New to Me High Standard Revolver

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Tallball

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I seem to specialize in off-the-beaten-track handguns and have been wanting one of these for a couple of years now. One showed up at my LGS recently and today I traded an unwanted snubby for it. It has a steel frame. One side of the barrel says "Camp Gun CAL- .22" on it. The other side says "HIGH STANDARD INC. E HARTFORD, CONN., U.S.A." The serial number is S77xxx.

It has been shot some and has a definite turn line. It locks up tight and the finish is in very nice condition. The wooden grips are also in very good shape. The barrel is 6" long.

I didn't have a DA 22 revolver with a long barrel and good sights that was as accurate as I prefer, so I hope this will fill that gap. I will find out at the shooting range tomorrow morning.

I know hardly anything about these guns. Anything you could tell me about it would be much appreciated.

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I've never seen one with a steel frame. I've owned several of the aluminum frame ones, still have one, but steel is a new one for me.

I wouldn't mind having one of those myself...
 
Tallball

If it has a steel frame and in .22LR then it's a Sentinel Mk.I Camp Gun. The .22 Magnum version was the Mk.IV. I believe in the mid '70s High Standard updated the Sentinel line with a steel frame, shrouded barrel (available in the 2", 3", and 4" barrel lengths), and a new grip style (somewhat resembling the redesigned grip of the Colt Detective Special).
 
Hi Tallball. Hope this works, I'm old and crabby and don't like change. We are in the same boat, it would seem. I, too, just found a nice HS Sentinel.

These guns have aluminum frames, but they generally held up well. They were a very ingenious design. There is a you-tube video on a detailed disassembly, which is very simple. Quality was below a Colt or Smith, but only because of that aluminum frame. Actual workmanship is quite good. Their biggest fault is probably the finish on the frame; it doesn't hold up well. You will start seeing white rather quickly if you handle it very much. Mine is as accurate as my Smith's . 3-4" at 25. Have fun.
OOPS ! You DO have a steel frame. Sometimes it helps if you actually READ the OPs post before replying!!
Signed: Idiot
 
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Thank you everyone for the nice compliments. I read that they started making steel-framed ones later in the company's history. My educated guess is that it was made in 1977, hence the 77 to start the serial number. A magnet sticks to it, so I know it isn't aluminum. I shot about 50 rounds through it this morning and got the sights adjusted. I wasn't feeling that well, so I doubt if I got my best accuracy out of it. I'll take it out again in a few weeks when I'm feeling better. My guess is that it won't be quite as accurate as my Buck Mark or Single Six, but probably better than any of my other 22 handguns. Time will tell. One idiosyncrasy I noticed is that the cylinder has to be rotated just right, or the spent shells won't eject because one of them will get caught on the recoil shield (I believe that's the correct term for area behind the cylinder).
 
Thank you everyone for the nice compliments. I read that they started making steel-framed ones later in the company's history. My educated guess is that it was made in 1977, hence the 77 to start the serial number. A magnet sticks to it, so I know it isn't aluminum. I shot about 50 rounds through it this morning and got the sights adjusted. I wasn't feeling that well, so I doubt if I got my best accuracy out of it. I'll take it out again in a few weeks when I'm feeling better. My guess is that it won't be quite as accurate as my Buck Mark or Single Six, but probably better than any of my other 22 handguns. Time will tell. One idiosyncrasy I noticed is that the cylinder has to be rotated just right, or the spent shells won't eject because one of them will get caught on the recoil shield (I believe that's the correct term for area behind the cylinder).
There should be a hole in the front of the receiver, below the ejector rod. The silver pin you see is a plunger and it can be depressed, and the entire cylinder and crane can be removed. the usual warnings about parts under spring pressure apply. Removing what looks like a hammer pin allows the front and rear frames to be removed. The entire trigger/hammer/ firing unit is modular and can be easily removed. The whole gun was a very ingenious design.
 
This gun is among the products that make me regret High Standard's demise. Not all of them do! It's a rational design with some original ideas.

The question may not arise, let us hope not, but last I looked there were some parts at Numrich. In any case, you can find a diagram there.
 
I was always under the impression that the camp gun came with two cylinders, .22 and .22 mag. I have the Mark IV snub with a 2 inch barrel, so I did some research on these at one time. really stout trigger on mine, but it looks like new. Don't think it was shot much. The camp guns always seem to go for a good buck on Gunbroker (provided both cylinders are there ).
 
It turned out to be a bust. :-(

It functions properly, and the trigger and sights are nice. But I took it out again with a friend who is a good shooter to help me out. It turns out that when I took it out the first time, I shot it as well as it can be shot.

Between the two of us we eventually came to the conclusion that most of the cylinders shot fine, but several shot poorly. My friend was shooting very well, and it was obvious when I watched him. Too bad. I will just trade it back in (with full disclosure) next time my friend at the LGS has something else I want.
 
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