The Model H-D's tenure with American intelligence continued through the Cold War. Perhaps its most dramatic appearance was with U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers, who carried it during his ill-fated 1960 mission over the Soviet Union. After Powers was shot down, his silenced High Standard was retrieved by the Russians and now resides in a museum in Moscow.
: Approximately 2,600 of these suppressed pistols were manufactured. They primarily cluster inside the 114,000 to 117,000 serial number range. The U-2 Incident Connection : A famous suppressed High Standard pistol, serial number
Whether you are verifying the authenticity of a potential purchase or simply seeking the story behind a family heirloom, the quest for information is deeply rewarding. The knowledge you gain deepens your appreciation for the engineering, the history, and the enduring legacy of this remarkable American pistol.
Authentic military surplus pieces will feature crisp "U.S." property marks and a crossed-cannon ordnance acceptance cartouche on the right side of the frame. Collector Value and Resources histandard model hd military serial numbers best
The rarest and most coveted HD Military models are those produced for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during WWII. These were made between October 1943 and March 1944. Approximately 114,000 to 117,000.
made it an excellent ergonomic analog to the standard-issue . High Standard supplied thousands of these firearms to the U.S. Army and Navy.
Always request a photo of the serial number and the barrel bushing before purchasing. A genuine HD Military is a piece of Cold War history—a pistol that trained a generation of American soldiers and dominated the bullseye circuit. Treat its serial number as its birth certificate. The Model H-D's tenure with American intelligence continued
Final production run before replacement by the "Supermatic" series.
High Standard’s serial numbering can be a bit complex because the company often used overlapping blocks for different models. However, for the HD Military, the following timeline is generally accepted by collectors: Serial Number Range (Approx.) 150,000 – 170,000 Transition period; some parts may vary. Peak Production (1946–1949) 170,000 – 315,000 The "classic" HD Military era. Late Production (1950) 315,000 – 345,000
| Serial Number Start | Approx. Year | Critical Feature | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 125,000 | 1948 | Blue finish, dog-leg hammer, slotted bushing. | | 140,000 | 1949 | Parkerized finish appears. Micro rear sight optional. | | 152,000 | 1950 | Straight spur hammer becomes standard. | | 168,000 | 1951 | Last commercial batch. Transition to M101 parts. | : Approximately 2,600 of these suppressed pistols were
If you are looking for the most historically significant models, search for:
To accurately date your High Standard pistol, you must locate the serial number and inspect the surrounding markings. The primary factory serial number on a High Standard Model HD Military