18" barrel was easier and quicker to remove from the vertical locking rack in the front of the patrol car in an emergency. When we went to the Chevrolet Malibu patrol cars in 1979 the 870's wouldn't fit vertically in the rack so they were kept in the trunk. The only downside to the 870.

I once had a friend who used a 12 Ga HS pump as a trap gun. He seemed to like it, and as I remember it was fairly nice looking. I don't think I have seen one in streetsweeper configuration.

My first shotgun was a Ted Williams Sears version of the High Standard and it had the slickest action of any shotgun ever made. I could point the barrel upwards and hit the action release and the forearm would slide down and open the bolt. My gun had the barrel cut to 22" and the stock shortened for a kid and once while dove hunting I was carrying a couple of birds with my left hand and one flew over and I shot and missed, then still holding the gun with my right hand I flicked the gun back and forth one handed and chambered a round and shot that dove while still holding the other birds. True Story!

The High Standard used in most police applications was the Flight King. I don't know the model number but it is probably the K1200 mentioned above. The Rock Island M5 is based on the H.S design with a few improvements. It can be had in satin nickel as well as a blue/black finish for around $200. I have owned one for several years and have been very pleased with it's performance.
At it's price point, it would be hard to find a better value.

I remember reading years ago that the HS police shotguns lost out to the R-P 870 in LE agency trials mainly because the barrel did not dismount as did that of the 870. I do not value it at $500, regardless of condition. Not a bad gun, though, mine still works well with slugs and buck.

Kaaskop49
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