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Title:	PISTOL, SEMI-AUTOMATIC -  U.S. PISTOL MODEL H-D MS MILITARY HIGH STANDARD .22 SN# 117252
Maker/Manufacturer:	HIGH STANDARD
Date of Manufacture:	1943-1946
Eminent Figure:
Catalog Number:	SPAR 1483
Measurements:	OL: 14" BL: 6 3/4"

Object Description:

U.S. PISTOL MODEL H-D MS MILITARY HIGH STANDARD .22 SN# 117252
Manufactured by High Standard, Hamden, Ct. - Special purpose government model of the Hi-Standard Model HD. Fitted with 7 3/4" silencer. Silencer is factory made but unmarked. Blued finish, parkerized barrel tube. Black checkered hard rubber grips. Complete with 10-round detachable box magazine. Weapon has an overall length of 14" and a barrel length of 6 3/4". Originally manufactured for the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) in World War II, these weapons also saw service with SOG (Studies and Observations Group) in Vietnam.

Markings:
Frame (left): MADE IN U.S.A./THE HIGH STANDARD MFG. CO./NEW HAVEN, CONN./PATENT PENDING/ .22 CAL./LONG RIFLE. Right: PROPERTY OF /U.S.
Slide (left): HIGH STANDARD/U.S.A. MODEL H-D.

Weapon transferred to the Museum on 31 March 1959 from the 25th MP Det. CID (Criminal Investigation Division), Raritan Arsenal, N.J. Weapon was loaned to Frankford Arsenal on 30 June 1967.

Army #7180 - "HISTORY: RECEIVED FROM 25TH MP DETACHMENT CID RARITAN ARSENAL. OBTAINED BY: H.E. ABRECHT. OBTAINED FROM: JOHN E. NORTON, SUPERVISOR IN CHARGE OF ALCOHOL & TOBACCO TAX DIVISION. 983 MAIN STREET, HARTFORD, CONN."

Notes: Special purpose government model of the High Standard Model HD. Fitted with 7 3/4" silencer. Existing records indicate that High Standard made the weapon for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in World War II. One pistol was given directly to OSS Director, Colonel William "Wild Bill" Donovan. Donovan is said to have walked into the Oval Office to demonstrate it for President Roosevelt. Allegedly he filled a wastebasket with sand and fired. So effective was the silencer that Roosevelt did not know the weapon was fired.
It is also believed these weapons somehow got into the hands of the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) as at least two are known to exist in the Enfield Pattern Room. According to Mr. D.J. Penn, former keeper of exhibits at Enfield, "Our SOE adored fiendish weaponry, and silencers would have been at the forefront of their minds."

The U.S. government purchased approximately 2,620 of these from 1/20/1944 to 1/11/45. The serial number range for these purchases was between 118,828 and 127,170. This specimen is from the second contract (W-19-059-ORD-1792) dated 9 September 1944. The cost to the government was $38.93 each.

"DESCRIPTION: A .22 Caliber Automatic Pistol, clip-fed, carrying 10 rounds of .22 caliber long-rifle high-speed ammunition, with a silenced barrel. The silencer housing is removable for cleaning purposes only. No rod and patches are to be used. A bristle brush and complete operation and special cleaning instructions are packed with each piece....
PURPOSE: This is an anti-personnel weapon for close range, with noise reduced to a minimum. The 90 percent noise reduction surpasses that accomplished by any other silencer. The amount of noise audible is merely that of metal contacts and not audible enough to attract attention in normal conditions above traffic noises, doors closings, and other activities of everyday life. This pistol is excellent for use in a closed room or for eliminating sentries. The muzzle is flashless, even in the dark. The range and accuracy are unaffected and remain the same as of a normal piece.
Length: 14" overall
Weight: 2 lbs. 12 oz.
Packed 1 to a carton. Weight of carton with spare screen included: 3 1/2 lbs.
15 Cartons to a case. Shipping weight of case: 75 lbs." - OSS CATALOG, June, 1944

"Two political events scared me as I grew up. One was the US-USSR Cuban Missile crisis. Here was brinksmanship epitomized. The other was the downing of a CIA U-2 spy plane flying a reconnaissance mission over central Russia. I was sure that this incursion into Russian air space would result into armed conflict.
I remember Francis Gary Powers being paraded through the headlines and across the television screen. His spy equipment was displayed as proof of 'Yankee imperialistic aggression against the peace-loving people of the Soviet Union.' The wreckage ofThe pistol is similar to the approximately 2,620 USA Model HDs fitted by High Standard with a suppressor adapted by Bell Laboratories and delivered to the Office Of Strategic Services in 1945 for use in clandestine missions. The suppressor was adapted from a 'Kulikowski Polish' suppressor.
Colonel Rex Applegate remembers a Sgt. Jackson developing a prototype suppressor for the High Standard HD at Camp Richey Maryland during the early stages of WWII. Colonel Applegate was then a First Lieutenant at the Military Intelligence Training Camp where military intelligence students were taught about foreign weapons. Up to that point Maxim silencers had been state of the art for submachine guns. There were the same Maxims already available to British farmers for use in pest control. Sgt. Jackson worked in the machine shop maintaining the foreign weapons. One day he said he could do better than the Maxim. After a time he presented his prototype to Lt. Applegate who was duly impressed by the work. Jackson had made his prototype by drilling holes through the barrel, covering it with wire mesh and then a housing. Lt. Applegate submitted the gun to the War Department 'where they tested all kinds of kooky devices like cross bows or slings that threw grenades. The next thing I knew Washington types showed up and started taking over in the design of the device. That's when we lost track of it. One thing I do remember is the different ammunition made in the report. Standard velocity .22 caliber long rifle would often but not always make a loud report. Long rifle ammunition was not consistent enough. I used .22 caliber Long ammunition instead. It was subsonic and made no noticeable report. I didn't realize it at the time, but I had discovered the importance of the bullet not breaking the sound barrier.'
An early story about the efficiency of the suppressor, states that General 'Wild Bill' Donovan, then head of OSS, entered the White House carrying a sand bag. He had also concealed on him one of the first MSs under his uniform. Reportedly he entered the Oval Officer where FDR was dictating a letter. Donovan surreptitiously placed the samd bag in a corner. He then emptied the ten round magazine into the sand bag without being noticed. He then approached FDR, explained what he had done, and presented the MS to him butt first. FDR stated something to the effect that Donovan was the only Republican he would trust to perform such an act.
While this story may has some basis in fact the report of the pistol fired indoors inc certainly noticeable, if not identifiable to persons with average bearings.
The pistol was exhibited for several months in FDR's Hyde Park home until somebody realized the breach of security in displaying the then classified pistol. It was subsequently returned to the OSS.
The Model H-D was not the first suppressed High Standard nor the only High Standard produced suppressor. Although it never went to production, High Standard already had government contracts for experimental production of suppressors for the M1 carbine in 1943. Several months after the H-D contract came a contract for the M-3 grease gun suppressor.
In October 1943 forty four Model A, B, D, and pistols were among a shipment of one hundred ten Bell Laboratories suppressed firearms delivered to the OSS for testing. The suppressed High Standard pistol showed promise. The design was modified and was approved. On 22 November 1943 a contract was awarded for production of 1,500 units.
The addition oThe first shipment of five hundred and three USA HD MS pistols was delivered in January 1944. Within a week Major Lucy had demonstrated them in Algiers. Within two weeks twenty had been shipped to General MacArthur and six were issued to Alamo Scouts.
By the end of July 1944 six hundred nineteen pistols had been issued to troops in Europe, four hundred eleven to the Mediterranean, and three hundred sixty seven to the Far East. One hundred ninety three remained available in the continental U.S.
Within a year a total of four hundred ninety five went to the Mediterranean and six hundred thirty six to the Far East.
Initially met with reservation the pistol soon proved effective and gained wide acceptance in the field. It is probably the only suppressed pistol to see significant use in WWII. Donovan himself stated that the pistol's accuracy seemed unaffected by the addition of the suppressor. Col. Applegate concurs that they were effective at distances of about one hundred feet.
Existence of the MS was leaked to the press in 1944 when Admiral Nimitz released photos of his pistol to the press. Nimitz was one of the dignitaries issued the MS by the OSS. Others went to Admiral Leahy and the five OSS theater commanders.
The first contract pistols had blued frames and Parkerized barrels. All OSS pistols were roll stamped with the Ordnance acceptance 'crossed cannon' on the right side of the frame. 'Property of U.S.' was stamped on the right frame as well. A test target and instructions on cleaning both the pistol and suppressor were included in the hinged black box. The left end of the box had a yellow label lettered with 'HI-STANDARD/MODEL D 4 1/2" BARREL.
The label was overstamped by hand with the crossed cannon Ordnance acceptance mark and the word 'SILENCED', both in black ink. The serial number was hand written on the he label in pencil.
In August of the same year a second contract was awarded for an additional one thousand pistols. The cost was $38.93 per pistol. Shipments were delivered in late September and early October. All these had Parkerized frame and barrel. This second run had the above markings and added two small numbers stamped on the base of the barrel and tube. A new inclusion in the box was a bristle brush to clean the bore and standard four and one half-inch barrel.
Records indicate High Standard also produced a limited number (possibly all prototypes) of a shoulder stocks for use with the pistol. The author has not located any examples of these as yet.
There was a final contract for one hundred and twenty pistols at the same price in January 1945. As yet I haven't found records showing the destination of these pistols.
In a 1966 letter to Bill Douglas, Will Lawson, High Standard Sales Manager, stated 'Upon completing this government contract all finished parts and subassemblies including records were turned over to the Government arsenal.'
High Standard also produced other runs for the Central Intelligence Agency. These guns had both Parkerized and blued frames but all had Parkerized barrels. The frame and tube were numbered but lacked the Ordnance acceptance or 'Property of U.S.' markings. Reliable sources also state that some were 'totally sterile without any visible markings or stamps.' Unlike the OSS pistols, which were shipped in black High Standard boxes, these were shipped in a brown kraft box. The CIA kit included a .22 short magazine not found with the OSS.
The Powers pistol was one of these. The serial number 120046 is blank in the High Standard shipping records. It was probably on inventory but not used during the war. It must have been suppressed for the CIA after WWII.
These arms were the preferred suppressed side arms for use in Vietnam and South East Asia and are still in use today. The CIA is rumored to have less than four hundred High Standards left in its armory.
At the request of the OSS in late 1944, High Standard developed a suppressed prototype HD pistol in .380 caliber. Colt had been aAlthough slightly louder than the .22 (88 dB vs 70-77 dB) the increased noise of the .380 was considered an acceptable trade-off for the increased power. The .380 also offered a quick-change type G barrel not available with the .22 HD. After the war this pistols sans suppressor became the G-380.
Records show that High Standard worked with a suppressed .25 caliber pistol as a trade-off between the .22 and .380 calibers. Information on this work is limited.
The High Standard H-D was suppressed by turning down the forward 4.70" of the 6.75" barrel to .406" external diameter. Eleven vertical and horizontal .125" 'bleeder' holes were then drilled completely through the barrel .250" apart giving a total for forty-four holes. (The early version used four rows of eight holes.) The frame end of the barrel was threaded to accept the 7.75" long .98" external diameter .843" internal diameter shroud. The forward end of the shroud was threaded to accept a .06" cap drilled with a centered .234" diameter exit hole. Both ends of the shroud had holes where spring loaded detents on the cap and frame locked the barrel in place. A front sight was affixed by solder.
Inside the shroud is a two chamber suppressor system. The first consists of a 4.375" long, .795" diameter tightly rolled tube of tin plated #20 mesh bronze screen. The mesh is soldered on both ends and side as well. It was designed to be discarded after 200-250 rounds. Next is a .06" wide .828" diameter brass washer with a .410" hole drilled to slip over the barrel to separate the rolled screen from the forward compartment.
The part of the barrel (approximately 1") extending beyond the rolled screen and washer has .828" diameter size thirty mesh bronze screens drilled with .410" holes fitted tightly over it. Filler screens occupy the remaining space to the muzzle cap. They are of the same material and .828" diameter but not fitted to the barrel. They are stacked tightly to fill the space. They have a central .243" central hole to allow passage of the bullet.
The assembled pistol is 14" long. It weighs 2.37 to 2.75 pounds. The silencer alone weighs .63 pounds. The free volume of the suppressor is 1.84 cubic inches with .76 cubic inches in front of the barrel. Muzzle velocity is reportedly 930 fps with 75 foot pounds muzzle energy with standard velocity .22 caliber ammunition.
Several variables can affect the efficiency of this or any suppressor. Most of the suppression is a function of trapping expelled gases and slowing the projectile to a subsonic speed. Part of the perceived noise is also from the mechanical action of the pistol's slide. Standard velocity .22 ammunition in subsonic. Using .22 shorts further reduces the report by decreasing escaping gases and speed. Mechanical noise is almost eliminated with .22 cal shorts as the powder charge is insufficient to blow back the slide.
Coating the screens with heavy oil or other fluid such as shaving cream also increases efficiency. The fluid absorbs heat from trapped gases reducing as volume and thereby volume of gas expelled through the muzzle.
When a round is fired powder continues to burn in the barrel or in this case the suppressor. This combustion produces more gas and increases report. To reduce combustion a first shot is fired in advance to burn out the oxygen. A piece of cellophane tape is then applied to the muzzle to control reentry of oxygen. Combustion is minimal and report is reduced. Muzzle flash is also eliminated in this fashion.
Placing a piece of cellophane tapUse of jacketed ammunition reduced the fouling of the screen and does not extend suppressor efficiency. In the Bell Laboratories designed High Standard suppressor system this was not considered critical as replacement screens were issued with the guns.
Regarding the early use of the OSS pistol the Hague Accord Regulations prohibited the use of non-jacketed ammunition by uniformed combatants during hostilities. Jacketed T-42 .22 caliber ammo was specifically designed for this pistol to circumvent this regulation. Most kits included non-jacketed Remington .22 cal standard velocity ammunition however. When captured with an OSS pistol most operatives did not expect treatment in accord with the Geneva Convention on Treatment of Prisoners of War.
There were 2,620 suppressed pistols produced by High Standard. An unknown number of copies have been produced by machinists and armorers in and out of the armed services since that time.
Reportedly, High Standard and X-ploraco, a Texas based company, also custom manufactured a number of legally suppressed HDMs in the 1950s. The X-ploraco combination suppressor and pistol was sold for $125.
Of the total produced, other authors give either three or nine as the number of guns. Amnesty registered and legal for private ownership. AFT has responded to the author's give either three or nine as the number of guns amnesty registered and legal for private ownership. ATF has responded to the author's requests for the correct number amnestied by stating that their specific records are not setup to give a specific number of any particular type of firearm. The author has located one Parkerized and two blued privately owned amnesty registered OSS pistols. I have not seen any examples of the CIA contract or custom shop work but would welcome the opportunity to do so. The Rock Island Arsenal, FBI and CIA collections have pistols in their collections as does the Lubyanka Prison, KGB history museum." - Jon Miller, THE SMALL ARMS REVIEW - Vol. 2 No. 3 - December, 1988.

"Snatch tactics were a subject of endless NCO club debate but it essentially came down to three options: disabling the candidate with a carefully placed gunshot; knocking him senseless with explosives; or just plain grabbing him.
A gunshot was tricky because it was difficult to incapacitate but not kill your target. For this reason many teams preferred SOG's least powerful suppressed weapon, the .22 caliber High Standard Model H-D pistol.
In early 1969, Master Sergeant Norm Doney, One-Zero of RT Florida, took careful aim with a .22 High Standard at an NVA approaching him on a side road near Laotian Highway 110.
Minutes earlier, Doney had positioned a three-man Nung security team in a curve 50 yards down the road, telling them to block any reaction force so he could disable and capture a passing NVA.
RT Florida's only other American, Sergeant Joe Morris, stood by at a rally point 100 yards in the jungle, in radio contact with Covey. SOG helicopters were nearby, inserting another team just minutes away; conditions seem ideal.
Soon a nice husky NVA appeared. Doney let him approach to ten feet, then plugged him in the thigh; he collapsed, dropping his AK. Perfect! But unknown to the One-Zero, around that curve a long line of NVA troops followed, visible to Doney's security men, who, instead of shooting to buy their leader time, turned and ran so noisily that the NVA column opened fire.
Doney, his interpreter and an ARVN sergeant were standing over the wounded NVA when their teammates rushed past, running for their lives. The ARVN sergeant and interpreter ran away, too.
Then an exploding RPG rocked knocked Doney to his knees, peppering him with shrapnel. The would-be prisoner leaped for his AK but Doney groggily managed t
References:
Pate, Charles W. U.S. HANDGUNS OF WORLD WAR II. THE SECONDARY PISTOLS AND REVOLVERS. Andrew Mowbray Publishers. Lincoln, R.I. 1998.
Petty, Charles. HIGH STANDARD AUTOMATIC PISTOLS 1932-1950. American Ordnance Publication. Charlotte, N.C. 1976.
Plaster, John L. SOG: THE SECRET WARS OF AMERICA'S COMMANDOS IN VIETNAM. An Onyx Book. N.Y., N.Y. 1998.