High Standard Bibliography

NOTE:  The other day, a fellow High Standard collector and I were discussing books that have information useful in our search for H S pistols.  Toward that end, I prepared the following list for him.  I thought it might be useful to other people.

Jerry Watson

HIGH STANDARD BIBLIOGRAPHY

High Standard Automatic Pistols 1932-1950 by Charles Petty...The Gun Room Press

This is the quintessential beginning primer on all the early models.  Some minor numerical errors as to quantities, but a very good source for information that is not available elsewhere.  Most of the later books and magazine articles quote Charles Perry's quantities, dates and factory information.

 

The Hi-Standard Pistol Guide by Burr Leyson...Duckett's Publishing
This was written by a gunsmith covering the early models, 1932 through 1953.  This writing contains good background information on the different models with the best illustrations, gunsmithing procedures, repair discussions, and tuning information available on High Standard semi-automatic pistols.  Before you try to fix it, you must read this book first.

 

Hi-Standard Autoloading Pistols 1951-1984 by Jim Spacek
Hi-Standard Pistols & Revolvers 1951-1984 by Jim Spacek
There were actually three different books written by Spacek.  All were short on written descriptions, but contained copies of lists, diagrams, pictures and previously printed information.  Much of it is from catalogs, and the paperwork that came in the original pistol boxes. There are lists of the different models along with quantities, catalog numbers, and other useful information.

 

High Standard, A Collector's Guide to the Hamden & Hartford Target Pistols by Tom Dance …Andrew Mowbray Publishers
This is the quintessential primer and the best guide to the later model High Standards.  It has some minor errors, but is the only source for the Supermatic series, Models 101 through 104 and the Military grip guns.  It contains much discussion about the individual models and some factory background.

 

U.S. Handguns of World War II by Charles W. Pate...Andrew Mowbray Publishers
This is a great book with an excellent section on High Standards made for the military: Model B, Model USA H-D and the USA H-D MS.  There are great pictures and detailed discussions.  This book allows the reader to make comparisons between High Standard pistols and those manufactured by the other U.S. firearms manufacturers.

 

U.S. Military Match Pistols and Marksmanship Automatic Pistols by Bill Jenkins...Andrew Mowbray Publishers
Bill is a Florida gunsmith who has put together an excellent reference that includes all the High Standards ever used by the U.S. Military in their marksmanship programs.  This includes the post war model High Standards, as well as the WW II guns.  This book allows the reader to make comparisons between High Standard pistols and those manufactured by the other U.S. firearms manufacturers.

 

OSS Weapons II second edition by Dr. John W Brunner, Ph.D...Philips Publishers

This reference has lots of information and pictures of the High Standard Model USA H-D MS (military silenced) which is more than any other source that I have found.  Besides being the best source of information on the USA H-D MS, all the other gadgets and armaments designs used by thee OSS are very interesting and worth the read.