Years ago when I first joined the Army, my recreation was essentially paid for by the Army. I loved to shoot, so I got myself onto the hi-power rifle team and the pistol team for my installation. As a young lieutenant with virtually zero disposable "income" ($222.30 a month net pay), I could not afford my own guns. I shot a National Match M1 provided by the Army, an accurized 1911A1 Ithaca and an arms room Ruger MkI 6 7/8" target pistol. I shot the Ruger well enough, I suppose, but my eyes turned green when I saw a Marine Corps captain shooting a then-new Hi-Standard "space gun." This beauty had it all - an adjustable trigger, excellent adjustable sights, a compensator, weights and looks that came straight out of a Buck Rogers comic strip. That leatherneck officer shot rings around me with that gun. One day, I asked to borrow it for a match, and found that my scores dramatically improved. If only I could afford one!
Alas, it was only in recent years that I could afford one, or even find one. They had become as scarce as condoms in a convent. Several years ago, I found this one, and my eyes lit up. There it was, my holy grail from years ago, nestled in its original box, complete with instructions, compensator, add-on weights and tools. Well, the transaction was negotiated and I walked away with what would have once been my absolute most prized possession.
Shooting it was pure joy. The "space gun" lasered those bullets into little cloverleaves in the targets. Sadly, the years have taken their toll on my skill with bullseye pistols, and I no longer compete. But the thrill of having my own Hi-Standard "space gun" was incredible. Today I keep it as a memento of years gone by when we used to do pistol competition standing up on our hind legs like a man and shooting one-handed. This little jewel brings back fond memories of the past.
Here it is, a Hi-Standard Supermatic Citation "slant grip" Model 103, made in 1963. It has a 6.75" barrel (not counting the compensator). This barrel length actually gave the longest sight radius of any of this breed, as the rear sight was mounted on the slide. Longer barrels, up to 8", had the rear sight mounted on the barrel. Any theoretical advantage of the barrel-mounted sights can be debated, and most of the real pros at that time opted for the 6.75" barrel for its longer sight radius. This one came with two detachable barrel weights, but I found one to be entirely satisfactory and more esthetically pleasing.
Thought I'd share this prized memento with you.
Alas, it was only in recent years that I could afford one, or even find one. They had become as scarce as condoms in a convent. Several years ago, I found this one, and my eyes lit up. There it was, my holy grail from years ago, nestled in its original box, complete with instructions, compensator, add-on weights and tools. Well, the transaction was negotiated and I walked away with what would have once been my absolute most prized possession.
Shooting it was pure joy. The "space gun" lasered those bullets into little cloverleaves in the targets. Sadly, the years have taken their toll on my skill with bullseye pistols, and I no longer compete. But the thrill of having my own Hi-Standard "space gun" was incredible. Today I keep it as a memento of years gone by when we used to do pistol competition standing up on our hind legs like a man and shooting one-handed. This little jewel brings back fond memories of the past.
Here it is, a Hi-Standard Supermatic Citation "slant grip" Model 103, made in 1963. It has a 6.75" barrel (not counting the compensator). This barrel length actually gave the longest sight radius of any of this breed, as the rear sight was mounted on the slide. Longer barrels, up to 8", had the rear sight mounted on the barrel. Any theoretical advantage of the barrel-mounted sights can be debated, and most of the real pros at that time opted for the 6.75" barrel for its longer sight radius. This one came with two detachable barrel weights, but I found one to be entirely satisfactory and more esthetically pleasing.
Thought I'd share this prized memento with you.
So now you've got the gun of your dreams. But you've got to feed it, not uncle sugar.
