HSCA meeting and displays at Kansas City, July 28-30, 2017

Several members of the HSCA attended the Missouri Valley Arms Collectors Association gun show in Kansas City, MO, the weekend of July 28-30.  Some HSCA members had collection displays for the attendees to peruse.  It was a good weekend for members to enjoy the conversation and company of fellow members.  We liked looking at the member's displays.  There were many firearms that one will never see outside of these collections.  We all went to dinner on Saturday evening at one of the local restaurants.  It was fun to talk with other members and enjoy good food.  We're looking forward to the next event.

Members. Back L-R: Dan Rathgeber (insert), Wayne Davis, John Hanks, Russ Gray, Bob Snider, Tom Bolander, Mike Reinke. Front: John Stimson, Jon Miller, Jim Gray, Bill Brown, Ken Rabeneck.

                        Special Award winners:  Jon Miller, Ken Rabeneck, and Dan Rathgeber.

                         Members "discussion" group:  Wayne Davis, Bill Brown, and John Hanks.

                   R-L, Jim Gray, HSCA president, and his son Russ Gray, and son-in-law Bob Snider.

                                                    Jim Gray's display.  Many fine guns.

                                                                 The Friday lunch bunch.

                                                 Ken Rabeneck's display of HS shotguns.

                   Dan Rathgeber's display of .22 short pistols: Model C's, Olympics, and Flite Kings.

      Jon Miller's display of Crusader revolvers, commemoratives, experimental guns, and prototypes.

Latest HSCA newsletter now in the mail

Ken has done another great job on the newsletter for this quarter.  I read it from cover to cover this afternoon.  Please note the reminder that the MVACA show in Kansas City is coming up soon (July 28 to 30).  I hope we have a good turnout for the show.  The displays should be very interesting. 

Jim Gray's perspective of series 108 (SH) pistols is like mine.  These guns are much maligned in some of the forums.  They are better pistols than some believe.  There are some made in the last year of production that were not as well finished as I would like, but most are as good as the East Hartford ML prefix series 107 guns. 

Dick Baker's article on test firing of guns was fascinating.  Where else would we be able to learn about this aspect of getting guns ready to ship?

Ken Rabeneck's article on derringer grips was nice.  I am pretty sure the black pearl grips for the silver plated derringers were supplied by Jay Scott.  I have an aftermarket set of Scott grips that are white pearl with the wood laminated on the backside.  I put those on a polished nickel plated gun, and they look pretty.

The conversion kit article by Scott Archer was a good compilation of these kits.  It is interesting how times have changed.  It is now somewhat difficult to locate .22 short ammo, and it is more expensive than .22 LR.  Up until about a year ago, it was almost impossible to find any due to the .22 shortage around the country.  Since .22 short is not required to be used in competition anymore, that loading has fallen out of favor.  But I still have some .22 short pistols, so I keep some around.  His comment about kits needing fitting to guns is something I found true when attempting to install a Victor .22 short kit on one of my pistols.

Any High Standard enthusiast who is not a member should join the HSCA if for nothing else than to get the newsletters.  An application link is on the main page, and the dues are only $30 per year.

High Standard Series 104 Slant Grip Frame Pistols

The series 104 pistols were introduced in 1963.  There were four models in this series:  Trophy, Citation, Olympic, and Victor, with several catalog number variations for each model.  The Trophy pistols began shipping in 1963, and the Citation and Olympic models began in 1964.  The Victor did not appear until 1973.  This article shows representative examples of the four models.  The 104 series was slightly changed from the 103 series.  The changes were mostly internal for production efficiency.  The early guns had the same frame contour as the series 102 and 103.  Later on, about the time of the introduction of the series 106 military grip frame guns in 1965, the frames were changed to remove the curved section above the trigger guard.  The frames were made with a straight cut above the trigger guard.  This is the same design as the frames on the series 106, and the still later series 107 and 108 pistols.  This change made it easier (and more economical) to machine the frames for all the pistols.  Details of catalog numbers for the series 104 pistols can be found in the Blue Book of Gun Values.

 

Supermatic Trophy

The 104 Trophy was produced only from 1963 through some part of 1965.  These pistols included the 5.5 inch bull barrel model (Cat.No. 9254), and the 7.25 inch fluted barrel version (Cat.No. 9455).  These pistols were shipped with a muzzle brake, 2 and 3 ounce weights, and an extra magazine.  They were produced with a highly polished finish which is often termed “superblue”.   These are truly beautiful guns.  The Trophy pistols were the top of the line in the series 102, 103, and 104 series.  After production of the 104 Trophy ceased, a buyer could obtain a Trophy in the series 106 line. The series 106 Trophy pistols were also highly polished and are also desirable to collectors.  The finish of the pistols gradually became less polished over the years during production of the series 107 and 108 pistols. 

Click on the photos for larger images

The pistol in this article was made in 1963.  It is a catalog number 9254, 5.5 inch bull barrel gun, and exhibits a nice polished finish.  The grips are checkered walnut with a thumbrest and large eagle logo medallions.

Supermatic Citation

The 104 Citation was the lower level .22 LR target gun in this series.  The finish was not as polished as the Trophy pistols, but was still a handsome gun.  This model had four catalog numbers of various configurations. 

 

 

This Citation is a catalog number 9244, 5.5 inch bull barrel gun with checkered walnut thumbrest grips and whirlwind logo medallions.  This gun was not shipped with accessories.  The pistol was made in 1972 and was exported to Europe.  It was re-imported to the U.S. recently.  The gun was fired very little and probably spent many years in a safe.  The original box and paperwork are still with the pistol. 

ISU Olympic

The 104 ISU Olympic was the .22 short offering in this series.  There were four catalog numbers in this series.  There were models with 5.5 inch, or 6.75 inch barrels.  The first guns had accessories and the later guns were shipped without accessories.  That is the reason for the catalog number changes.  The 6.75 inch barrels guns have the integral stabilizer. 

 

 

 

This Olympic is a catalog number 9237 and was made in 1969.  It has the 6.75 inch barrel with checkered walnut grips and trigger logo medallions.  This gun appears to be unfired since it left the factory. 

The Victor

 

The series 104 slant grip Victor is one of the more desirable guns for many collectors.  The Victor pistols, both slant grip and military grip angles, were produced to fill the demand for a pistol with a full length rib with sights.  The Victor competed with the Trophy as the top model for target shooting.  The slant grip versions were produced in relatively few numbers from 1973 and 1974, with perhaps a few more in the ML serial number range.  John Stimson wrote an excellent article concerning the slant grip Victors which was printed in the HSCA newsletter, Volume 19, number 2.  That article will give the reader a lot of useful information concerning these guns. 

The steel ribs on these pistols were modified at the rear by grinding off the curved section of the rib below the rear sight.  Otherwise the ribs are the same as found on the military grip angle Victors.  Most of the 5.5 inch barrels steel rib guns were not shipped with a barrel weight, but one was available from the factory.  The weight would have been the same as used on the 5.5 inch military grip angle Victors with the steel ribs. 

 

This Victor is a catalog number 9219, a 5.5 inch barreled gun with a steel vent rib.    It was made in Lot 2 of the slant grip Victors, which went into production on August 13, 1973.  The grips are checkered walnut with a thumbrest, but no medallions. 

One of the interesting things about the series 104 pistols is that the grip medallions used in this timeframe included the large eagle logo, the trigger logo, the whirlwind logo, and, finally, no medallion.  The medallion type is linked to the production dates, but I don’t know of information that pins down the transition date from one type to the next.  The military grip frame guns did not use medallions in the grips, so the use of medallions was also phased out of the slant grip frame pistols by about mid-1973.  It is reported that some of the first slant grip Victors had whirlwind medallions in the grips.

HSCA Newsletter, Jan. 2017

The January, 2017 HSCA Newsletter was mailed on January 3 to the current 2017 HSCA members. Let me know if you do not receive your issue.  - Ken

Deadlines

Reminder.....

December 1 is the deadline for any submissions for the January 2017 HSCA Newsletter.
Submissions to be sent to the HSCA Editor, ken Rabeneck.

December 31 is the deadline for 2017 HSCA dues. Your January HSCA Newsletter will be delayed in mailing to you if you are late sending your dues. You help save the editor many trips to the post office by sending in your dues before December 27.
Dues are to be mailed to the HSCA Treasurer, John T. Hanks.

January 15 is the deadline for nominations for HSCA Board of Directors.
Nominations are to be sent to the 2017 HSCA Nominations Committee (two directors not up for re-election): Wayne Davis & Jim Gray

HSCA Members + Victors Take 1st & 2nd at ISSA Steel Match

At the Port Townsend, WA International Steel Shooting Association speed steel match at the Jefferson County Sportsmen's Association's range, High Standard Collector's Association members Mike Gallion and Greg Markel took first and second place overall for handguns. Both were shooting HS Victors in the Optic sight division. It's not often you see High Standard pistols in speed events, and in this case both were being shot by HSCA members too! It was a good day at the range!

Display Your HS Collection at the NRA Annual Meeting

NRA has approached HSCA to display at their 2017 Annual meeting in Atlanta.

If you are a HSCA member and are interested in displaying your collection contact

  

Nightdoc(at)aol(dott)com  (You must edit this email address first, but you knew that!)

I can do paperwork and get things ready at the site so you can set up and enjoy the display. 

----- Jon Miller

Tulsa Gun Show

Is anyone going to the Tulsa Gun Show next month?  If so, are you setting up?

October 2016 HSCA Newsletter

The October issue of the HSCA Newsletter has been mailed. This is the final issue for 2016.  

High Standard Collector's Meet in Portland, Oregon

Had a great time at the High Standard Collector's Association's NW Regional gathering in Portland, Oregon a couple of weeks ago. It was in conjunction with a pretty good gun show, so there was lots to look at! The High Standard Collector's displays were truly outstanding! If you click on the pictures, you should get an enlarged view.

Here are a few photos from the 2016 NRA Collectors/HSCA Annual Meeting show taken Sunday, July 31:

left: Dan Rathgeber accepting his well deserved NRA award from HSCA member/NRA Director Lance Olson. Jim Supica of the NRA Museum is at left "supervising".

below: Dan Rathgeber with his NRA award at his Hi-Standard "H" and "G" Models display.

above: HSCA "staff photographer" Tom Bolander checking his photos of Dan's award and display.



Dan Rathgeber with his display and NRA Award at this year's meeting in Kansas City

HSCA Newsletter

The July 2016 HSCA Newsletter was mailed on July 1.

HSCA Display at Louisville NRA Meetings - 2016

 HSCA AT NRA  2016  - President jon Miller

HSCA set up a display at the NRA 2016 annual meeting  in Louisville
Kentucky.  Vice  President Steve Schrott proposed a theme of showing one of each of   
the major  types of High Standards produced by the company.   
We had derringers, revolvers, semi- automatic pistols,  a suppressed
pistol, rim-fire and center-fire rifles and even a UD-42.  The Olympic Slow fire
pistol designed  and produced by High Standard was also exhibited.  There was
a lot of history and diversity  in that 10’x10’ booth.
You would think there would be plenty of room to move  around in one
hundred square feet.  There could have been except for the constant flow of people   
stopping to  see the gun they grew up with or that some family member had
left them.  Then they started asking questions and  stayed a while to just
talk.
Steve wanted to show the diversity of High Standard  production and
accomplished it.  He  said he just wanted to start people talking and getting them
interested in High  Standards.  He certainly  succeeded.
Ken Rabeneck, John Stimson, Lee Horner and Jon Miller  also took turns
manning the booth and answering  questions.
It was really a great way to spend a weekend in  Louisville.  Next year’s
annual  meeting is in Atlanta.   
HSCA will hold its annual meeting at the MVACA/NRA Collectors show  in
Kansas City, Missouri in July.  We will have the exhibit there for your 
enjoyment.

L-R: John Stimson, Steve Schrott (sitting), Jon Miller

Tom (Lee) Horner

Steve "recharging"

HSCA Display at NRA-Louisville

Photos from the HSCA display at the NRA convention in Louisville, KY on May 20-21-22, 2016

Jon Miller's First High Standard

From Jon Miller:

Once upon a time in the early 1980s I was a member of the Tampa Police Pistol and Rifle marksmanship pistol team. I had done well and progressed rapidly to the expert class. But, I became stuck there. Despite hours of practice and literally thousands of rounds of club ammunition I could not break into the master class.

Coach Gunny Pitts took me aside and said it's not you, it's your pistol. You wore it out. I was still shooting a Ruger Mark I that had done well for 20 years in plinking and even hunting. It had however reached its limits.
Pitts took me to the armorer and explained the problem. I was issued a very very well used High Standard model 104 Supermatic Citation which had been donated to the club. Its previous owner had been a national champion, AMU and Olympic competitor. I cannot tell you how well used that pistol appeared. I was skeptical. but it had a good trigger and barrel. I trusted Gene Pitts. I signed for the pistol.

We started training that day. Within six months I received my master certification card. I continued to practice almost daily. My scores continued to rise. I began competing in International events too. Gradually I became concerned that I could wear out this gun, too. A High Standard Victor became available so I bought it for backup. After that, I bought another and another, Just in case.

My goal was to have one of each type of pistols High Standard produced. I have since learned that is naive as well as expensive. Too many models and too many variations. Just ask John Stimson.

I continued to use that first High Standard pistol through 2003. That year it won state championships in Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. I no longer shoot competitively. My sons did though. They both used that pistol to win Kentucky state championships.

The Tampa range has closed long ago but nobody asked for me to return the pistol so it still sits in my safe. (Just in case.) along with all the other High Standards I accumulated over the years.

Many years ago wife asked me why I needed so many guns. I told her I was collecting them as an investment for our son's college education. When tuition was due I would sell them off gradually. She rolled her eyes skyward and smiled. She's smart like that.

Hartford Arms - Catalogues & Advertisements

HSCA members:
The April, 2016 issue of the HSCA Newsletter was mailed on Wednesday, March 30.  There are over 100 photos in this issue.  Thank you to President jon Miller, Jim Gray, Bert Markel, Dick Baker, Marcia Mighell, John Stimson, Bill Jenkins, Mike Gallion, Tom Horner, Ralph Boineau, Steve Stafford, Jerry Watson and Steve Schrott for their contributions to this issue. The HSCA Newsletter is not possible without this group effort.

VARIOUS PARTS NEEDED FOR MODEL 9205 SHARPSHOOTER, MODEL 102 CIATATION AND MODEL B

I need the following parts for:

High Standard - Burgundy/Yellow Box for Model: 9205 Sharpshooter - Slant Grip with 5” Bull Barrel.

High Standard - Walnut Right Hand Thumb rest (Slant) Grips with or without HS Logo (Trigger or Whirlwind Logo for Model 9205 Sharpshooter)

Stabilizer for Model 102 Citation

Large (3-1/2 oz.) “Hump bottom” weight and side plates for Model 102 Citation

Black Grips for Early Model “B” 1a

If you have any of these parts please call at (931)-220-5832 or email at: jrrcflyer(at)charter(dot)net

Thank You,

John R. 

Very early Model B special features. Serial numbers for Model Bs started at 5000.
  I have picked up one of the first Model B s, Serial # 5062 that shows some of the special features that were parts from Hartford arms. This B has the Hartford front site and the magazine release from Hartford Arms that has surface cuts in both directions. The HS release only had cuts in one direction. In addition this B has the short extractor with the retaining pin that was used until it was changed to be retained by spring tention without a retaining pin.
 I have included a picture that shows the Front sight. The later pictures will follow to show release and extractor.