doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com off topic question

Way off topic here. I recently ran across a very clean (1950s?) Hi-Standard .22 auto pistol with the 4-inch barrel, and I simply haven't been able to find much information on these guns. I'd obviously rather have a nice Colt Woodsman, but I just can't justify the price tag on such a toy. Can anybody here give me the low-down on the quality/accuracy of these units or direct me to a good source of information?

my father shot a 1950's hi standard king model in a pistol league back then

he won several shoots and trophies with it

he was one heck of a pistol shot, but the HS would perform for him-

one thing at some point they changed the angle of the magazine's floor plate - so you need to be sure what you are getting when you get replacements

The original High Standards were fine pistols. I would put them as equals of the Colts of the era, only missing the Pony. Somewhere later on, the company moved to Texas(?) and became Mitchell Hi-Standard and quality went downhill.

I agree, at least with the Colt Match Target Woodsman- I have one, made in 1968 with the 4.5" barrel, and I am looking for an earlier one with the 6" barrel. The High Standards were very good pistols, get a target series with the removeable barrel (front push pin at the front lower edge of the receiver) and make sure the barrel is solid in battery- great shooter if made in Hamden CT- the ones made in TX- Nicht zer gut!!

I have a Hi Standard Olympic (.22 Short), which is probably the last pistol I would sell out of my modest collection. I agree with the recommendation to get the later grip configuration which mimics the 1911 grip angle. It's hard to switch from the Hi Standard Slant grip models to the 1911 angle.

The 1911 grip angle guns 106 and 107 series are primarily Texas made guns. The slant grip guns point like a dream. I have four, great shooters all. Get the magazine adjustment tool (ebay) to maintain lip dimensions and they will feed most all .22 ammo fine. Mine do

I have a High Standard with 5.5" bull barrel from the 60's. It shoots under and inch at 25 yards... I often use empty 12 gauge hulls set up on a piece of wood at 20-25 yards as a target! I've taught a number of people how to shoot with it, and they all have shot about 2" groups at 7 yds with it the first time they try. I joke that if the target is north of where I'm standing, I could face due south and fire and the bullet will still hut the target lol. By far and away the most accurate pistol I've ever owned, and easily beats my $1800 target 9mm. I simply cannot say enough good things about it!

Thanks folks!

I had custody of my uncle's High Standard Sport King .22 LR with 2 interchangeable barrels when I was in high school. It had the more steeply slanted grip angle, and it pointed very well, almost as naturally as pointing your index finger.

It seemed to be a very nicely made & high quality pistol, and I wish I still had it.

I would prefer a pre-war Woodsman, too, but there was nothing wrong with that older High Standard. I believe it was mid-to-late 1950s vintage, or maybe very early 1960s.

My first pistol as well and I still have it. IMO for whatever that's worth; the High Standard pistols were heads and tails better designed then any of the competition including Colt and Ruger. The Ruger 22s remain a nightmare to disassemble and then re-assemble for routine maintenance. The Colts aren't much better.
On the High Standard, after making sure it was unloaded, you lifted up on the lever at the front of the frame and the barrel followed by the slide slipped right off. This took a matter of seconds.
Jim