Use of High Standard Model B in WWII

Certainly any reference to US marked .22s will draw "training" as their purpose.
Then there is limited space practice, I shot some in an old National Guard armory basement range on the "thousand inch" target.
The Army sends teams to the National Matches where Smallbore is an integral part of the pistol matches and a well attended separate rifle match.

Then there are the Skeet guns used to teach aircraft gunners the concept of lead.

The military services also purchased sporting arms for soldier's use through the morale and welfare activities offices. I've seen sporting rifles such as the Winchester Model 70, Remington 720, various shotguns, target pistols and revolvers marked as U.S. Property, including some for issue to soldiers from unit arms rooms during my service years. In addition, the OSS and other operators were issued both Colt Woodsman and High Standard .22 semi auto pistols with integral suppressors - they remained in inventory for many years (maybe still?), and I've shot both.

PRD1 - mhb - MIke

Phil from Kansas said:

Thanks! What did we provide to the underground? I would assume they would be weapons not easily identifiable as U S issue.

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As mentioned , the FP-45 Liborator pistol was distributed. Cheaply made ($2.10) single shot stamped steel, unrifled barrel in .45ACP made by a GM subsidiary. Designed to be used to shoot an enemy soldier at short range with the idea the shooter would grab the enemy's weapon.

They made approx. one million of these in a few months.

The CMP has sold many .22 target rifles marked US Property that I assume were intended for marksmanship practice, at least that was what they put on the purchase orders. I don't think many were ever used. Remington 541's, H&R Model 12's, Kimbers and Mossburgs. All fine rifles sold at a decent price. I also was able to buy a case of white box Remington .22 ammo. Can't remember the price, but it was fairly cheap. Sold out now. I wish that I had bought at least one of each, but I did get a Remington and an H&R.

Speedo66 said:

As mentioned , the FP-45 Liborator pistol was distributed. Cheaply made ($2.10) single shot stamped steel, unrifled barrel in .45ACP made by a GM subsidiary. Designed to be used to shoot an enemy soldier at short range with the idea the shooter would grab the enemy's weapon.

They made approx. one million of these in a few months.

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And I believe they sent most of them to some deep, dark, saltwater grave, instead of sending them to partisans.

Use of High Standard Model B in World War II.

Why?
I'll say:
_ .22 LR is less expensive than .45 ACP for training purposes.
_ The High Standard target pistols had a grip angle and safety position similar to the issue 1911A1 pistol.

The High Standard .22 target pistol was developed into the HDM silenced pistol by OSS and used in WWII but if they told us why that, they'd be obligated to kill us to keep it secret and maybe themselves for leaking.

Expense of training ammo is a consideration, plus the fact that the grip angle and safety position if the High Standard target pistols was similar to that of the general issue 1911A1.

Anything I know about this topic comes from this book: https://www.amazon.com/U-S-Handguns-World-War-II/dp/0917218752

It's very good, well researched, well organized, and well written. It was published in 1998, but I don't think it's been replaced on this subject.

We had old HS suppressed .22s still in the arms rooms of 5th and 10th Groups in the 80's and 90's.

Easy to figure why those were acquired.

Man, but those things got nasty. Re-filled, soaked in oil and shooting Eley Tenex they were scary quiet.

Some Rugers too that, if I recall correctly, were strangely not rebuildable.

Todd.