I took my wife to the gun store last Saturday; she doesn't often go there, but the staff all know her, and have fun bantering with her about aircraft versus firearms as a money sink. Be that as it may, I spotted something unusual in a display case, and asked the owner to fetch it out for her to look at. I told my wife that she would fall in love with the grip angle - and she did.
(Image courtesy of the High Standard Collectors Association blog)
It's a High Standard Supermatic Citation pistol, made in the 1960's. It has the coveted Hamden, Conn. manufacturing stamp. The Hamden factory burned down in the 1970's. Production moved to E. Hartford, also in Connecticut, but aficionados maintain that the quality at the latter plant was never the same as at Hamden. The barrel has holes drilled and tapped in the underside to accommodate weights for competition shooting; these were commonly installed on the Trophy models, but less often on the Citations. They can be had as aftermarket parts.
Making it even more special as a purchase was that it came with:
- The original factory box;
- A second magazine;
- And a box of Winchester-Western Mark IV ammunition, probably manufactured in the 1960's as well, and today a collectible item in its own right. The ammo's in minty condition, too, and hasn't picked up any of the crud that can adhere to externally-lubricated .22LR bullets.
The original papers are missing, but I'll keep my eye open for a set. Everything's in really good condition, far better than I've seen on some other High Standards of similar vintage. What's even nicer is that the gun shop will be going out of business soon, due to the owner retiring; so he gave us a really good price as a farewell gift to my wife, meaning we got it for about two-thirds of what I think its market value will be.
My wife is looking forward to shooting her new toy. I think she's going to have a blast, literally. Those High Standards with their sharp grip angle are an absolute joy in the hand, almost falling into line with the target on their own, and making it hard to miss in terms of instinctive alignment. I daresay she'll let me borrow it from time to time, and I'm looking forward to that.
That was an unexpected weekend present for my wife, and I'm tickled pink to find it. High Standards in this condition are hard to locate at the best of times.
Peter
22 comments:
My uncle had one. The first pistol I ever shot at age 13. Your wife will love it. More accurate than a teen boy has a right to. Spoiled me it did.
Those High-Standard's were some of the premier target pistols of the day, for the .22 leg of 2700 "Bullseye" competition, still are in fact! Close to the same grip angle as my Ruger .22, or the Colt Woodsman models that contested it on the pistol ranges of Camp Perry at the National Matches! May you both enjoy it immensely, especially the 50 yd. Slow-fire stages, one handed, like Yah intended!! 😁
My high school music teacher had one. A not very skilled gunsmith tinkered with the trigger pull and made it full auto. Fun times!
Wonderful find - your timing waling into gun shop was perfect. Your wife should be very happy with the new rimfire member of the family.
'course, the eyesight and steady hands of a 13-year-old don't hurt in the accuracy department either ... ;-)
That is very handsome. Well wear, your lucky wife! At first glance, I thought it was a Browning Medallist or a Colt Woodsman, each of which I have and love. The fine lineage is evident.
I wanted a Colt Woodsman, a High Standard, a Browning Buckmark and a Ruger. I ended up with a Ruger Mark III with a slab sided 5.5" Bull barrel, stainless of course, and it's all I need.
I had one of those that I bought new in the late '60s but sold in 1974-75 because I needed the money. I sure wish I could find another one as it was by far the best shooting 22 pistol I ever owned. ---ken
That's a lovely pistol, I hope it shoots well. If so, absolutely a keeper. May need springs, but that's easy. Distinctly jealous here. 🙂
I've seen quite a few Hi Standards for sale recently - I suspect old men (or their heirs) are selling off their collections.
I haven't seen that particular variant, but I don't know much about them.
Jonathan
I had a 1951 Supermatic, looked like yours except it was a lever takedown and wasn't ported. The push button take down feature makes cleaning, super quick and easy. They seem to have reached some kind of cult status, I rarely see them come up for sale. When they do, they are $800 and higher, easily.
Tragically, mine was stolen. Replacement is a Ruger Mk lll, 22/45, target. Couldn't afford another Supermatic, but I'm happy with the super accurate Ruger.
That is a great find, and one helluva nice pistol, in addition to being in excellent shape!
I have one and had recurring sear issues that caused the entire magazine to discharge with one trigger pull. Some would say "Oh yeah!" and while I agree, I don't always want to dump a magazine.
With the Mark III, you also need a degree in Mechanical Engineering in order to field strip and reassemble.
I have a High Standard Sport King from the late 60s. My dad received it from his boss as a Christmas bonus. I’ve found that it shoots most reliably with CCI Mini-Mag. I always get 6” groups or tighter at a 50 foot range. It’s much more accurate than my Ruger and much better in the hand.
I do not own a Citation, but do own an older Model B that demonstrates how a trigger is supposed to break. Superb is not an exaggeration. Even with fixed sights, with its favored ammunition it is very fun to shoot. I'm sure your wife (and you) will be happy with it at the range.
Interestingly, I live in Hamden. I never realized High Standard used to have a factory here.
Congratulations on a heckuva nice find! The other classic that's a lot of fun is the old Colt Woodsman (Fictional agent Matt Helm's personal handgun when he's reactivated in the first book in the series: "Death of a Citizen." He gets issued a S&W .38 snubby not long after reactivation.). Enjoy that High Standard; I'm officially jealous!
--Dirty Bob
Soft on crime creates criminality. In at least two ways. One is the criminally minded is emboldened to attempt crime more often or in new ways. The other is the marginally ethical, or, him who does not possess a stout ethical code, may indulge himself in a risk/reward analysis and decide to act individually or complicity with others of the same mind.
I have had it up to here with criminal malfeasance identified, but little to none action taken to apprehend and punish the malfeasant.
I propose a means to save them the trouble gotten of a weak standard. A muzzle behind the ear is a great motivator to seek the narrow path. For you of weaker constitutions, the stripes of a whip is an alternative.
It appears my comment was made to the post about the new toy. I can only think that this is due to my phone acting up. You have my apologies.
In college the school I went to had a series of short course (called Intersession) which were a variety of things from studious (discussions of Stellar physics) to Artisinal (welding art, bread making) to recreational (various indoor sports, wargaming, a little Sci Fi Con). My freshman Year I took a Pistol course held in the pistol range in the old gym. We used .22 caliber (I think the range could handle up to police .38 as all the University police of the 8+ universities in the vicinity would qualify there. We started using a group of VERY hard used .22 pistols not looking anything like that. But on the last day we each got to do 3-4 scoring runs with one of teams the 4 High Standard pistols. The jump from the junky hard used pistols to the High standards was amazing and yes the grip was far mor pleasent the the shap and material of the low end .22 .
I will note that I learned a life lesson from that course. My buddy and I went out drinking the night before the course started. Even in ear protection 8 people hammering away with .22 pistols is NOT enjoyable with a fairly large hangover.
Picked up a high standard December of 23 at the pawn shop.I dont know if yours is the same but mine has a flat breech face with no ramp. The cartridge has to come out of the magazine at a perfect angle or it will hit the breech face and jam. I found that, with a tool I purchased on ebay , i could adjust the feed lips on the magazines and get 100% feed. Dec of 24 another trip to the pawn shop and I got a browning buckmark and a colt woodsman.
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