A new 22-caliber 1911. The new .22 has been introduced by German Sporting Guns.
The High Standard Olympic Trophy, often called the “Space Gun,” is back in production. Here, the reintroduced pistol is demonstrated by Bob Shea, who started working for High Standard in 1942. Shea knows these guns well.
HIGH STANDARD
The “Space Gun” is back! One of the most recognizable 22-caliber target pistols of all time, the long-barrel High Standard Olympic Trophy is back in production. Its long barrel, muzzle brake, and extra weight under the barrel gave it a distinctive appearance, and it was generally referred to as the “Space Gun.” The rear sight was mounted on the barrel, not on the slide, to prevent misalignment. The Olympic Trophy was a winner on the firing line in decades past.
Now, it is back again, in an updated version. The frame is now stainless steel, with a black Tefl on coating. Barrel lengths offered are 6.75, 8 and 10 inches. Optional weights are 2-ounce or 3-ounce. I was fortunate to have the new Olympic Trophy demonstrated to me by Bob Shea, who started working with High Standard way back in 1942, and who still serves as an advisor to the present organization.
Not enough nostalgia yet? High Standard plans were to reintroduce the affordable Dura-Matic 22-caliber plinking pistol of years past. The new Dura-Matic was scheduled for May 2010 introduction at the National Rifle Association (NRA) convention.
HI-POINT
Hi-Point continues to offer its line of affordable pistols and pistol-caliber carbines. Nothing new is being offered in the pistol line this year, but the carbines are wearing new stocks. Regular readers of this publication may recall that I sneaked a picture of prototype number 1 of the new stock design into this report last year. Now, they are standard. The new stocks have rails on the top of the receiver cover, rails under the forearm, and rails on the sides of the forearm. There is plenty of space to hang just about anything a shooter wants on the Hi-Point carbine now. A recoil-reducing butt pad is attached. Available in 9mm and .40 S&W, the carbines come with sling, swivels, scope base, adjustable aperture rear sight and trigger lock. Hi-Point firearms are backed by the company’s no-questions-asked lifetime warranty. They are distributed by MKS Supply.
A new small 380-caliber pistol, the I.O. Hellcat, has been introduced by I.O., Inc. Here is a peek at prototype X2.
Interstate Arms Corporation’s new Regent 45 is a “Series ‘70” pistol, made for IAC by Tisas in Turkey.
The new manual-safety version of the Kahr PM9 also has a loaded chamber indicator.
To commemorate the 100 years of the 1911 design, Kimber, a leading producer of 1911-type pistols, is offering a limited-edition commemorative pistol.
The new Kriss pistol. Well, all right, this is really the Kriss submachinegun with the stock removed. However, this is how the Kriss pistol will look, but it will be semiautomatic only.
Legacy Sports International has expanded its Citadel 1911 line. The new .38 Super version is offered now, with several finish options.
Les Baer’s new offering is the Boss 45, an enhanced two-tone pistol.
INTERSTATE ARMS
A new 1911! Interstate Arms Corp. (IAC) is offering the new Regent 1911 A1 “Series ‘70” pistol. The new pistol is manufactured for IAC by the Tisas firm in Turkey. The new pistol looks good, and production models are said to have a consistent 5.5-pound trigger pull. (See TISAS.)
ISSC
The 22-caliber Austrian ISSC pistol, first mentioned on these pages in the last edition of this publication, is now in production. Looking much like a hammer-fired Glock, the ISSC can be used as a training understudy for those using Glock pistols, as well as other uses. The new 22s now have an accessory rail. “ISSC – USA” will be the new markings on the pistols.
ITHACA
Ithaca Gun Company produced Model 1911A1 45-caliber pistols during World War II. Ithaca was the third-largest producer of 45s during that conflict, making close to 20% of the total pistols made. A total of about 369,000 were manufactured by Ithaca back then.
Now, Ithaca is back in the 1911 pistol business. For the 100th anniversary of the 1911 design, Ithaca is making a commemorative pistol, as close to WWII specifi cations as possible. The only changes in the slide markings are that Ithaca has changed its business location, and “Upper Sandusky, OH” appears in place of the original “Ithaca, NY.” Ray Rozic, who worked on the development of the new Ithaca .45, explained that CNC machining allowed much closer clearances now. Made of 4140 certified steel, a prototype with .002-inch slide/frame clearance fired 1000 rounds in about an hour without problems.
The only other WWII manufacturer still making 1911 pistols is, of course, Colt. It is good to have Ithaca back.
IVER JOHNSON
It seemed as if the Iver Johnson 1911 pistols would be stuck in limbo, but they are now a production reality, in time for the 100th anniversary of the 1911 design. Both .45 ACP and 22-caliber pistols were scheduled for full production by mid-2010. A number of different variants, from basic GI style to deluxe enhanced guns, full-size and commander-size, are offered.
Iver Johnson also offers conversion kits to make any 45-caliber 1911 into a .22.
IO, INC.
IO, Inc., of Monroe, North Carolina, provider of many surplus items and US-made AK-style rifles, has introduced a new small US-made .380 pistol. A company representative noted that IO had seen the popularity of small 380-caliber pistols and had combined the best features of existing offerings and made improvements to make a new pistol. The Hellcat .380 is a polymer-frame double-action-only pistol with a 2.7-inch barrel. Weight is only 6.6 ounces. Size is 5.5 inches long by 3.6 inches high — it will almost, but not quite, hide under a common 3x5 index card. I did not get a chance to shoot one, but tried the trigger, and it was decent in double-action. Capacity is 6+1. Each pistol will come with two six-round magazines and an inside-the-pants holster.
KAHR
Kahr Arms has a new version of their PM9. Recall that the PM9 is a subcompact 9mm with black polymer frame and matte stainless slide. It has a 3-inch barrel, measures 5.3x4inches, and can use either six- or seven-round magazines. Weight is about 16 ounces.
The new variant has an external manual thumb safety, and also a loaded chamber indicator, one that rises above the top level of the slide. These new features allow sale of the PM9 in states (such as Massachusetts) where the standard model is prohibited. However, the standard model PM9 will remain in the company’s product line.
Another new addition to the PM9 lineup is a variant that comes with a Crimson Trace laser sight.
The little P380, introduced here last year, has a new variant. The original small .380 had a black polymer frame and stainless slide. The new “black” variant