High Standard Mod. 103

[Jonah71]

My local gun shop[ has a High Standard Sport King Mod. 103 .22 target pistol with the original box. (ser. #21071xx) Not sure of the mfg. date but was told the dark brown box with yellow lettering would indicate the gun dates from the late '50's to early '60's. It's priced at $350 which seems a bit high to me, but then I don't have a clue. He offered me the $150 back I recently paid for a new S&W target pistol but I'm not sure I want to give up a great deal I made on the S&W for something I don't know about. Not to mention I'd be out another $200. Any opinions about the "deal" or value of the H.S. I did like the way the old pistol fired. Great trigger and very accurate. But only 1 mag with it also.

 

[mbopp]

John Stimson's site lists that as being made between 1960 and 1969, probably 1968-1969. Magazines from the new Texas High Standard company are available through Brownells but they run close to $50.
I have a 107 Victor and yes, it's accurate and has a sweet trigger.

 

[velocette]

Early High Standard pistols are extremely high quality pistols. Beautifully made. Their weakness is their magazines. The pistols do not have a feed ramp, the magazine sets up and guides the round into the chamber. If the magazine is good, the pistol works beautifully. If not - - - - - .
The price on any good early High Standard pistol will slowly go up. Generally they are a good investment.
A place to ask the mavens is : http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=49
The asking price is in the ballpark for an as new pistol.

Roger

 

[John Stimson]

2,107,1?? suggests a 1969 shipment but that is not certain since the guns were not all manufactured and or shipped in serial number order.

By 1969, the box should be a burgandy color with a yellow trigger logo. The brown boxes were discontinued in the early 1950's

$350 is a bit high for a 103 series Sport King which is a pretty common pistol. The box adds little since it is the wrong box.

The early High Standards with fixed barrels had feed ramps. Only the models introduced after early 1949 with removable barrels had no feed ramps.

 

[Jonah71]

I went back yesterday to try to talk him down on the price and it was already sold. I'm kinda glad. Giving $200 and the new S&W target pistol he just sold me didn't exactly sound like a smart move for me. Sounded more like he was regretting the $150 sale price on the S&W and was trying a little "damage" control. But he IS in business to support his family. I do believe it was an honest mistake on his part as to the date of the gun and he was going by the color of the box. I really believe he got fooled on that one himself, but I'm not going to say anything. I've purchased well over a dozen guns from him in the last 2 1/2 yrs. Some great deals and some not so great. But nothing even close to the point I felt cheated. The good deals were so good (and I did check) I like doing business with him. And it's fun talking about all the crazy things his Grand Dad and my favorite Uncle did years ago when they were in business together. Even a little bit of trust is a valuable commodity when it comes to buying and selling guns.

 

[rcmodel]

High Standard Sport King Mod. 103 .22 target pistol

The Sport King was not intended to be a target pistol, and it wasn't.

It was an entry level gun used by hunters & plinker's, with fixed sights intended to compete for sales with the lower cost version of the Colt Woodsman Sport, called the Colt Challenger model. Also the low cost Ruger Standard pistol of the day.

The Hi-Standard Target version of the gun was called the Supermatic, and it did have a much better trigger & adjustable sights for target competition.

rc

 

[hawk4570]

I had a Sport king I bought new in 1969 for 49.95 and to this day I thing it was the best pistol I ever own and I have had a lot of them. A friend sold it by mistake and I would give 500.00 for it back today. I could do a quarter size group at 25 yds. I have tried some since then but never got one to shoot like that one.

 

[Sunray]

"...$150 sale price on the S&W..." What S&W target pistol sold for $150? Just curious.
"...new in 1969 for 49.95..." Lotta money in 1969.

 

[Pete D.]

?

What S&W target pistol sold for $150? Just curious.

Curious about that myself.
Pete