My (new to me) High Standard "The Victor"

[Florida Guy]

I have been looking for one of these for a very long time.
They were always too far away or too expensive, or I was outbid on GB.
I placed a WTB ad on a Florida gun forum about a week ago, and got a reply yesterday from a local seller.
From his description, it sounded as though I would have an interest (in at least seeing it in person). We talked price on the phone so there wouldn't be any surprises later.
When we met, it was pretty much as he described, and I bought the gun.
It does have a few minor handling marks.
I took it to the range today, and it shot beautifully.
Only shot 50 rounds, but there were no problems at all.
Would like to have shot more, but I'm down to my last 2 boxes of CCI SV, so want to save some for my next 2 trips to the range.

I got it just as you see it - no box and only one magazine.
The price was so good I didn't care.

For those interested, this is a Hamden, CT gun made around 1973 and has a steel rib vs. the later aluminum ribs.

I had a similar gun in the early 80's, but sold it after a divorce. Wanted one ever since.

 

[sigp220.45]

I've always been a High Standard fan - that is one nice pistol you have there.

Congratulations!

 

[kraigwy]

I have one of those that I got in the mid 70s for shooting Bullseye Pistol. You're right they are great shooters.

The only problem I have is the magazines. The two that came with the gun have been bullseye clips for about 35 years. Only 5 rounds loaded at a time.

Tried to shoot a 22 bowling pin match, like I said, if you only load 5 rounds they work great, try to stuff them full (10 rounds) they jam.

Tried to find some after market magazines but they are iffy.

Still, as to the Victor itself, they are fine shooters.

 

[Moonman]

You've got a good one there. (Hamden, Manufacturer)

 

[Faulkner]

Very nice indeed.

 

[Florida Guy]

Tried to find some after market magazines but they are iffy.

Still, as to the Victor itself, they are fine shooters.

As I said, mine only came with one mag which worked perfectly with 10 rounds loaded. I was pretty worried, knowing about the mag problems they can suffer from, until I shot the gun today, but it performed flawlessly.
I decided to buy an extra mag, and I know even new ones are finicky.
I chose to buy from Brownells, as they guarantee 100% satisfaction and lifetime returns.
Here is the link to the one I bought:
MAGAZINE, METAL BOTTOM, MILITARY GRIP | Brownells

 

[cobra44]

Very nice pistol there.
They are wonderful shooters. I have one and a friend of mine just bought one a while back. He brought it to my house and we were shooting it and it jammed many times. Got out a pair of needle nose pliers, did some adjusting on the mag lips, and no more jams.

 

[walter o]

Rimfire central-- has a section on High Standard pistols and a few good men- on the site who know the brand . Keep the drive spring changed often and Brownells have H.S. mags some by H.S. and some by triple K buy the H.S.- RF central can fill you in on correctng feed troubles with magazine lip measurements.
You have a Jewell enjoy it.

 

[H Richard]

Hamden gun with steel rib, one of the best ones. If you ever need work on it (doubtful if you don't shoot 50,000 rds p/yr) Bob Shea, the original factory guru and the personal builder the the 10X models that were about twice the price of the Victors is still in business as a HS gunsmith. He went through mine about 5 years ago and brought it up to snuff. I hate to admit I've owned three 41's and traded them all off, but I've kept this Victor for nearly 30 years and still shoot it.

 

[judge]

When I was into serious bullseye matches, I tried the S&W 41, the Browning Medalist(mine), and others. The Victor was my all time favorite. It just fit me perfect & very accurate. Love to have one someday.

 

[jaykellogg]

I hadn't seen a High Standard Victor in years. Then about 2 weeks ago a pretty much mint one showed up in a pawn shop/GS near me. I determined to buy it as soon as I come up with some spare cash. I don't need it, I have other .22 rimfire pistols, but like you I had one years ago and regretted letting it go. This GS also has a S&W model 29-3 in 6½ inch barrel with only a little blue wear at the tip of the barrel from holster wear. There is no rust. I would like to get both the Model 29 and the Victor.

 

[V-35]

Steel Rib Victor

As you will find out, there is not a better .22 than the Hamden High Standards. (Sorry Mod. 41 owners but I have both) The steel rib Victor is much harder to find than the Alum. Rib. guns, and more collectable. Enjoy it, you have the best. (BTW if you have any feeding problems, 99.99% of the time, it will be the lips of the magizine.) I never had much luck with aftermarket mags. YMMV (but probably not).

Art

 

[Biker Bill]

Congrats on a fine pistol!

I have one as well and had nothing but trouble with the factory magazine; it was a jam-o-matic. Tried adjusting the lips on the magazine and only made it worse.

Finally got the BRILLIANT idea of getting a new magazine. Purchased a Triple K magazine and the Victor now eats any kind of .22 I feed it.

Hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine!

Bill

 

[Göring's S&W]

Very nice gun. The Victor in the 1960s supplanted the Trophy model as High Standards deluxe top of the line model. I have fired 41s, I own several Colt Woodsmans, and I own several High Standards, and the high standard is deservedly the world's finest .22 caliber autoloading pistol.

I have a small collection of them: early East Hartford Victor, 2 Hamden Trophys (106 and a number series), a Hamden 102 Citation space gun, Hamden 101 Supermatic, a G380, factory nickel Hamden Sport King, 2 model Bs and a high standard 22 derringer lol. I like my victor despite it being East Hartford. Its a ML series, which the first 25k ML guns were actually Hamden guns, but mine is only 25450, so I theorize that it had parts made at Hamden, but was assembled at East Hartford. It works well, and for $400, I am happy. I too agree that the 41s are not as great. I like my 3rd gen Colt woodsman match targets a lot, but they look better than they perform, like many other Colts.

For anyone interested in high standard, I recommend the Tom Dance book, which is of course out print but often found on amazon.

 

[jaykellogg]

Well, I got the one I mentioned above. It isn't as nice as yours. The bluing on the frame has a reddish cast to it. I didn't get any box or papers, but the gun appears to have been fired very little. Now, I need a couple of extra mags. Mine was made in Houston, TX.

[/IMG]

 

[Florida Guy]

Congratulations jaykellogg on your purchase.

The Houston TX guns are the newest of the HS line.
They bought out the old company in CT, and their earlier guns were problematic I've read.
Does your mag have a red plastic bottom? Hard to tell from your pic. If so, they make all metal mags which won't break like the plastic bottom ones are prone to do.
I ordered mine online (see my post #6 above).
Hopefully the one you got with the gun will function correctly.

 

[jaykellogg]

Congratulations jaykellogg on your purchase.
Does your mag have a red plastic bottom?

Yes it has a plastic bottom. I ordered two more today from Brownells (along with some AR mags).

 

[Moonman]

Houston made "VICTORS" do not measure up to the older Hamden made ones.