High Standard HDM

{{Infobox weapon

|name= High Standard HDM

|image=

|caption= High Standard HDM

|origin=United States

|type=Suppressed semi-automatic pistol

|is_ranged=yes

|is_bladed=

|is_explosive=

|is_artillery=

|is_vehicle=

|service= 1942–1951

|used_by= See Users

|wars= World War II, Cold War, Gulf War, Vietnam War

|designer=

|design_date=

|manufacturer=High Standard Manufacturing Company

|production_date=

|number=

|variants=

|weight= {{convert|47|oz|g|abbr=on}}, empty

|length= {{convert|13.815|in|mm|0}}
Suppressor length × diameter= {{convert|7.75|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} by {{convert|1|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

|part_length= {{convert|6.75|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

|height= {{convert|5|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}

|crew=

|cartridge=.22 LR (5.6mm rimfire)

|caliber=

|action=Blowback, semi-automatic

|rate=Semi-automatic

|velocity={{convert|1080|ft/s|m/s|0|abbr=on}}

|range=

|max_range=

|feed= 10-round single column, detachable box magazine

|sights= fixed Iron sights

}}

The High Standard HDM is an American semi-automatic pistol equipped with an integral silencer. Based on the High Standard H-D pistol, it was adopted by the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) during World War II. Because of legal concerns during wartime,{{citation needed |date=November 2024}} full-metal-jacketed .22 LR rounds were developed for this pistol.

History

William J. Donovan demonstrated the pistol to President Franklin D. Roosevelt inside the Oval Office. During World War II, the HDM was adopted for use by the OSS.{{Cite web |date=2010-10-22 |title=Hi-Standard HDM silenced |url=https://modernfirearms.net/en/handguns/handguns-en/u-s-a-semi-automatic-pistols/hi-standard-hdm-besshumnyj-eng/ |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=Modern Firearms |language=en}} It later was used by CIA agents and US special forces units in the Korean and Vietnam War and supposedly up to the Gulf War.

Francis Gary Powers' HDM is displayed in Moscow after his capture and release at the Central Armed Forces Museum as of 2017.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2017-12-07 |title=Son of US spy pilot views U-2 artifacts at Russian museum |url=https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2017/12/07/son-of-us-spy-pilot-views-u-2-artifacts-at-russian-museum/ |access-date=2023-12-19 |website=Air Force Times |language=en}}{{Cite news |title=Historical Firearms - High Standard (Hi-Standard) Suppressed Pistols ... |url=https://www.historicalfirearms.info/post/145178381009/high-standard-hi-standard-suppressed-pistols |access-date=2023-12-19 |newspaper=Historical Firearms |last1=Firearms |first1=Historical }}

Design

The High Standard HDM is a conventional blowback-operated semi-automatic pistol fitted with an integral silencer which decreases its report by more than 20 dB.{{cite web|url=http://myweaponplace.com/high-standard-hi-standard-hdm-oss-silenced-pistol-usa.html|title=Loading|website=myweaponplace.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411103503/http://myweaponplace.com/high-standard-hi-standard-hdm-oss-silenced-pistol-usa.html|archive-date=2013-04-11}} This pistol design was originally delivered on 20 January 1944, and original contract models were blued with a parkerized (phosphate) finish on the silencer. Follow-on models were completely parkerized. Post World War II models produced for the CIA were also blued. The weapon has a frame-mounted safety lever on the left in a similar position to the M1911A1 and Browning Hi-Power. The front sight is a fixed blade with a square notch fixed rear sight.{{cite web|url=http://www.pdfio.com/k-112753.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411145655/http://www.pdfio.com/k-112753.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-04-11 |title=OSS Silenced Pistol |publisher=pdf.io |access-date=2014-03-12 }}

This weapon uses a heel-mounted magazine release. The weapon is effective at short ranges when the low energy of the round fired is taken into account. The design is simple and typical of the period in which it was designed.{{citation needed|date=March 2015}}

A clone of the HDM is made by Arms Tech Limited.https://web.archive.org/web/20090419212628/http://www.smallarmsreview.com/pdf/OSSPistol.PDF {{Bare URL PDF|date=August 2024}}

Users

=Current=

{{flag|United States}}: Still used by the Central Intelligence Agency,{{cite web |last=Boyd |first=Bob |url=http://www.shootingillustrated.com/index.php/14966/arms-tech-limited-oss-hi-standard/ |title=Arms Tech Limited OSS Hi Standard |publisher=Shooting Illustrated |date=2011-09-21 |access-date=2014-03-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313001541/http://www.shootingillustrated.com/index.php/14966/arms-tech-limited-oss-hi-standard/ |archive-date=2014-03-13 |url-status=dead }} the United States Marine Corps with 10 HDMS in use with Force Recon,{{Cite web |date=2017-12-22 |title=Strong Men Armed - The Marine Corps 1st Force Reconnaissance Company: Part III - Weapons and Equipment |url=http://www.forcerecon.com/strongmenarmed3.htm |access-date=2023-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222165642/http://www.forcerecon.com/strongmenarmed3.htm |archive-date=2017-12-22 }} and the United States Army Special Forces,{{cite magazine |last= Stejskal|first= James|date= December 2017|title= Cold War Warriors |magazine= American Rifleman |publisher= American Rifleman}}{{page number needed|date=August 2023}}

=Former=

{{flag|United Kingdom}}: Known to be used by the SOE in Nazi-occupied Europe.
{{flag|United States}}: Formerly used by OSS agents. The weapon was also assigned to Lockheed U-2 pilots.{{Cite book |last=Powers |first=Francis |title=Operation Overflight: A Memoir of the U-2 Incident |publisher=Potomac Books, Inc. |year=1960 |isbn=9781574884227 |page=31}}

References

Category:Silenced firearms

Category:Semi-automatic pistols of the United States

Category:World War II firearms of the United States

Category:.22 LR pistols