The High Standard Sentinel

[mtgianni]

I have two, a 4" R 103 and a 5" R 106. I am amazed at the differences between the two. Nice accurate shooters but not a lot of modern interest. I had the 5" with 90% + condition at a gun show recently with a $330 price tag and no one looked at it other than for the nostalgic look.

 

[Electraclyde]

I have a 6" Sentinal deluxe that I inherited from my Dad In 1982. Don't know how old it is, but it is a good shooter and will stay in the family.

 

[wundudnee]

I had three Double Nines, nickel, blue and a Natchez. I found the Natchez at a garage sale for $150.00. I gave them to my son. You never see the High Standards at gun shows anymore. People that have them, keep them.
I did see one of the blue ones at Tulsa this spring and bought it.

 

[H Richard]

My very first magnum was a High Standard 357 Mag, 4", with a 2 piece barrel & shroud. I think it was build by Dan Wesson, it looked just like a Dan Wesson. That was about 35 years ago and no idea where it went. Traded on ? some S&W.

 

[retarmyaviator]

Is there a website to find the production date of a R-106?

I inherited my dad's years ago. It was the first gun I ever shot, still looks new.

 

[balin]

I have had an R-101 for over 10 years but haven't shot it much. It is a little to the rough side in the action as I remember. May need to take out for a stroll again.

 

[CajunBass]

I've owned several of them over the years, including a pink one with a white birdshead grip. The others were all 4" guns in blue.

I consider them to be the best "bum around the woods" gun I ever owned. Slip one of them into a nylon Uncle Mikes holster (one for a K-frame Smith and Wesson works fine), add an Uncle Mikes cartridge pouch with a handfull of 22 cartridges, and I was set for a few hours of holding back the pine cones and rouge leaves around the compound. The entire outfit was light as a feather.

Wish I still had one of them, but I let them go when other bright shiny things caught my eye.

 

[Goony]

Thought I'd add a couple of photos off the internet of Sentinels in their original boxes.

 

[Goony]

I've just happened to run across a write-up on the introduction of the Sentinel and its designer, Harry Sefried, that appeared in the June 1955 issue of Guns magazine. It's the first featured article (page 4): https://gunsmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/G0655.pdf

 

[mtgianni]

I have a 4" and a 6" or close to those measurements. The 103 might be 4 1/4" and the 106 Deluxe might be 5 1/2". Both are accurate and fun to plink around with. I am into one $100 and the other $215. The $100 one came shipped with the barrel hanging out of the packaging and a roofing nail for a pin. The on line seller was new and told me he wanted my feedback but wasn't real happy when I gave it. The condition was described as fair.
The more expensive Deluxe doesn't shoot as well as it's ugly shorter brother. It does do passable inside of 2 1/2" at 25 yards. My old eyes can't tell why one chamber pushes the group wide.

 

[Dvus]

I shot my dad's Double-nine for the first time when I was six years old (with very close supervision) and I still have it with it's original box. The Double -Nine series is just a Sentinel with a western flair.

 

[Goony]

A retrospective on the Sentinel recently penned by Massad Ayoob: Guns We Miss: The High Standard Sentinel .22 Revolver

 

[ky wonder]

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 agree the sentinel 3s are excellent guns I have a 4inch blue one in 22mag and it's very accurate

 

[Goony]

A comprehensive summary of Sentinel production: High Standard Sentinel

 

[Goony]

Another excellent article detailing the production of the Double-Nine (and other western styled versions of the Sentinel): Double-Nine

 

[turnerriver]

When I was 14 my father bought me a nickel Double Nine for Christmas. Being 14 and single minded I never got over the fact that it wasn’t a blue K-22. Double action revolvers we’re supposed to be Smith & Wessons and single action revolvers were supposed to be Colts.
I’ve still got the Double Nine and had the good sense to never tell my dad I was disappointed with it.
Regards,

 

[RMFnLA]

I recall seeing one with a broken frame that appeared to be pot metal, so I never had much use for them.

Their .22 autos were the best, however!

 

[sigp220.45]

The first lucid dream I remember having is of shooting my sister’s abusive husband with a High Standard Sentinel .22 Magnum. It was the short one with the shrouded ejector rod that looked kind of like a 3rd Gen Detective Special. I was about 10 and I must have seen it in a magazine article. They got divorced soon after.

I found this R-100 in a police supply place for $125. I don’t know what it did to wind up there. I think they thought it was broken due to the non-returning ejector.

I like it - its reasonably accurate and it always works.

 

[Goony]

I recall seeing one with a broken frame that appeared to be pot metal...

Just to keep the record straight, the frame was constructed of cast aluminum. I don't recall ever seeing any reports that this component was prone to failure.

 

[22lrfan]

I've picked up a Sentinel, Double 9 and a JC Higgins 88 from pawn shops. The 88 has a lot of wear but the other two are in good condition.