A Different Kind of USGI Pistol: The High Standard Supermatic S-101

[ordnanceguy]

Gentlemen:

Like most guys here I find that the M1911 pistols and other combat weapons hold the greatest interest for me. They are important from a historical standpoint and they properly get the most attention.

However, I also enjoy other USGI weapons as they are interesting in their own right. This pistol falls into that category. It is a High Standard Supermatic S-101 .22 LR target pistol. This pistol was not a trainer, but rather was a high quality target pistol used for competitive shooting. It was the state of the art for a production target pistol in the middle of the 1950s. Indeed, High Standard .22 pistols were used by the championship shooters and teams at the Camp Perry National Matches for several years in a row in the 1950s.

This particular pistol was shipped on US Government order #2570 on 10/3/57.

Regards,
Charlie Flick

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[ordnanceguy]

These US military pistols were factory marked on the left frame with a 3/16th inch "U.S." This is the only military marking found on these pistols. The Tech Manual for these pistols was TM 9-1005-226-14.

[ordnanceguy]

Continued development by High Standard led to successor models which were also adopted by the military. Nonetheless, the Supermatic S-101 remained in the military inventory for many years. Eventually, numbers of these pistols became available to civilian shooters through the Director of Civilian Marksmanship program.

[ordnanceguy]

These Supermatic S-101s were considered top of the line guns. They first appeared in 1954 and the last ones were produced in 1957. They were popular with the Army Pistol Teams, and were also used by USAF, USMC and USCG Pistol Teams.

One interesting design feature of these guns is the barrel porting which was done at the factory.

[ordnanceguy]

Having shot this pistol I can attest that it has much greater accuracy than I am capable of.

The High Standard advertisement below appeared in the November, 1956 issue of the American Rifleman. High Standard was justifiably proud of the record that its pistols had established at the National Matches at Camp Perry. (Note that the Army Pistol Team shooter on the right, Lt. Cartes, has the same Army Pistol Team patch on his shoulder as seen in the first post above. He won the 1956 .22 LR Pistol Championship.) The Supermatic is shown in the ad with the optional barrel weights which slid into a machined slot underneath the barrel.

The High Standard Supermatic S101s set a high standard indeed for military .22 LR target pistols half a century ago.

Regards,
Charlie Flick

[Duane Hansen]

Very Nice Charlie, Thanks for sharing the interesting information and articles with us. I have a Supermatic Citation #102 that my Dad used for a Bulls Eye shooter from 1958 to 1963. It is very accurate as well.

[Johnny Peppers]

Some very interesting .22 pistols came through the DCM program. During their sale one of our club members received a Model 101 High Standard with the extra slide, barrel, and magazine in .22 Short caliber.
This one is a Supermatic Citation Model 103.

[Johnny Peppers]

A few of the Ruger MkI pistols were shipped right at the end of the program. I received this one just before LBJ stopped the sale of military handguns to the public. It has the U.S. over the chamber.
Ruger will not tell you where their pistols were shipped, but I had been told prior to calling about a letter to ask if it showed shipment to a U.S. government agency, and could that be included. Ruger obliged, and put that in the letter.

[ordnanceguy]

Thanks for your comments, Duane.

Johnny, those are both very nice pistols. The 'Space Gun' is in beautiful shape. I'll bet it is a great shooter, too.

The USGI Ruger Mark I guns are an interesting topic all by themselves. I have one just like your's, and a similar factory letter saying it went to a "Government Agency". I have seen another factory letter that says a little more vaguely "government facility."

I am pretty certain that my Ruger Mark I went to the US Army since I have a 1961 Army Shipping Invoice indicating shipment to an Army Captain located at the Benicia Arsenal. I suspect most or all of the early Ruger Mark I shipments were to the Army.

Regards,
Charlie Flick

[A square 10]

all beautiful pistols ,

ive got the histandard and the rueger - neather are marked US , but both are great shooters