High Standard Survival Pack Pistols

Survival Pack with Papers

In 1981, in an effort to stimulate sales apart of the target shooting market, High Standard began marketing the Survival Pack, which consisted of a new version of a 5.5" barreled pistol sporting an electroless nickel plated finish packed in a canvas carrying case which had three compartments inside to hold an electroless nickel plated extra magazine (included) and other possible items such as a compass, or folding knife.  The Survival Pack was touted as a survival weapon that could be carried in a backpack, or other mode.  The electroless nickel finish was advertised as being more resistant to corrosion and wear than the traditional blued finish.

Three Versions of The Survival Pack
L to R. Pushbutton Sharpshooter, Socket Head Sharpshooter, and Citation II 

The company produced three versions of the Survival Pack between 1981 and 1984.  The first version started production in 1981 as a series 107 electroless nickel plated 5.5” barreled Sharpshooter-M with black stained walnut grips, which utilized the pushbutton barrel release method.  This version was produced for only a few months, with less than 250 guns made, before the company switched to the series 108 guns. 

The series 108 changed the barrel release method from the push button to the socket head screw attachment method.  Other than the method of barrel attachment, the second version was still an electroless nickel plated Sharpshooter-M with black stained grips.  High Standard sold around 2,000 of these pistols in 1981 and 1982.

The third version was sold from late 1982 through 1984.  This time the gun used was an electroless nickel plated Citation II pistol with a 5.5 inch flat-sided barrel and naturally finished walnut grips.  Less than 500 of these pistols were sold.  The flat sided barrel distinguished this gun from the round barreled Sharpshooter-M.  It also had an over-travel adjustment on the trigger, which the Sharpshooter-M lacked.

Inside of Case. The extra magazine was included, but the compass and knife were not included. 

The Survival Pack was shipped in a white cardboard box with cardboard dividers to separate the carrying case from the two styrofoam shells used to hold the pistol.  The box measured about 11”X14.5”X4.9”.  The paperwork included in the box was a parts and instruction sheet for the electroless nickel Sharpshooter, a Limited One Year Warranty sheet, and a beige colored Survival Pack information sheet.  The carrying case held the extra magazine and an Allen wrench to remove the barrel retaining screw on those models with the takedown screw.  The case was placed in the box in a clear plain plastic bag.  There were two variations of beige fabric used for the outer shell of the carrying case.  Otherwise, the interiors were the same dark brown fabric with a flap utilizing a Velcro closure over the three pockets. 

The two versions of fabric for the cases.

High Standard produced other electroless nickel plated guns in the last years of production.  These included Sport King pistols in 4.5” and 6.75” versions; Sentinel MKI & MKIV revolvers; and Derringers in .22LR and .22 WMR calibers.  None of these were produced in high quantities.  The electroless nickel plated magazines are rarely found on the used market, and electroless nickel plated spare parts for any of these guns are also hard to find.