Welcome to the blog of the High Standard Collectors' Association. Feel free to browse around and enjoy! If you have a question about one of our posts, or have something to add, please leave a comment by clicking on COMMENTS or COMMENT just below the post. We'd love to hear from you!

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

Summer edition of the newsletter was mailed this week.
Reviews are quite outstanding.

If you have paid your dues and not received the newsletter by 7 August please contact me

Nightdoc@aol.com
Editor pro-tem

On the topic of dues, they are due on or before the last day of 2024.
Please also volunteer or nominate another member for the club officers.

My thanks,

Jon


Monday, July 1, 2024

2024 Annual Meeting displays and photos with thanks to Brian, Greg and Jerry

 

The annual meeting of the High Standard Collectors Association was held in Greeley Colorado, as part of the Colorado Gun Collectors annual display show. The High Standard Collectors had members attending from as far away as Florida, Kentucky, Montana, California, Oregon and Washington. Members in this photo are: Bill Elliott, Greg Markel, Owen Markel, Steve Schrott, Jerry Watson, "El Presidente" Brian Rebuzzini, Russ Gray, and Bob Snider. Smokey Grant is kneeling in front row.

Several of the HSCA Members did quite well with displays, winning awards and money.

Bob Snider manning the High Standard Montana Table. He traded off with Russ Gray answering questions and selling products manufactured by the Montana Facility.


Jerry Watson and his collection of Victor Pistols. He was awarded a “Display of Merit” and $150 check by the Colorado Gun Collectors. The High Standard Collectors Association awarded the display “Judges Choice” which came with a large clear glass flame trophy.
Greg and Owen Markel with their award winning display of Owen's Hammer Guns on the right and Greg's Olympics on the left. Their combined display was awarded by the Colorado Gun Collectors, the “Best Contemporary Pistol” display with a $750 check. The High Standard Collectors Association awarded the display the “Best in Show” which came with a large clear glass flame trophy.
Display of Custom work performed by High Standard Montana.
Smokey Grant and his display of Wheel Guns and Derringers. The High Standard Collectors Association awarded the display “Most Educational” which came with a large clear glass flame trophy.
Jerry Watson's Display
Greg Markel's display



Steve Schrott taking a break from selling Currie's book to tutor Owen Markel about High Standards.

Saturday, June 22, 2024

 Members from the Northwestern HSCA exhibited their collections at the 2024 Colorado Gun Collectors' Association in Greely Colorado to great acclaim including Best of Show and other awards.  Steve Schrott displayed Currie collector's book which is available on Amazon. Article and photos to follow.

The next High Standard Collectors' gathering will be on 27-28 July 2024 at the Missouri Valley Collectors' Association Summer show in Kansas City Missouri at the MCI exhibition center. 

 Google MVACA 2024 Summer Show for specifics.  This show has award winning displays from multiple collectors groups.  More information also in the HSCA newsletter.

The Northwest HSCA will also have displays in an Oregon show in late August. Details in the newsletter or contact Jerry Watson directly.

Friday, June 21, 2024

 Do you have a High Standard pistol with a cracked frame?

I have not seen one, but there is discussion of this on another forum. They do not know how commonly this occurred but imply it was a frequent problem. 

Please send me a Model and serial number so I can track it from factory records. Photos and/or descriptions would also be appreciated.

I will report results here or in the newsletter.


Jon Miller

Nightdoc@aol.com

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Spring 2024 issue of the HSCA newsletter was mailed today.

 Distribution of the Spring issue of the newsletter was mailed today.

Thanks to Ken Rabeneck, Jerry Watson, Gary Hooper, Bob Snider and High Standard of Montana, Bill Jenkins, Steve Schrott, and Brian (el Presidente) Rebuzzini.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE write and submit an article for the newsletter. E-mail it to Nightdoc@aol.com.  Include photos if you have them. I need articles to continue publication of the newsletter.  

Alternatively, I will start printing issues only when I get adequate articles to justify the cost of printing and mailing three instead of four times a year.

Send me a message if you have paid your 2024 dues and not received a Spring newsletter by 20 April 2024.

Newsletter editor, Pro Tem

Positive review of Currie's book

 HSCA has arrived.

Page 26 of this month's American Rifleman magazine gives a complimentary review of John Currie's High Standard Collectors book. Well done guys.

Monday, March 11, 2024


AUGUST WEST COAST HIGH STANDARD COLLECTORS MEETING IN OREGON

 The dates are August 24 & 25.  Here is a connection to the Oregon Arms Collectors website.  http://www.oregonarmscollectors.com/home.html

The web site mostly deals with the Monthly one day shows but does include the 2-day show in August.  Several of us have reservations at the Holiday Inn Portland West - Hillsbuoro, 2575 NE Aloclekl Drive, Hillsboro, OR 97124, phone 503 640 1745.  I can pick you up at Portland Airport (PDX) Or there is a train that runs out to Hillsbuoro.  This venue is much better than the old one, but is 20 miles west of the Portland Airport which is east of Portland.

 Please pass this information to all who might be interested.


---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Frontier Gallery LLC <fgllcdenver@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Mar 11, 2024 at 2:33 PM
Subject: Displays
To: <bwrcww@gmail.com>, jerry watson <jerrywatson500hsca@gmail.com>


I wanted to let you know that I still have 5 display tables available in the High Standard area, just in case one of the other High Standard Collectors wants to do a display.

--
David Weddle
CGCA Show Chairman

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

                                                             For your information



 High Standard of Montana has forwarded copies of their rights to the High Standard trademarks.




Tuesday, February 20, 2024

 Hello to all of the High Standard Collectors and shooters.

Russ and I would like to thank you all for your continued support
these last four and half years. A lot has been going on for us here.
We have built four 10X's for three youth shooting teams here in
Montana. Two teams went to Colorado Springs last year with the guns we
built and placed first and then they went to Nebraska for their
national matches and placed first along with a Camp Perry style match
which they took first place as well.  We continue to attend gun shows
here in Montana and getting the name out there.
In 2019 ND 2020, we applied for and received all of the High Standard
trademarks, including the trigger logo. We have built a few
presentation blonde boxes with the Supermatic Trophies with extra
barrels for a few customers.
We have a few Bob Shea commemorative guns still available and we have
a few of the Jim Gray Commemorative guns available as well.
Some of you may not know, but we build all of our own parts, frames,
and barrels. There are some things we have to outsource such as
springs and grips. Our grips are built by Herrett stocks. They do a
wonderful job!
Russ continues to improve on the machining and is always looking at
better ways to do the job. He writes programs for the CNC machinery
and produces some amazing stuff. I won't give away all of his secrets
though!
Some of you may not know, but we brought back the Sport King as an
entry level gun. Your choice of 4.5 or 6.75 in barrel and fixed
sights. It has been quite the attraction for those who want an all
steel gun but don't necessarily need a target pistol.
We have been quite busy with repairs from customers all over the
country. It keeps us very busy for just 2 guys who want to build a
quality target pistol and support the shooting and collecting world.
I have heard that we are hard to get a hold of at times. If you have
a hard time reaching us by phone, please text or email us.
As with any fledging company, we are striving to do our best to
uphold the High Standard brand. Wait times might get long, but we do
stand behind our work and our word. Please remember, we are just two
guys doing this and we do want quality first. we know our website does
leave something to be desired, but we will at some point get a good
one going.
We always welcome comments and advice from you all. Thank you for your support!

You can reach us by email at highstandardofmt@gmail.com or by phone
at 406-590-0351. Our contact info is on the website also.

Thank you again,
Russ and Bob

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

 Recommended Gun Shows

Thank you Ken R.

HSCA member attended 2024 gun shows

February 24-25 - Louisville, KY, National Gun Day (nationalgunday.com)
April 6-7  - Tulsa, OK, Wanenmacher's Spring Gun Show (www.tulsaarmsshow.com)
May 18-19 - Greeley, CO, HSCA Annual Meeting,  CGCA Gun Show (CGCA.com)
July 27-28 - Kansas City, MO, MVACA Gun Show, HSCA Midwest Regional (MVACA.org)
August ??? - Portland, OR, HSCA Western Regional (check with Jerry Watson)
September 14-15 - Louisville, KY, National Gun Day (nationalgunday.com)
November 9-10 - Tulsa, OK, Wanenmacher's fall gun show (www.tulsaarmsshow.com)

Many High Standard displays will be at:
Greeley, CO - HSCA Annual Meeting 
Kansas City, MO - HSCA Midwest Regional 
Portland, OR - HSCA Western Regional 

 For those members interested in the annual HSCA meeting at the Colorado Gun show.

Thank you Ken R. for forwarding this.


THE CGCA 58th ANNUAL GUN SHOW
May 18 & 19, 2024
ISLAND GROVE EVENT CENTER
521 N 15th Ave Greeley CO 80631

Thursday, May 16: 2-8 p.m.
at the Main Entrance
Friday, May 17: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
at the Main Entrance
SET-UP Thursday May 16: 2-8 p.m.
Friday May 17: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. 
OPEN TO DEALERS Saturday May 18: 8 a.m. - 5:30 P.M.
Sunday May 19: 8 a.m. - 6 P.M.

Please reserve __________ trade tables at $150.00 each and __________ display tables at $130.00 each.
I will need electrical at $35.00  Yes  No • Electric scooter rental  Yes  No 
Same Tables with Full Payment at 2023 show  Yes  No 
Badge Request (Please Print Names Clearly)
____________________________________ _____________________________________
____________________________________ _____________________________________
____________________________________ _____________________________________
I understand that I am allowed two free badges for the first table and one additional free badge for each additional table. Additional Badges purchased before May 1, 2023 will be $30 each badge pre-paid. After May 1, 2023 the badges are $40 each pre-paid before the show.
I will have the following items for sale:
1.___ Antique Firearms 6.___Other antique weapons
2.___ Commemoratives or antique replicas 7.___Collectors cartridges
3.___ Modern weapons (note restrictions)* 8.___Western art*
4.___ Books (Firearms and related) 9.___Indian art and artifacts*
5.___ Other, please specify ___________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
I am entering a competitive display  Yes  No. If so, I intend to display the following 
types of firearms...



Opinion from facebook.com 

#1 · Oct 18, 2023  (Edited)
In Colorado, we have one gun show that everyone is proud of - the annual Colorado Gun Collectors' Association show in Greeley, now in its 58th year. Most of the sellers are old, so they have stuff to sell. There is a long tradition of individual private sale tables there, although the age of most members does not give this a long future.

Only Curio-Relics and Antiques are allowed in the door at the CGCA Show. No modern guns. No black guns. 800 tables of just collectible guns and gun-related stuff. The club awards thousands of dollars in prizes for the best display tables so there's always museum-quality stuff to gaze upon and real experts around to learn from.

No clothes or food or tools or coins are allowed. Or art or jewelry, unless related to American history or by native Americans. It's the only gun show worth attending in this state all year. The other Colorado shows are shameless flea-markets.

Hotels are cheap in Greeley and the local politics are pro-gun. The lighting in the show hall is really good and parking is free. Colorado's background check and waiting period laws do not apply to C&Rs and antiques.

Many of the big internet gun auction companies like Rock Island Auctions rent tables to meet the public and promote their services.

May 18 and 19, 2024 with two days of set-up on the 16th and 17th when the table holders have an internal pre-show for each other, before the public arrives. (For a premium admission price, members of the public can access the show during set-up, also.)

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Request for help with research project.

 Steve Schrott is leading a research project.

Several members report having Model H-D pistols with safeties in their collections. These are quite rare. This project is to get some estimate as to the number out there. We realize that the results of this project will be, at best, "imperfect". 

The search is for pre-war Model H-Ds with a safety located at the back of the left side of the frame.

These guns will, for the most part, be in very good condition as they were top of the line target pistols before WW II. They will probably be Type II takedowns. The grips will probably be the top-of-the-line target or "Roper" configuration but could be the cheaper black plastic instead. The rear sights are not adjustable. Magazines will have two toned lips. Slide and frame numbers should match. Model H-D is roll marked on the left side of the slide.

WE ARE NOT LOOKING FOR USA MODEL H-Ds OR H-D MILITARIES.  

If you have one, please send a description and if possible, photos of both sides of the pistol or send some contact info to either Steve (SSHistand54@gmail.com) or Jon Miller (nightdoc@aol.com)

This is not an offer to sell or buy your pistol. This is an effort to find out how common they are. Your privacy will be respected

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Newsletter correction

 I have just received a call from Bob Snider of HighStandardofMontana.

Bob and Russ Gray have continued pistol and parts production and repairs.


I have been publishing incorrect contact information in the Classified Ads section of the newsletter. They can also make some special order pistols upon request. See newsletter.

Correct contact information:

Bob Snider

HighStandardofMt.@gmail.com

phone number 406-590-0351


My bad and my apologies to all.

Jon Miller

pro tem newsletter editor

Monday, January 15, 2024

 Will the owner of High Standard Trophy 1972 Commemorative

serial number T0000115 please contact me.

jon Miller

2024 dues

2024 dues were supposed to be paid before 31 December 2023.

If you have not paid them, please do so to continue receiving the newsletter and supporting the club.

Thank you,

jon

Model G-380 owner

Please contact me if you possess High Standard Model G-380 sn 6192. 

Nightdoc@aol.com

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Bullsh-t rumor

 Somebody has started a rumor that there is a rift between the guys at High Standard Montana.


I was informed of this by Bob Snider.


He and Russ want to make it clear to everyone that that    

THERE IS NO RIFT IN THE COMPANY!!!!


jon


Friday, December 15, 2023

New High Standard book available: The Collectors Guide for High Standard Firearms

 

   

 There is a new book on High Standard Firearms available on Amazon Books.

     High Standard Firearms History, 1932-1984 Connecticut, A Collectors Guide contains 344 pages of the best information available to date including production numbers right from the Factory Records.    

    This book is unique in its preservation of the company's history based on archival data and first-person interviews with the company’s designers and engineers by John Currie in his three-decade quest for information. There are scores of photos of the people, their prototypes and rare and commercial firearms. 

    Copious graphs and illustrations give dates of manufacture and numbers of firearms produced with charts listing every Model Number/ Number Produced/ Years Produced and Serial Number Range. Truly a "Collectors Guide" for High Standard derringers, pistols, revolvers, shotguns and rifles.