GUN SPRING 2017
The live portion of this session begins on Tuesday, April 11, 2017.
HIGH STANDARD T-3 EXPERIMENTAL PISTOL, SECOND VARIATION, WITH SLIDE ACCELERATOR. HI STANDARD T-3 DBL STACK 4 9MM MODERN; C&R Cal. 9mm. In 1947, the U.S. Army Air Force began looking for a more compact pistol to replace the Model 1911 A1. The desired characteristics were set forth in a memorandum dated August 1947. Several companies including High Standard and Colt sought to compete for the new contract. High Standard submitted a series of pistols based on the T-3, the first samples completed in June 1948. All guns functioned as straight blowbacks with sgl action/dbl action and an exposed hammer. The grips were checkered black plastic, and the aluminum trigger guard designed to fold forward under the receiver for easier trigger access when using mittens or gloves. Several series of guns were submitted for testing with the example at auction one of the earliest second series guns. This pistol had its normal front sight milled down and a new front sight included as part of the attached nosecap, made with angled plates to interdigit with a ported bbl to accelerate slide recoil. The rear sight is drift adjustable. Takedown lever is mounted on the left side of the frame with the safety (this one non-functional) mounted on the left side of the tang. All second series pistols had an updated frame with push button magazine release dimensioned to use a 13 shot dbl column magazine per the Browning HP pistol. This one comes with an orig Inglis magazine whose floorplate is marked "JI". Despite the improvements, the updated pistols were still satisfactory, prompting their return from Springfield Armory and High Standard's proceeding with its third and final type of T-3. This exact gun was the subject of a 1984 Gun World Magazine article and there is also correspondence with High Standard Head of Sales Bill Donovan included herein. PROVENANCE: The Frank H. Wheaton, III Collection. CONDITION: This pistol is largely in the white, except for a blued takedown lever and safety, with moderate staining of the slide. The aluminum frame is a light grey and there is only minimal discoloration of the folding trigger guard. Excellent condition grips and Inglis magazine. Mirror bright bore with strong rifling. Perfect manual mechanics except for the inoperative safety. 51516-8 LMA (8,500-15,000)