The High Standard Sentinel

Goony

Goony

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Besides my membership in the SWCA, I also belong to the HSCA, and have collected the High Standard automatic pistols. It was only recently, though, that I acquired my first Sentinel .22 revolver, this snubnose version that dates to early 1967. One exactly like mine was deemed meritorious enough to have been listed on its own by the Rock Island Auction Company: www.rockislandauction.com/detail/2050/810/high-standard-sentinel-r103-double-action-revolver

One quirk of the Sentinel revolvers is that the earliest production (for which I'm reproducing a period advertisement below) inexplicably did not incorporate an extractor return spring. Thus you'll encounter such that the owner believes to be broken or malfunctioning.
 

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My Bro had one.
Only Sentinal I ever fired.
I don’t recall his not having the return spring,
So I guess his was the sprung version.
 
The Sentinel Snub was the first handgun I ever owned. Sadly, it's long gone.
But, after many years of searching, I was able to find a mint Natchez!
9Th92ED.jpg


Tim
 
As a young gun shop clerk I drooled over a Sentinel MK III satin nickel .22 Mag snub that had come in used. I would sneak it to the basement range, fire a few 9-shot cylinders full, clean it and return it to the case. Never could put the purchase price together.
 
I am a fan of High Standard pistols. The two below are the J.C. Higgins versions that were sold though Sears from around 1954-1963 or so.

The Model 80 is the Sears version of the Duramatic and the Model 88 is basically a Sentinel. As mentioned earlier, the 88 I have does not have the ejector return spring.

The Model 80 was my dads. The Model 88 I found at a LGS a few years ago for a whopping $125 out the door. Boxes and all other J.C. Higgins material in the photo I purchased over the past decade. I also have the shorter barrel for the Model 80, but forgot to include it in the photo.

nutsforsmiths-albums-my-photos-picture24739-jc-higgin-models-80-88-a.jpg
 
I have always considered a 4" Sentinel to have been my first handgun, although it didn't actually belong to me. Long story, but it's what I cut my handgunning teeth on at about age 16. I'd like to snag another one someday if I find a good one. I always like the Longhorn, too. Across the street neighbor had one of those when I was a kid.
 
I've always wanted one of their later 9 shot shrouded barrel models.

I've come close to purchasing a couple of times, but just never have. Sooner or later I think I'm going to have to have one.

Thanks for sharing yours.
 
The unsprung Sentinels often have major rash to the left side from closing the cyl with the extractor back.

These also came in an array of colors… pink, even!
 
HS semi pistols definitely get most notice, but their "economy priced" revolvers are pretty neat on their own. Grips on the revolvers fit just about every hand well.

A round butt snub without hammer spur -

IMG_0655.jpg

A JC Higgins branded Sentinel
IMG_0399.jpg

I have a few more including the 101 version. The ejection system takes a bit of getting used to, and most are seen with scratch marks on the frame. I've found aluminum black takes really well covering up wear and scratches all over.

IIRC HS designers went on to work for Charter Arms and Ruger. The ejection system on the Charters is pretty much the same as the Sentinel series.
 
My first revolver was a 6" Sentinel Deluxe .22. It's never been a target piece, but it is a great plinker that has gone through thousands of rounds and is still in my gun safe.
 
I have an early sentinel, about 1957 and it has no extractor return spring…no problem to pull it back in before reloading….have another double nine longhorn that retracts with spring. These are accurate and worthy revolvers to own and shoot. They can be found at very inexpensive prices too although, some sellers think they are as valuable as s&w rimfire when mint and in box-they are not in the same class at all.
 
BlackAgnes - seeing your Natchez brought back some fond memories. My long-deceased oldest brother had one and it was the Shinola! After many years of searching, I found a Sentinel snub here locally couple years ago, which pairs nicely with my Double-Nine. Even found a correct box - with contents on crookBay. The snub is still drum-tight and shows little use. The shrouded barrel revo’s have entered cult status IMO, and are way beyond my modest means … :(
 
I never had one however one of the guys at my old Range did. Every time he'd break it out, people would come over to ask him about it as it was distinctively not a Smith or Colt. Seemed to work OK.
 
sw702 said:
they are nice...........thinking someone is now making a close copy ?
Click to expand...

Hermann Weihrauch picked the design up and manufactured them in Mellrichstadt, Germany under the Arminius line of revolvers. What Sefried had designed as an inexpensive tackle box gun evolved into a respectable target revolver. The grips of the Sentinel and comfortable and the grips of the HW9 are very well suited for target shooting!

 
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