A "Grail" High Standard

[1-1917]

My HE model did manage to survive with its original magazine or at least one correct for the vintage.

 

[haroldj]

High Standard Rarity

This is the rarest of High Standard automatic pistols, a top of the line H-E model, manufactured only from 1940 into 1942. Despite their heavy barrels and fancy target grips, these sold poorly as the concurrent H-D was a near equivalent at a lower price point. The result was that only 1,006 H-E's were ever made. Contrast this paltry number to the H-D of which nearly 7,000 were produced, followed by another 44,000 or so of a modified version supplied to the government during WWII. And even those quantities pale in comparison to the output of the postwar H-D Military, of which on the order of 150,000 were sold.

Some additional factoids to mention. The H-E was made in a couple of barrel lengths, the shorter 4½" version shown here considered to be the scarcer of the two. Also, note that in the process of modifying the existing enclosed hammer design to provide for an external one, the manual safety was deleted.

As a High Standard aficionado, I'm always on the lookout for them, but I'd never even seen an H-E except in books. So while not in pristine condition, I was nevertheless thrilled to recently stumble across this example in a Tucson gun shop.

A few years back, I stumbled across a model9249 10-X. The owner knew what he had and the price was rather high. Regardless of the price I bought it. John G. Curries High Standard reference book shows a production number of 8.

If I can, I'll have my granddaughter post a picture. Bob Shea provenance was provided.

 

[bigmitty]

HD

This is a War Era HD made in 1945.H.S.C.A. is only aware of 7 examples.They were shipped to individuals during the war.They are basically a USA HD without the USA on the slide.Came in 4.5 or 6" barrels.

 

[John Stimson]

This is the rarest of High Standard automatic pistols, a top of the line H-E model, manufactured only from 1940 into 1942. Despite their heavy barrels and fancy target grips, these sold poorly as the concurrent H-D was a near equivalent at a lower price point. The result was that only 1,006 H-E's were ever made. Contrast this paltry number to the H-D of which nearly 7,000 were produced, followed by another 44,000 or so of a modified version supplied to the government during WWII. And even those quantities pale in comparison to the output of the postwar H-D Military, of which on the order of 150,000 were sold.

Some additional factoids to mention. The H-E was made in a couple of barrel lengths, the shorter 4½" version shown here considered to be the scarcer of the two. Also, note that in the process of modifying the existing enclosed hammer design to provide for an external one, the manual safety was deleted.

As a High Standard aficionado, I'm always on the lookout for them, but I'd never even seen an H-E except in books. So while not in pristine condition, I was nevertheless thrilled to recently stumble across this example in a Tucson gun shop.

The MODEL H-E is not particularly rare even when divided into the short and long barrels Your quoted production numbers appear to be from Charlie Prtty's book and some of these numbers are wrong. There has been a lot of research since his 1976 book. The Pre War MODEL H-D really had closer to 700 than the 7,000 you quote.

I had three MODEL H-E in my collection including a post War MODEL H-E which may be ubique.

Petty's 44,000 U.S.A. MODEL H-D is closer to 34,000 and his 150,000 MODEL H-D MILITARY closer to 142,000 than 150,000

This link is to a rarity system for High Standard guns

https://www.histandard.info/SCRATCH2025/RARITY RATING 8-10-2015.pdf

 

[Goony]

The MODEL H-E is not particularly rare even when divided into the short and long barrels Your quoted production numbers appear to be from Charlie Prtty's book and some of these numbers are wrong. There has been a lot of research since his 1976 book. The Pre War MODEL H-D really had closer to 700 than the 7,000 you quote.

I had three MODEL H-E in my collection including a post War MODEL H-E which may be ubique.

Petty's 44,000 U.S.A. MODEL H-D is closer to 34,000 and his 150,000 MODEL H-D MILITARY closer to 142,000 than 150,000.

In my defense, I'd call attention to my post above (#33) in which I acknowledge my error in initially relying on older references, and offer a couple corrections, particularly as regards the quantity produced of the prewar H-D. The most current research, though, continues to support the figure of 1,006 as the total made of the H-E (in both barrel lengths).

 

[James K]

Won this Model D at auction recently. Production was only 2500 between 1938-42.

 

[John Stimson]

HD

This is a War Era HD made in 1945.H.S.C.A. is only aware of 7 examples.They were shipped to individuals during the war.They are basically a USA HD without the USA on the slide.Came in 4.5 or 6" barrels.

THe serial numbers were wartime but the ship dates were mostly post war. I had two, one of each barrel length - 4.50" and 6.75". The really rare one as we know it today is the post war MODEL H-E . I had the only one known to me.

 

[John Stimson]

In my defense, I'd call attention to my post above (#33) in which I acknowledge my error in initially relying on older references, and offer a couple corrections, particularly as regards the quantity produced of the prewar H-D. The most current research, though, continues to support the figure of 1,006 as the total made of the H-E (in both barrel lengths).

My count is similar but different. I plan to redo my counts as a check when I find the time. It is my unfinished count of the prewar MODEL H-D that is currently being used. I announced that number over a dozen years ago to the HSCA forum.

In all fairness counting guns in the records is mind numbing, eye bleering tedium.