GUN SPRING 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
RARE EXPERIMENTAL HIGH STANDARD 45 ACP PISTOL. HI STANDARD EXPERIMENTAL NSN 45ACP MODERN; C&R Cal. 45ACP. The High Standard .45 ACP pistol was developmentally very similar to the Grant Hammond as previously evaluated by the U.S. Military. It had the same bbl construction, a very similar bolt, the same type of external hammer and a very similar safety and grip. That said, the pistol was never put into production, and according to Scott Meadows, author of "US Military Automatic Pistols, 1894-1920", there was no record of military interest. This pistol functions as a delayed blowback, has a 6" bbl with pinned front sight and a fixed rear sight that doubles as a retainer to help keep the bolt assembly in place. At the rear of the bolt on each side, are a large set of vertically serrated ears to help in its retraction. In front of the frame is a large knurled knob, made of two concentric cylinders of dissimilar diameter. The larger, inner cylinder has a flat surface that when turned to be parallel to the receiver allows the slide assembly to come off the frame. Mounted on the left side of the frame is a sear blocking safety lever. Behind the trigger is a checkered push button magazine release. Several small parts are missing from the right side of the frame including what is likely the bolt hold open/release and possibly a magazine accelerator. Checkered walnut grips, each secured with a single screw near base. The magazine is typical High Standard design with large checkered follower button, sgl extended viewing slot on right side and elongated floor plate secured with two pins. This exact gun was the subject of a 1981 American Rifleman Magazine article of which a copy of the article is included in this lot. PROVENANCE: The Frank H. Wheaton, III Collection. CONDITION: Approximately 97% orig rust blue with sharp edge wear and a number of scratches on right side of receiver, most in the area of the missing parts. Crisp grips with sharp checkering and minimal losses. VG condition magazine that is a little difficult to extract. Bright bore with sharp rifling. Perfect manual mechanics except as related to missing parts previously detailed. Regardless of incomplete status, still an impressive pistol and one of the rarest High Standards. 51516-6 LMA (25,000-35,000)