Anyone remember this little derringer?

[PALADIN85020]

These were very popular as hideout or concealment weapons in the 1960s and 1970s. This is the Hi-Standard D-101 .22 LR Derringer. It's very compact and flat, and fires two shots from its over-under barrels sequentially, double action only. It breaks open for loading and unloading just like an over-under shotgun. I've fired this one fairly accurately at 15 yards by staging the trigger. It was made in January, 1970 and is complete with its presentation case and papers.



Anyone else have or remember this little stinger?

[straightshooter1]

Carried one in my left rear pocket for several years as a police officer. It carried flatter if the grips were removed.

After I became an Assistant State Attorney, I found our office had a number of these. But, all had suffered the fate these were famous for-they'd only fire one barrel after they'd been shot a lot.

I had a couple fixed, but parts were so hard to find. I "think" we finally sold them or traded them in for Glocks.

Bob

[cmort666]

My late uncle who was a cab driver in Chicago, once shot himself in the finger with one.

One day a guy got into his cab and pulled an apparent firearm on him. This was long before bullet resistant shields existed, so he reached over the seat and grabbed the guy's "gun". As they fought over the "gun", the cab careened onto the sidewalk and through the wall of a drycleaners. The holdup man jumped out and my uncle jumped out after him, his High Standard derringer in his hand. He took aim at the holdup man and fired. Unfortunately, he pulled the double-action trigger with his second finger while holding his index finger in front of the muzzle, breaking his finger. The robber fled unharmed. Returning to the wrecked cab, my uncle discovered the robber's "gun", a water pistol, on the floor of the passenger compartment.

This being pre-Richie Daley/Fr. Phleger Chicago, he was neither arrested nor charged.

[HAWKEYE10]

I remember that gun very well. Don

[motorpat]

Between 1965 and 1970 I owned two High Standard 22mag derringers (blue and nickle). I carried one as a BUG while on duty. You really had to hang on when firing one. If you missed the target you could set it on fire from the 1 1/2 foot muzzle flash. A friend of mine still has one.

[sigp220.45]

I always liked those little guns. If I ever find one at a decent price I will make it mine.

I remember a Guns and Ammo Annual from the mid seventies where one of these was reviewed. The tester fired it on paper at 25 yards, and I think he managed around a five inch group. I always think of that when I read a modern gun magazine and the writer will only shoot a gun at 7 or 10 yards.

[Wyatt Burp]

I have one just like yours in a little Bianchi holster. It was used in a double murder but I don't know the details yet. Mine's 22 Magnum. I pinched my finger real bad pulling the trigger incorrectly. Be careful.

[jframe]

I'd like to have that one! January 1970 is not only my birth year, it's my birth month as well. Pretty cool little gun.

[xray97]

I have the .22mag version that I carried as a Bug in the late 70's. Was a handy little pocket gun for use on patrol .

[Texas Star]

I used to know a guy whose parents ran a big gun store. He had a sideline of dealing in very high grade shotguns: Purdey, Boss, that sort of thing.

He owned only two handguns, I think. A surplus .45 auto and a Hi-Standard derringer.

I heard that there were reliability problems with the little .22, so never got one.

Interesting post, though.

T-Star

[PALADIN85020]

Originally Posted by Texas Star

I used to know a guy whose parents ran a big gun store. He had a sideline of dealing in very high grade shotguns: Purdey, Boss, that sort of thing.

He owned only two handguns, I think. A surplus .45 auto and a Hi-Standard derringer.

I heard that there were reliability problems with the little .22, so never got one.

Interesting post, though.

T-Star

The problems I've seen reported from time to time have been centered around the .22 magnum version, which apparently tended to shoot loose from extended use. The .22 LR pistols held together really well. I've had this one since the 1970s, and while I haven't fired it extensively, it still gives good, reliable service.

[OLDFED]

I've owned three...all magnums. Carried one as a BUG in the '60's. Still have two. Needs to be fired from the middle finger, with the index finger alongside the bbl...as long as your finger isn't longer than the bbl. The "flame" comment is on target. I always said that if I missed my target with the bullet, I'd burn them to death. Wasn't built for heavy sue...just backup, so mine never wore out. Nice gun! Saw one about 9 months ago for $175.

[DeathGrip]

Here you go.One a few months ago.I passed.
The frame didn't line up from side to side and looked like it had been apart and put together out of alignment.not visable in these pics.
Can you see the beautiest of scratching on the thing?








D.G.

[Spike66]

I have one of those in .22 mag. I have to aim the first shot a bit low but the second shot is right on. After about 6 rounds, you really don't want to shoot it anymore as it makes your hand hurt.

[NKJ nut]

I have one of those little guns in 22 LR. It is surprisingly accurate.

One thing to be aware of is; a company used to make a wallet holster for this gun. With the grips removed the gun was fired without removing it from the wallet holster. With the wallet holster attached to the gun, this is now considered a Class III AOW, along with cane guns, pen guns and other concealable weapons that really don't qualify as handguns, at least by gov't standards.

[Mickey D]

Yep, I've got an early one in my collection too.

[feralmerril]

I gave one in .22 lr to my daughter about 10-13 years ago. Wonder if she still has it.

[n4zov]

American Derringer manufactures something very similar to the old High Standard design:

Double Action Derringers

For serial number and historical info. on the High Standard, here is a good link:

High Standard Revolvers

[pocketpistol]

Mine, in .22 Mag is pushing 40 yrs old, got it in the early '70s. Carried a lot, shot some, always figured it was a "get off me gun".

[2152hq]

I had on in 22LR in '71. Used to misfire on one bbl more often than not. Went down the trade road for something else. I'd have kept it if it worked better as it sure was a handy little piece.
IIRC, the Badge price was around $40 for it back then,,& a M36 w/ 2" or 3" bbl was $65.

[BOB THE PALINDROME]

It's big brother in .357, stainless, was my first carry gun. You had almost 1/4" of barrel and my game plan was to stick it in the bad guys belly button and go bang, bang and then run like Hell.

[Blacksmith58]

Yep! Got One! It's a sweet little gun!

[624 Fan]

My dad bought the .22LR version for my mom when he was working the night shift back in the late 60s. It was the first real gun I ever fired and my brother and I still talk about that day 30 years later. Mom still keeps it around with it's original box and some loose ammo.

[westkybanded]

I would LOVE to find one in operating condition. The last few I've seen were at gun shows and had problems.

[jimmyj]

Hi:
I still have mine (.22 Mag). Like me it shows a lot of use.
Jimmy

[gamedic]

Mine is a 22mag it is the first pistol my father gave me, I was about 12. Strange how times have changed, no one would give a 12 year old a derringer now. I still have it and for some reason like shooting the thing. I have to place my thumb on top of the barrel just above the locking mechanism to get both barrels to fire. I have gotten so used to doing it I had to think for a second to remember that it is the top barrel that won't fire if I don't do it.

[VonFatman]

Sure do...we have a pair in the safe. REALLY horrible triggers which means you NEVER had to worry about a negligent discharge in the pocket because you have to WANT to pull the trigger!!! (and you had to be a 300lb. gorilla to pull it!)
And I will add...accuracy has never been easy for me. Both of these guns are .22 Magnum.
Bob

[GRIZZLYBEAR]

I still have my 22 Mag High Standard. I carried it as BUG from the early '70's until about '85 or '86. I wouldn't trade the old friend.

grizz

[S-W4EVER]

I toyed with the idea of buying one for a BUG but never got around to it. For the first dozen years or so after I got out of the Army, I had S&W-itus and by the time I got over it, HS derringers were kinda hard to find.

[sigp220.45]

Here's an article by the late, great, never to be equaled Skeeter Skelton in which he talks about these little guns:

Handguns by Skeeter Skelton March 1967

Nobody today writes like Skeeter did:

"Waiting one day for my partner to bring the horsetrailer and collect me and my broomtail after a long ride, I idly fired the Remington into a creosoted power pole. The hollowbased heel of the outside-lubricated slug gazed owlishly at me, not even buried in the wood. Horrified, I let go another round, with the same results. Later, I found that the .41 frequently failed to penetrate heavy tin cans. I traded the gun to a collector."

[Smithboomer]

A .22 magnum version (sans grips) rode in the front chest pocket of my denim jacket during fishing trips back in the 80's. I carried a .22 mag shotshell in the first barrel and a HP in the other.

I never had a problem with just one barrel shooting. +1 to what was said about the muzzle flash, and shooting with the middle finger on the trigger.

[mstuhr]

Howdy,
They are neat little guns. I had a mag that I shot a ton of long rifles out of. I'd throw a can and point and shoot and it did well. I never remember splitting a case. It would get the extractor over the L.R. cases so you had to open and get them started and then pick the empties out.
I guess that is not a recomendation but I ran boxes of bulk LR through mine.
Good luck
Mike

[sigp220.45]

I thought I'd resurrect this thread, so I could post in it for a third time....

Santa finally came through and brought me my first High Standard .22 magnum derringer. Its a later version, with the black grips and black "crinkle" finish:



I tried it at dusk and was rewarded with a three-foot fireball and an impressive boom.

I first shot one of these going through firearms instructor school at the FBI Academy at Quantico. They still had some in the gun vault - at the time they were occasionally loaned out to undercover guys. The theory was nobody would think it was a cop gun, and if the guy had to shoot it, every backup in the area would hear it and come running.

[rburg]

Up in post #14 a guy complained about his hand hurting. I agree with that. And it wasn't the normal pain, it was because the gun vibrated as well as fired and recoiled. We once tried to shoot up the last half of a box of magnums. My buddy and I shared maybe 25 shots, and it was enough for us. It made me realize the .25 autos weren't all that bad after all!

[Bat Guano]

Always liked them but never quite got around to actually buying one in my younger days. Then they got a bit scarce and most seemed to be .22 Magnums; I wanted one in the lowly .22 LR. Finally found a nice specimen a couple of years back for $265 and glommed onto it.

I intended to do a detail strip and clean it up, but after popping the side plate I decided it really, really wasn't broke and very carefully buttoned it up again.

Interesting little stingy guns, though. I like the things.

[feralmerril]

I guess I am behind the times huh?

[PALADIN85020]

Just as a side note on these things. The magnums WILL loosen up with use, and they are impossible to fix thereafter. If you are considering getting a magnum, be sure it's tight before buying it, and don't use it a whole lot.

The .22 LR version never had that problem; you can shoot it until the cows come home, and it won't loosen.

John

P.S. To date your gun, here is the info you need:

Welcome to Adobe GoLive 5

[bugbeliever]

New to this forum but have read a lot on here due to being a big smith fan and owning a few smiths but always seeing ones from the past and new ones I could use...want.

I have the High standard in 22lr and I love it. 15 feet I can get 5-6 inch groups and it never fails. I carry it in my back pocket as a bug to my M&P or if I need to wear a suit I carry just this little guy as it is a whole lot better than no gun.

[WR Moore]

I bought one of the magnums as a backup in the late 1960's. I did manage to break a firing pin and replaced it without incident, maybe 10 years ago. You can fire .22lr in the magnum version, but accuracy suffers. IIRC, the lower barrel is off on windage.

Mine is a bit loose, but the looseness is between the sideplates and the pivot pin. Lockup of the breech is tight, the breech & barrels just wobble a mite.

[feralmerril]

I had one same as yours but I cant remember if I even fired it. I gave it to my daughter and havent heard anything about it since.

[Mule Packer]

Had the High Standard .22 magnum. Gave it to one of my sons. Great little gun.

[PALADIN85020]

Originally Posted by WR Moore

I bought one of the magnums as a backup in the late 1960's. I did manage to break a firing pin and replaced it without incident, maybe 10 years ago. You can fire .22lr in the magnum version, but accuracy suffers. IIRC, the lower barrel is off on windage.

Mine is a bit loose, but the looseness is between the sideplates and the pivot pin. Lockup of the breech is tight, the breech & barrels just wobble a mite.

The .22 magnum versions do have a reputation of shooting loose over time - not so with the .22 LR types.

John

[trapper704]

In 1969 I was working in Alaska on the north slope, when my dad died in Oregon. At 2am I boarded a plane for home I had a 38 derringer in my vest pocket went to Seattle, Portland and Pendleton Ore. Probly wouldn't want to do that now. still have a couple of them in my stash.

[jimmyj]

Hi:
My Wife still have one in .22 Magnum in Her "Small Pistol Collection".
I used it back in "The Day" as a third "Backup".
A "Trick" to avoid misfires is to make sure the cartridges are seated fully in the chambers.

[turnerriver]

I read years ago about a Florida LEO who was called into a prison hostage situation by the two bad guys holding the hostages. They told him to come in, unarmed, to negotiate face to face. He put one of the High Standard derringers in his shirt pocket & was able to kill them both. Wish I could remember his name or more details as its a great story if true.
Regards,
turnerriver

[dant]

Been a while but we got this one from our dentist this past week, been a safe queen all these years.......




Having used to work on these back in the 70's, there is a small nylon cam that sits inside and alternates the firing pin for top or lower barrel,,,,,this "cam" piece could and would wear out ,break on the early versions. Yes a very handy dandy ,easy ,flat to carry piece, they even made a wallet holster for them at one time.

[BubbaBlades]

I picked -up this non-working HS derringer for a good price thinking that I could get the necessary repair parts, install them myself and still be into the gun at the right price. While I was waiting for the new parts, I replaced (with home-made parts) or repaired three broken parts and made a replacement main spring out of a 1911 recoil spring. This modified derringer has a smooth trigger pull approximately 3 pounds less than stock and 100% reliability so far.
Mark

[M29since14]

Those are questionable little guns at best. When I was just a lad a friend of my Grandfather's shot a man he thought was a fleeing burglar with one of the .22 Magnum versions. They were probably 25-30 feet apart and I remember the gentleman telling me he thought he missed the fellow because he didn't even flinch. When he tried the fire the second barrel, the gun wouldn't discharge. Just as well since the shot would have been to the back as he was running away.

The "burglar" was rounded up, taken to the hospital and treated and he survived without much ado. He turned out to be a "friend" of the lady of the house. You can imagine how that all worked out. Once the cops actually got to believe that Grandpa's friend really didn't know the man, or know what was going on between the fellow and his wife, they declined to press any charges and the whole mess died away - except for the subsequent divorce.

At that time I was a big admirer of Chiefs' Specials and my Grandfather and I convinced his friend to get rid of the H-S and get a Chief. I don't think the little H-S was ever returned, but he didn't follow through on the Chief - bought a Charter Arms instead, which he thought was "just as good."

I don't think those little guns are much use for anything, except possibly for signaling. Just a bit better than no gun at all.

[bugbeliever]

I would call a couple 22lr with quality ammo in both chambers a lot better than no gun. If you learn to shoot it. If you just buy it and think you have a solid back up then you better be very close to the target as these are a different animal as far as aiming them properly...using a middle finger rather than index. Odd but a solid shot with a 22 to any vital area will end the fight. Its not for a every day carry but worse comes to worse within 10 feet I feel it will get me out of a bad situation with 2 or less bad people. Again though it needs to be practiced with because they do not aim like anything someone new to them would imagine. Even as a little woods gun when I am fishing I put snake shot in there and it will end the angry rattle snakes threat to you or your kids. I prefer that than having to carry a revolver with snake shot and my M&P....You just have to be ballsy enough to get a lot closer to the snake.

[cowboy45]

I've owned several. I still have a couple of the wallet holsters for them. I think they are DeSantis or Galco. By way of a 1984 ATF decision, if you put it in the wallet holster, it has to be registered as AOW.