High Standard HD Military owners?

[Bill B.]

I am getting interested in obtaining one of these old High Standards. I have never owned one of their older models with the hammer. I would like some information from HS HD Military owners as to how well they compare with later models in both shooting and functioning. I also would like to know how the external saftey functions and can you carry it cocked & locked? I have found these are readily available on Gun Broker and am currently looking at several nice examples. I am looking for responses from High Standard HD owners and former owners. I have modern .22's and am looking at purchasing a HD because it's a classic from a bygone era ........almost like me!

 

[Wil Terry]

Have Had Several. The Finest Of The Bunch Was An Ha Military.

That HA shot up a storm. I would NEVER carry one cocked&locked. The rear sight also is not the best design and the rear sight blade has a tendency to to move back and forth, that is front to back which varies the elevation considerably.
There is nothing magical about this gun or it's design and you are not setting your personal sights too high wanting one of these. Actually my HA
MILITARY was the first of the series : HA HB HC HD and it was all because they were in a constant stae of flux trying to redesign it's eccentricities into something that could compete in the market place. It could not and did not.

 

[Bigkahunasix]

Owned a few and have two now. Solid guns, would not carry cocked and locked, accurate, ammo finicky (mine like CCI standard and HV). Good woods gun.

BK6

 

[Bill B.]

The rear sight also is not the best design and the rear sight blade has a tendency to to move back and forth, that is front to back which varies the elevation considerably.

That doesn't sound very appealing!

I would NEVER carry one cocked&locked

Do you need to carry these with a empty chamber? Does the HD hammer have a safety notch?

I have never had one in my hand and am basically looking for information. After I get it I may decide just to go with my later High Standard versions. Thanks for the replies!

 

[Ed Ames]

I have a postwar model HB which is very very similar to the HD. Mine has the longer barrel and shorter grip.

The H-letter guns originally came with a card that said something to the effect of "this gun has a half-cock position which is not intended as a safety feature. To carry with a round in the chamber fully cock the hammer and engage the safety." At least I think it did. I've seen a scan of that card on the 'net.

However, when you look at how the safety works (the safety lever is basically an external "hook" that holds the seer against trigger force) you may decide it's questionable to carry that way. I don't think I would carry it that way.

Mine is a nice gun I use frequently. It is my default .22LR range gun. Nice shooter and an interesting relic.

 

[GaryP]

I had a HD Military made in 1947 back in the mid 1990's but sold it several years ago. It was a great plinker, but not terribly accurate and functionality was nothing to write home about when I purchased it for a $100. I had a local gunsmith up in Anchorage, where I was living at the time, go through it. After he worked his magic on the pistol functionality was 100% and accuracy improved dramatically. If you find the right gunsmith these pistols can be brought back to life and tuned to be great performers. The big problem with most of them is they have been heavily used and abused. I regret selling mine.