High Standard Supermatic

[triggerz]

With the price of ammo, I have been seriously thinking of getting a .22lr pistol. Then I see at a local store, a High Standard Supermatic. It has a 6-3/4" heavy barrel, a brown plastic grip w/ semi-thumb rest. It has rib serrations between the front and rear sights as well as the front and back straps. Other than the company's address, i did not see any letters or any letters to identify what variant it is among those listed in the Blue Book of Gun Values 30th Ed. Serial number is 3919xx. Condition is about 90-95%. Asking is $390. My first question is what variant this is if I've given enough info. Also, would this be a good pistol for target shooting? Is the price ok? If not, I'm considering a Walther P22 instead.

Would appreciate your opinions.

Thank you very much.

 

[Skylerbone]

triggerz, check this site for more info. Sounds like a stone cold bargain, but perhaps something you wouldn't want to shoot too much. I ran into the same dilema recently at my local hang out with a Ruger Mk I and a Browning, both of which I'd love to own, neither of which would leave the safe much. You might consider a nice new Mk III for plinking.
http://www.collectorsfirearms.com/admin/show_inventory.php?catID=5&subcatID=47

 

[triggerz]

Skylerbone: thanks for that link. Looks the price I'm being offered is a bargain as you said, regardless of the variant. Are these Supermatics delicate which is why they shouldn't be shot much? Or is it the collector value? I was attracted to it because the price comes close to new Walther P22.

 

[Skylerbone]

If it's in great condition, you'd be better off not putting thousands of rounds through it for value's sake, if it's in descent shape (75% or so) then I'd say buy it and shoot it.

Considering the age and that it is new to you, a trip to the gunsmith might also be in order to check functionality.

 

[cologuy]

If you buy it, don't keep it in the safe to retain its' "value". High Standards are some of the best .22 pistols ever made, IMO, and they're a pleasure to shoot. I own a couple, and have fired more, and every one was fun and accurate, and would digest any type of ammo you could buy. Definitely have a gunsmith look it over, but if it's in good shape, I'd say shoot it every chance you get.

 

[Cougfan2]

I own a Hi Standard Supermatic Tournament Military that was given to me as a Christmas present in 1970. Still is a tack driver today. I have put thousands of rounds thru it. One word of caution. Some say you should not shoot high velocity .22 LR rounds in them as there is a chance you can crack the frame (I of course did not hear about this until after I had already put several thousand rounds of HV thru mine), but I have seen no trouble with mine. I will say that just to be on the safe side I only shoot std velocity ammo in it now. If it is in good shape, it sounds like a bargain for $395, but look the pistol over, particularly the frame, carefully for any kind of damage.

 

[Skylerbone]

I know nobody here would purposely snuff out a piece of history for the sake of personal pleasure. A 95% gun will only remain so if maintained properly. If this particular example is a collector's piece it should be purchased as such or resold at a profit to fund a more suitable daily shooter.

Once the barrel is worn out (yes it does take alot to do that) it will be worth nothing. Much canvas has been woven since but there still remains only one Mona Lisa.

 

[loadedround]

I shot a bull barrel Supermatic Citation many years ago in bullseye competition and it was an outstanding 22 pistol. In a weak moment I traded it off some another firearm and to this day, wish I had it back. My only concern with your purchase would be lack of replacement parts since Hi-Standard has been out of business for many years.

 

[Drail]

Those were some of the best American built .22 pistols around for a long time but if you have to find a part for it you may have a hard time finding one. High Standard built really great firearms for the price for years but as has been said they are long gone now.

 

[bluetopper]

Yes, High Standards were built during a time in American gun making where pride and craftsmanship were the norm and no shortcuts were taken during the process. One might say, a bygone era. You won't find any polymer here.

 

[Jim Watson]

There are two if not three generations of Supermatic, and I don't know enough to identify this one from the serial number and general description.
Any road, it is a target pistol meant to be shot a lot. It is so far ahead of a plastic "Walther" made by a BB gun company as to be beyond comparison. I don't understand the "collector's item" stuff. Mine is a good shooter and gets shot with no restrictions or limitations. I don't care about historical significance.

High Standard magazines can be a little spotty, I'd try for a testfire or money back guarantee.

 

[bannockburn]

I would second what Jim Watson wrote about magazines. Some target shooters I knew, who used High Standard pistols in competition, paid very close attention to their magazines. Some would not work between different model generations; others would be less than reliable even with guns of the same generation. After extensive testing, shooters would often number their magazines and use them only in those specific guns that they knew would function properly with them.

 

[triggerz]

After carefully reading the Blue Book and examining the Supermatic, it was determined that it's is a First Model with a 6-3/4" bbl. I should have it by this Saturday and will post photos.

 

[bluetopper]

Sounds like you must have a model 101.

 

[triggerz]

In the Blue Book, we found the exact description to be under the "Semi-Auto, Lever Name Series". This comes before the 100 and 101 Series. It further states..

"Supermatic (First Model) - .22 LRcal., 4-1/2 or 6-3/4 in. interchangeable barrel with lever takedown, Davis Adj. sight, trigger stop, 10 shot mag., slide lock, front and back straps grooved, brown plastic thumb rest grips, serrated rib between front and rear sight, adj. 2 oz. and 3 oz. weights which dovetail into and beneath barrel, a filler strip was provided for when the weights were not used. C-R."

These exactly describes my Supermatic. And mine falls under...

"6 3/4 in. barrel with provisions for weights #9071 1951-1953 SN 338,210-438,726" SN on mine is 3919xx.

Mine didn't come with the filler nor weights. So I'll have to find some plus more mags. I will first try e-gun parts as advised.

The long wait for Saturday begins.

 

[Skylerbone]

No offense meant Mr. Watson. I do indeed contend that guns were meant to be enjoyed rather than "hung up". I simply felt a compulsion to remind the op that what he was looking at might be the proverbial white elephant if long term collectable value is a consideration.

Perhaps my wording was a tad dramatic, I commend the op for his fine choice and do hope he will shoot and enjoy his new pistol.

 

[triggerz]

I mean to shoot this pistol. It is not a pristine Colt SAA serial number 2 so to speak. The balance of the pistol felt good, and I trust the quality of manufacture for durability and accuracy. These made me choose this $390 gun over the Walther P22. I will religiously clean and mantain this pistol as I do with the rest of my firearms. I even plan to buy spare parts while I can, given its age.

 

[scott5]

Not to hijack the thread.
But Parisite, on your picture of your pistols what is that covering the muzzel of the middle one?

Where can I get one of those?

 

[azyogi]

My HS model GB is a tack driver eats anything I feed it with either barrel, but really shines with green tag. Finish was not that great when I traded a ROA for it. Kind have to go with the shoot em crowd, these are way to much fun to be safe queens. BWT didn't I read someone had bought the patents and were making Victers, and Citations again? Down torward Houston maybe?

 

[triggerz]

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Here are photos of my recently-acquired First Model Supermatic. Given that these were made in 1950-51, I was thinking of replacing what I suppose are critical parts such as the main recoil spring and the firing pins. Can you guys think of other parts I should consider replacing? Many thanks for your comments and suggestions.

 

[triggerz]

Since I have to get more magazines, please let me know if magazines of later Supermatic models (past the First Model) will work well. Thanks in advance for your comments.