The High Standard Crusader

[Goony]

A pretty typical example, right down to its plain wood grip. It does look to have been rather heavily buffed in the vicinity of the serial number: Hibid

 

[John Stimson]

The grip (it's made from a single piece of what appears to be some sort of hardwood) on mine actually has some figure to it, but from the photos I've seen, in many cases it does seem to be a very plain grade that was utilized. Rather inexplicable and disappointing for what was supposed to be a flagship model. Cocobolo or rosewood might've been a classier choice.

Part of the problem was that once the company had relocated from Hamden to East Hartford in 1976, the smaller size of the new facility imposed certain constraints on how much of the manufacturing process could now be carried out in-house. Certain operations such as polishing, bluing, and fabrication of wood grips were farmed out, and there's no reason to believe that this routine outsourcing wouldn't also have applied to the Crusader. At this late stage, High Standard no longer exercised complete control over the final quality of their products.

The factory move was in 1977 Production ended in Hamden in February 1977 and production of some models resumed in June/july 1977.

The toolroom Cursaders sampled were started in Hamden. High Strandard presold the guns at half down and then came the move and the new company High Standard Inc and finally the production Crusaders. The majority of the machining for the Crusaders was farmed out. Production shipments were for the .45 Colt from December 1980 through June 1983 with a few in 1984. Production shipments for the .44 Mag were from December 1978 through June 1983 with three in September 1984 to G W Elliott serial numbers 00, 01, and 02. Elliott also got the three .45 Colt with serial numbers 00, 01, and 02.

Sportsman's EMporeum in Philadelphia was pruchased the most of these revolvers

Sure, High Standard retained quality control. They had receiving inspection. Over 150.

High Standard had always had some parts produced outside.

 

[Goony]

Another typical example sold at auction earlier this year, posting on account of the extensive close-up photography: https://lacounty.cwsmarketing.com/l.../112/lot/2979/High-Standard-Crusader-Revolver