Customer Reviews

High Standard: A Collector's Guide to the Hamden & Hartford Target Pistols

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If, like me, you are a target shooter who uses a High Standard pistol this book is a must. It helps to identify every model and every variation of High Standard. It help to understand the history of the pistol and the steps that lead to the final evolution of it. The only thing lacking - not too important - is data on pistols manufactured after High Standard went out of business.

This is by far the best book for High Standard .22 semi-auto pistol collectors. (It does not try to cover the High Standard 1911 model, revolvers, shotguns or rifles.) It does an excellent and comprehensive job of reviewing all of the models and the changes over the years and how the company itself evolved from its genesis to its demise. I would like to see a second edition that goes beyond only the Hamden and Hartford pistols and covers models from both the predecessor company (Hartford Arms) and the successor company and "clone-maker" (High Standard in Texas and Mitchell). Although the book is ideal for collectors and valuable for shooters, competition shooters would probably like more information about tuning, modifications, third party product recommendations, product reviews, comparisons to target pistols from other firms, etc.

Book is very well layed out with good illustrations. It covers Hamden guns to East Hartford. Nothing before or after. While I wish it included all of high standards products, that would be unreasonable for the most part. The book is very detailed with a lot of info thats hard to find without the book. Many people are ignorant of hi standards 22 autos and this book is the cure. I highly recommend it.

Very well written. In depth, lots of pictures.
Covers Pistols made approximatly after W. W. 2,until closing.
My Model HB was not among the earliest listed.
I wish he had written about High Standard from the start, this book is that good. ENJOY.

This is a great book! With what I learned from this book I was able to find, and buy, the gun of my dreams with complete confidence. That's saying alot when you are buying an expensive 45 year old used gun sight unseen from a total stranger 2500 miles away! The pistol I bought is a 106 Supermatic Trophy which was manufactured in 1967 in Hamden, Conn. at the high point of High Standards long history. Later guns after the 106 and 107 models started to decline in quality as the company was falling on hard times. It was just too expensive to maintain the standards of the past. Later guns are also very good but not quite the perfection of the guns that were produced in Hamden, Conn. I also would never have known to look for the "deep blue" finish that was an option on these guns. My gun has the deep blue finish and it is stunning. I have seen alot of used High Standards and had never seen a "deep blue" one before so would not have known what I missed.

If you are interested in buying a High Standard and do not already know exactly what you want this book is a must.

Richard