I've managed to stumble upon two of these over the years, buying them for very low prices, they're certainly not youngsters to the world; the Model 102 (with holster) somewhere from 1958-59, the shorter barrel Sport King from '51-'52, a surprising find at Cabelas of all places! I intend to gift the shorter barrel Sport King to a teenage granddaughter as her parents have finally decided to enroll her into a safety/shooting class at a local indoor range. She of course can't own actually own it until she's old enough, but she always can use it with her folks at the range and it can rest here in my safe until she can take it legally. I'm sure by then we'll have her pushing and carrying higher caliber defensive shooters like our oldest grandgal. Anyway, I've shot them both and could push golf balls across the desert floor with ease, great shooters!

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COURAGE=Fear+Prayer

My experience is they're every bit as good as the Ruger MK2.

Wish I could find another one here locally!

Those are delightful little pistols.

Hard to come close in quality with contemporary fodder.

Yes, the Hamden built High Standards are right up there with the S&W model 41's and Colt Match Targets.
Those three dominated the Bullseye circuit for many years.
This is a timely post for me as I just bought a HS model 103 Citation, 8 inch space gun with the weights which is presently in route to me.
I always shot the model 41 in matches but find that I like the Hamden High Standards better.

Got a used HD Military I'm fond of. It might be a tack-driver, but not with me shooting it. To me. it's a utility .22

[IMG]http://[/IMG]

We had a little Sport King around the house when I was a kid, I loved shooting that thing.
I have no idea where or when my Dad got rid of it, but sure wish I had it now.

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John

I have my Dad"s Sport King. Great firearm, your grand daughter will love shooting hers! The problem is my dad only had two mags for it, and they need to be replaced. All the usual places to look for replacement mags are "out of stock" as expected, as they have not been manufactured in decades. Are there any after market magazines that are halfway decent? I bought some for him, but they are unreliable junk.

I have a couple High Standard 107 Victors.

Wonderful pistols, very accurate, superb triggers.

I have a 4” HD Military that I’ve had 50yrs. It is a tack driver and no pistol I’ve ever shot has a trigger that comes close. That includes S&W 41, Colt Woodsman Match and Browning Medalist as well as the top of line HI -STD pistols. I also have a 6.75” but haven’t shot it much yet.

There is/was a pistol range on Main Post Ft. Riley near our com shop. I'd go over at lunch, check out a HS Military and 100 rounds, make a ragged hole. Got to do that a couple times a week.

Loved shooting them!

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SWCA #2817

High Standard made a variety of guns over the years, but were always best known for their well made and accurate .22 pistols. My Victor, pictured below, is probably the most accurate .22 handgun I have owned, at least in my hands. It was a real small game getter, back when I could hunt with a semi-auto .22 pistol. Not here in PA, unfortunately..

Larry

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I have your twin-about 95%.

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High Standard made some serious Bullseye pistols, the three guns pictured below were the choices of the American rimfire competitors for a long time.

OP, I've never even wanted to learn to golf until you gave me that idea!

As a companion to my 1956 Colt MT and 1958 S&W mod 17 lives here a 1947 mint 6 3/4 HS HD Military. It can not get better than that. Apart for its somehow crude adjustable rear sight the HD is a very accurate and reliable gun, at least with the original finger magazine.
With the two others I bought from Gun Parts not so.
Regards, Ray

High Standard is the only US handgun to ever win an Olympic Gold Medal, back in 1960. Great guns, but the magazines can be finicky, as they are effectively the feed ramp, of the system. It can take a bit of bending, on the lips of the mag, with a fine point needle-nose pliers, to get things "just right". My Supermatic was out of commission, for a few months, after my sister slammed the magazine into the well, and bent the lips. Even my gunsmith couldn't get it to work right (and he grew up shooting High Standards for Bullseye). I finally got it fixed by tweaking the mag lips a bit more. My gunsmith, an NRA High Master, now shoots a Marvel 1911 conversion for the .22 portion of Bullseye. He says HS were the most accurate guns he ever shot, but he stopped using them years ago, because of the temperamental magazines.
Mine is a tack driver, and the most accurate handgun I've ever owned (in these tyro-hands). Yes, I shoot it weak-side, when it's wearing its ambi-grips (it came with these right-handed target grips with a thumb-rest).

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I have a "Sharpshooter" Purchased new about 1973. Used it to shoot .22 in 3 gun Bullseye for a couple years. Three gun was very popular at my club and we had a bunch of people that held regional titles and some shot Camp Perry. (great instructors for a newbe)

Now it just occupies space in my safe.

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14 S&W Revs none with locks!

For sure. When I shot serious bullseye years ago, those three ( S&W,Hi Standard, and Colt ruled production class.

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John

In 72, I bought a DuraMatic from Western Auto in Rantoul, IL. I put it on layaway and paid it off in installments. It was $69.00 and I didn't have that kind of money to spend on a gun.

I have put many thousands of Mini-Mags (used to be $.99) and other .22's through that gun. It taught me a great deal about shooting a handgun. Last year the plastic grip began to crumble and I got a replacement from Numrich.

I still shoot it from time to time and always enjoy it.

I got my first HS in about 1972, a friend with a FFL got me the next one. I got my FFL then and not very long before they went under I got a letter from then saying they were having a hard time staying in business and if most of the FFL holders would buy one they thought they could make it, I have regretted not buying one then. My next new HS was a stainless one made by Mitchel arms in Texas. They are my favorite pistols, I dont shoot them much as a botch job on my right eye has ruined my shooting. Jeff

Have also owned a 4 inch HDM for a while.
Like 50 years.
Like the Hammer, Trigger, and Grip Angle.

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NRA LIFE MEMBER

I see the Duramatic pretty regular here at the LGS. But they are really proud of them. I settled for a Ruger MKII in SS that I really like. As someone earlier said, it may be a tack driver, but not with my poor vision and my shaky hands.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

It's funny, I have many friends that are always moaning and groaning about how they can't wait to get to the range to shoot. I understand that, but I have a "home field" advantage...

I shoot so often I have to laugh. No, not a big bad 1911 or some other macho self-defense gun. A sweet High Standard Second Model Olympic in .22 Short. Honestly, if I had to sell my collection, this might be the last to go.

This piece has the 4.5 inch barrel, and is shown with the barrel weight installed. I have the matching 6.75 inch barrel too, but I'm just used to this configuration.

The smooth trigger and balance of the gun is incredible. I've got a number of other High Standards, including some "Space Guns" with 8 and the 10 inch barrels. When I take those to the range it's a real hoot!

Anyway, best wishes to all.

Roger aka Mr. Wonderful

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I have an R 106 Love it

Hi STD Duramatics are field grad plinking pistols that are in same class as a Ruger Standard pistol in the day. The Browning Medalist is a precision target gun too. It just wasn’t around as long as Colt, Hi-STD and S&W in that order. Today all we have left is S&W 41.

Due to the super accuracy of these High Standard Victors, I do not own a S&W in 22 rimfire. I purchased a Victor in 1974 and all the other 22 pistols have come and gone, never could find one with accuracy anywhere close to my Victor, so now I have only 3 22 pistols, I have added a Stroger 95 to the herd, a mid 1990's stainless steel copy of the Victor that was not produced very long due to patent rights and I have one of Jim Clarks' Victors that he produced for the bullseye shooters. Wow, it outshoots my old Victor. Looks like i need to do a family group photo for this thread.

Timely post here too. I acquired my first Hish Standard, a Hamden Supermatic Trophy. This thing has good potential. I have had good luck with CCI Standard Velocity functioning pretty well but my supply is out. Aguila Super Extra is reliable with the mag loaded to six rounds. The former owner told me he shot a lot of Eley Target so I plan to pick some up and give it a shot. I really enjoy shooting this gun. Would like to find a 5.5”. I havent had a chance to take an appropriate photo but this will suffice for now.

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SWCA #2922

Very accurate indeed.

Here is the one I have.

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Expect the unexpected

I have these three plus a Hamden Victor I found recently. Any of them will outshoot my Smith 41.

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I've always loved the old slant-grip "space guns" ever since my Army days when I envied the shooters on my pistol team who could afford them for their wonderful accuracy, reliability and features.

This one is one of mine today - it will still shoot rings around almost anything you could put up against it. I have the original box, accessories and tools for it, as well.

I devoted a chapter to these guns in my book 101 Classic Firearms.

John

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- Cogito, ergo armatus sum -

I shot a Hi-Standard in bullseye competition for many years. I started with a 107 and ended with a Victor that mounted a CPC lined barrel. Trigger was done by Mike Curtis when he was building my 1911. I have shot a 100-10X in timed fire with this pistol and many, many 5 to 7X targets. I had people standing in line to buy it when I could no longer shoot bullseye.

Stu

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"Almost anything" being the key words.

I'll admit it doesn't have the looks. But this thing is stupid accurate both in .22 and .32 wc.

And it is my only "plastic" pistol.

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Expect the unexpected

Love my High Standards. My Victor is more Accurate than my Model 41 Smith. Yes the magazines are finicky as they are effectively the feed ramp. I spent $20.00 and got a High Standard Magazine adjusting tool rather than use needle nose pliers to adjust the magazine.

Only other concern is future parts availability.

In New York we can no longer have a pistol with a magazine forward of the trigger guard.

Bob

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Sag Harbor & Manhattan, N.Y.

Yeah boy!

High Standards are grand.

This one's been wholly trouble free with both factory magazines and aftermarket ones too. It's so accurate and with a trigger to die for, one of the very best triggers in the firearms menagerie here.

In the 1960 Olympics yes. With 587 points. But he had to break a tie with the 2nd and 3rd who also did 587 points.

In 1964 he finished 12th with 586 points. This time, the Finnish that was second in 1960, won with 592 points.

I only competed in rapid fire one year with a borrowed Walther OSP. I barely broke the 500 points mark.

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Expect the unexpected

Remember that the results got better and better as guns, grips and sights got better, so that the UIT target was changed. Ever since the reduced size target was used, the scores dropped. The last world record was shot with a Hammerli International and the change of the target ensured that it is unbroken to this day.

What assures that the record won't be broken anytime soon is that they don't use .22 short anymore but .22lr and the minimum trigger pull weight was increased from 1.1 to 2.2 pounds. And it is no longer an Olympic discipline.

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Expect the unexpected

Blackcloud - my Dad bought the same 6-in model, with the same style holster, for me in '69 or '70. This was while I was still in high school so I had to ask permission to take it out for several years. Sadly, it's gone now because my brother had it for safe-keeping while I was overseas and he passed away. I did have the good fortune to find a 4-in model, SK-101 IIRC, in the box at a gunshow in Columbus, GA when I was stationed there in the mid-70's. The magazines are a work of art - I still have one treasured spare magazine. Nothing against S&W or Ruger, comparing those old SK mags to the current .22 magazine offerings is pretty sad.

I only own one, a 1947 HD Military. I have always lusted after one of their Supermatic Citation Space Guns. I highly recommend a couple of books; Burr Leyson's Hi-Standard Pistol Guide for the maintenance and repair, and Charles Petty's High Standard Automatic Pistols 1932-1950.

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This 107

And this HD Military

Both are incredibly accurate

Ned

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Devil's afraid I'll take over.

All my High Standards now use the Military Style Magazine. I just found one magazine from one model I used to own that used the other style without the little extension on the bottom. Guess my next post is back over to the Classifieds.

Bob

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Sag Harbor & Manhattan, N.Y.

The Military seems to be among the most popular HS pistols if not THE most popular and wonder why. Is it, do you think, because of the exposed hammer?

Also, after reviewing the poor photo of my Military, it looks lots worse than in reality. So I took another photo, which I'll attach. The rainbow look on the slide is a because of the lighting. Still a good general use .22 pistol I need to shoot more.

[IMG][/IMG]

Their Sentinel revolvers are sleepers as well. Both of mine I have owned for 7+ years but I bought one for $100 the other for just under $200 on auction sites. If I do my part they will put 9 rounds in 1 1/2" at 25 yards which is as well as I can do with a model 18.

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Front sight and squeeze

I have several Hi Standards. All are excellent, some are just about as accurate as a good rifle. They are way better than I’m really able to take advantage of. Here are a couple of representative targets at 25 and 50 yds.

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Everybody could shoot

I find that I must agree with you 100%. Tack drivers all the way, even in the hands of an old man!
Here's ours

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Just got this in yesterday. HS Hamden 8 inch Space Gun. It shoots sweet. Anyone know what year it was made? I searched but didn't come up with a sure date.

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There's no feed ramp in the Victor so the feed lips have to align the round just right to allow the slide to bat it into the chamber. There's some logic (and some art) involved in adjusting the feed lips just right with the correct angle and rim height as well as the right clearance on the front portion fo the feed lips. You really need the adjustment tool to do it right without driving your self nuts and bending the lips back and forth excessively. It's about $45-$50, but it's a one time buy.

Interarmstx sells a decent magazine for the Victor. I bought two, a spare for each of my 107 Victors. One of them ran perfectly in both pistols out of the wrap, while the other one needed some tweaking to get perfect function in both pistols. The feed lips are however hard enough to stay in tune, unlike the Triple K magazines.

There 22 semiautos were great! Here's a top of the line Citation and a bottom of the line JC Higgins Model 80 made by High Standard and sold through Sears in the late 50s. It's basically a Duramatic with different grips and barrel shape. They both shoot really well!