One of the lesser-known American military firearms of the WWII period was the Hi-Standard U.S.A. H-D .22 caliber pistol. It is often confused with the post-war H-D Military, which was similar, or the Military target pistols made much later.
About 32,000 were purchased by the War Department during the period of September of 1943 through May of 1945. The serial numbers ran from about 103863 to 14981. They are distinguished from the later H-D Military guns mentioned by the markings and that they had a fixed rather than adjustable rear sight. All had 4.5" barrels, while some of the H-D Militaries had 6" barrels.
The guns were purchased for economical pistol practice, but a considerable number were equipped with a sound suppressor and designated the U.S.A Model H-D MS. General “Wild Bill” Donovan, head of the OSS (forerunner of the CIA) demonstrated one to President Franklin Roosevelt in the oval office by firing 10 rounds into a sandbag in a wastebasket, unnoticed by the President while Roosevelt was signing some papers. When this was brought to Roosevelt’s attention, he remarked to Donovan that he was the one Republican he’d ever trust with a gun in the oval office! One was carried by U2 pilot Francis Gary Powers during the Cold War, and was retrieved by the Russians after he was shot down. It now rests in a Russian museum.
The guns were blued until about serial number 12800, and then Parkerized. All were equipped with checkered hard rubber grips. They were shipped in black boxes, complete with an instruction tag and instructions printed on a large sheet. The reverse of the sheet had an illustrated parts list.
The gun illustrated carries serial number 1224xx, and was sent to the War Department in October of 1944. It lacks, as do some others, the Ordnance Department stamping on the right side of the frame. The top of the barrel is marked “PROPERTY OF U.S.” and this same marking is on the right of the frame. The serial number is stamped on the front gripstrap. The last 3 digits of the serial number are stamped on the underside of the slide, as was the standard practice.
I thought you'd find the pictures and information interesting.
John
About 32,000 were purchased by the War Department during the period of September of 1943 through May of 1945. The serial numbers ran from about 103863 to 14981. They are distinguished from the later H-D Military guns mentioned by the markings and that they had a fixed rather than adjustable rear sight. All had 4.5" barrels, while some of the H-D Militaries had 6" barrels.
The guns were purchased for economical pistol practice, but a considerable number were equipped with a sound suppressor and designated the U.S.A Model H-D MS. General “Wild Bill” Donovan, head of the OSS (forerunner of the CIA) demonstrated one to President Franklin Roosevelt in the oval office by firing 10 rounds into a sandbag in a wastebasket, unnoticed by the President while Roosevelt was signing some papers. When this was brought to Roosevelt’s attention, he remarked to Donovan that he was the one Republican he’d ever trust with a gun in the oval office! One was carried by U2 pilot Francis Gary Powers during the Cold War, and was retrieved by the Russians after he was shot down. It now rests in a Russian museum.
The guns were blued until about serial number 12800, and then Parkerized. All were equipped with checkered hard rubber grips. They were shipped in black boxes, complete with an instruction tag and instructions printed on a large sheet. The reverse of the sheet had an illustrated parts list.
The gun illustrated carries serial number 1224xx, and was sent to the War Department in October of 1944. It lacks, as do some others, the Ordnance Department stamping on the right side of the frame. The top of the barrel is marked “PROPERTY OF U.S.” and this same marking is on the right of the frame. The serial number is stamped on the front gripstrap. The last 3 digits of the serial number are stamped on the underside of the slide, as was the standard practice.
I thought you'd find the pictures and information interesting.
John
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