First, my background...
In the 70's, I bought both a brand new HS Trophy (bull bbl.) and a Victor about three years apart from each other. That (as most know) was back in the days when HS made good pistols.
I bought the Trophy first, and then decided to get the Victor "just because" (I think it's because I liked the ribbed barrel and use of weights thing).
And boy did I fall in love with those pistols. I'm a big fan of .22 shooting, and both of those High Standards were tack drivers and a real joy to shoot.
Then along came the end of the hayday of High Standard, so I knew that (whether I liked it or not), I had a couple of "collectables" on my hands.
They were both still in 100% condition with original boxes and paperwork, but while I wasn't afraid to shoot them once in a while, I really didn't want to shoot them so much as to degrade their condition.
I then shopped for a pistol that I thought would be a good stand-in for my High Standards, but one that I wouldn't be afraid to shoot the hell out of since I enjoyed .22 shooting so much.
The pistol I settled on was a brand new Model 41 (5-1/2") that I bought in the early 80's.
I found right away that while it really did shoot as well as the High Standards, it didn't quite have that really comfortable "Olympic" feel to it.
Still, I also fell in love with that 41 and still shoot it at about a 10 to 1 ratio compared to my High Standards.
So, I have both the Victor and the 41, and I really like both and wouldn't let either one go.
But finally, here's the answer to the OP question from my perspective:
If you really can get a NIB early 70's Victor made in Hamdon or Hartford, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Just be aware that the "new" High Standard in Houston isn't the same company that made your pistol and you may or may not be able to count on them for quality repairs if ever necessary.
On the other hand, the 41 really is as nice a pistol as the High Standards, and since they're still available brand new, it's a pistol you can shoot the crap out of and still be able to have it repaired and maintained by the same people who made it.
If the choice was between a well
used old Victor and a
new 41, I'd choose the 41 without a thought and never look back. The 41 is also the kind of pistol you can pass on to your (very grateful) grandkids, and they can pass it on to their grandkids.