High Standard 107 Recoil Spring/Extraction

rwilliams319 said:

Hello,

Looking for expertise/knowledge about recoil springs for a 1968, according to the serial number information I found, 107 Tournament Model. I recently replaced the recoil spring with a Wolff 6 lb spring and I have seen that the the original High Standard spring was 5.5 lb.

I am now getting frequent failures to extract, just partial extraction. I am shooting 1050-1060 fps, rifle standard velocity ammo. Is the .5 lb difference enough to cause this? If so I will contact Mr. Aaronstein at Interarms to see if they have the 5.5 lb spring. Fired cases are not at all tight in the chamber.

Also, Mr. Stimson if you can any information/records on this pistol, serial number 1929217, I would appreciate it.

Thanks,

Bob

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If that is a Tournament with the Square Box Style Slide, you will need ALL of the energy to push a 5.5# spring. A 6# spring is a waste of time and money and, will NOT work on a consistant basis. HS in CT discontinued those slides VERY Quickly. They went to a Rounded Top Slide to decrease the wt according to Bob Shea. I have to report that I have seen some shooters using Mini Mags and SuperX to make them function !!! - Alan Aronstein

I weighed the slides of a some pistols:
Tournament from 1967 with a flat top slide weighed 7.20 oz.
Sharpshooter-M from 1979 with a rounded top slide weighed 6.65 oz.
Sharpshooter from 1981 with a flat top slide weighed 7.25 oz.
Sharpshooter from 1982 with a rounded top slide weighed 6.75 oz.

The slides all had the typical adjustable rear sight. The flat top slides and rounded top slides are found scattered throughout several years of production of the Tounamant and Sharpshooter models. There does not appear tp be a definite cut-off from one type of slide to the other. I cataloged several examples of rounded vs. flat top slides on Tournament and Sharpshooter pistols a few years ago, and found both types mixed over the years of production. This is another example of things that show up in High Standard production that do not fit what one would expect.

BTW, your pistol was likely shipped in 1968.

HSWayne,

Thanks for the details, I haven't played with too many High Standard pistols. I acquired it during the summer of 1969 from a coworker at a summer job. I used it when I tried a little Bullseye shooting many years ago and for Sport Pistol competition almost many years ago in Germany.

That is quite a weight difference in the slides, I did not even know there were different slides for the Tournament models. I can see where spring selection is critical.

Thanks,
Bob

rwilliams319 said:

HSWayne,

Thanks for the details, I haven't played with too many High Standard pistols. I acquired it during the summer of 1969 from a coworker at a summer job. I used it when I tried a little Bullseye shooting many years ago and for Sport Pistol competition almost many years ago in Germany.

That is quite a weight difference in the slides, I did not even know there were different slides for the Tournament models. I can see where spring selection is critical.

Thanks,
Bob

Click to expand...

An interesting historical note that I have learned in my 60+ years in the firearms industry is that the factories never seem to totally discard anything. When Gordon Elliott bought the most important assets of High Standard in 1984, there were MANY complete NEW Tournament square slides in stock. There were also SOME Complete NEW Slant Grip Victor Slides in stock. There were many discontinued and NOT the most popular NEW Barrels in Stock. There were Model B, HD, Lever, and 102 NEW Frames with SH Serial Numbers. I am sure that is the reason that certain variations just seem to "POP" Up. I know that the 1974 Colt Ace pistols were assembled from parts found in the M16 test firing area. FN was always finding parts at the Herstal Plant for Special Projects. I could still assemble Supermatic Tournament Pistols with the Square Slides and 4 1/2" Barrels from Hamden !!! - Alan Aronstein

Old manufacturers sound a lot like my father, he never threw anything away, might be able to use it in the future. To say he was frugal would be quite an understatement, an axe was still good till there was nothing left to be sharpened. Then the handle would be used to make a hatchet or hammer handle.