The High Standard (Hi-Standard) Model HD Military is widely regarded by collectors as one of the best .22 caliber training and target pistols ever produced
. Originally developed as a civilian target pistol, its robust design and ergonomic similarity to the
led to its adoption by the U.S. military during World War II. History & Military Adoption
High Standard became a primary supplier of .22 Long Rifle training pistols for the U.S. Army and Navy during WWII. Transition from Model B : Initially, the military used the hammerless , but it was replaced in 1942 by the histandard model hd military serial numbers best
because the HD's external hammer and grip angle were ergonomically closer to the service M1911. The OSS Connection : A specialized version, the , was equipped with an integral suppressor and used by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and later the for clandestine operations. Serial Numbers & Production Dates
Because High Standard produced these pistols for both military contracts and civilian markets, serial numbers are the most reliable way to identify a true "military" specimen. This Old Gun: Hi-Standard Military Model B-US 18 Jun 2012 —
The sharpness of the roll stamp determines value. On a "best" pistol, the "HIGH STANDARD MFG. CO." text is crisp. There should be no fading near the serial number. Wartime production often used a smaller font on the slide than commercial guns. The High Standard (Hi-Standard) Model HD Military is
High Standard serial numbers for the HD Military are generally found on the right side of the frame, just below the slide.
Before diving into serial numbers, you must understand the context. In 1942, as the United States ramped up for war, the military faced a critical shortage of handguns. While Colt and S&W were struggling to produce enough M1911A1s in .45 ACP, the military also needed a reliable .22 LR pistol for marksmanship training.
Enter High Standard Manufacturing Company of New Haven, Connecticut. The company had already made a name for itself with the "Model B" and "Model HB." The military contracted High Standard to produce a rugged, reliable, and accurate .22 pistol. The result was the Model HD Military. No centralized government registry exists for these pistols
Between 1942 and 1946, High Standard produced approximately 140,000 Model HD Military pistols. These were used primarily by the U.S. Army Air Corps and the Navy for aerial gunnery training and basic pistol marksmanship. The "HD" stood for "Heavy Duty" or "Heavy Barrel," though some debate exists. Regardless, the pistol’s accuracy is legendary.
Using online "serial number lookup" tools often yields confusion. Here’s why:
Quick verification method:
Take your serial number (e.g., 158,500) and subtract 150,000. Add to 1948.
Example: 158,500 - 150,000 = 8,500 units produced after late 1948. Roughly 1,500/month → mid-1949 production. This is a collector-derived heuristic, not factory official, but highly accurate.
When evaluating "best" examples, collectors look for specific anomalies or features associated with certain serial number blocks:
Most HD Military pistols were blued. However, very late 1945 models (Serial #940,000+) sometimes left the factory with a dull parkerized finish. While parkerizing is durable, the best collector examples are the deep, rich pre-1945 blued finishes. Beware of reblued guns—if the serial number edges look rounded, walk away.