High-Standard question

[trubluedog]

 Hello, All. New here.  I recently purchased a High Standard Sentinel Mark 3. It's in great shape, and the price was almost theft. I have lurked here and answered most of my questions, but have 1 left.
 The barrel nut seems to have been made so it is not removable. My question is can I get a "normal" barrel nut and switch out the original? I would like to have the option of a longer barrel for this gun. It's not the end of the world if I can't. Of course, if I can't then I still have another reason to buy a REAL DW.

[RollTide]

Well, it appears as though you have stumped us all, but welcome to the forum.

Roll Tide

[David Carey]

The High Standard did not have a removable barrel.


 "The new company initially had no production facilities. Production of the early guns was contracted out to the High Standard company. Eventually, Dan Wesson moved to it's own facilities located in a converted public school, located in Monson Massachusetts. This was a modern facility, for it's day, and was able to produce high quality firearms at a relatively low cost. The shop was also owned and run by gun enthusiasts, and was small enough that innovation, and variety were fairly easy to accomplish. High Standard continued to produce the design under it's own name for a time. The High Standard revolver had the styling, including the crane mounted cylinder latch, and the lockwork of the Dan Wessons, but without the interchangeable barrel feature."

Dave

[trubluedog]

 Thanks for the replies. Just looking at it it looks like it should be possible. Oh well, a nicely built 4 inch .357 is still a good thing. I am heading to the range today to test her out.

[David Carey]

Any chance of posting some pictures? I would like to see it. Maybe a picture of the end of the barrel. If you need help posting I would be glad to help if you email me the pictures.

It could be possible to put a standard DW barrel nut on the gun if you were to get it apart but I do not know if I would risk the possibility that it would not.

Dave

[trubluedog]

 I've decided to not take the chance. I'll try to get some pictures up tomorrow. Maybe they can help someone else.
I definitely need to get different grips for it.I always thought I had big hands, but they aren't big enough to be comfortable with these grips.  My groups today at 20 yards looked more like patterns.  4-6 inches. I know part of it is me, and a new gun. I haven't shot a revolver in 5 or 6 years. Almost heretical ain't it?  

[trubluedog]

 Here is the best pic I can take with my old camera.




You can kind of see the rounded off edge of the barrel nut slot.

[David Carey]

Looks like a barrel nut there to me. I would have no problem taking it apart if it was mine but that is me. I would have to live with myself it did not work.

It really looks like it is built the same if you could just get that ring out of there I would bet that a current barrel nut would replace it. I say this because I do not think in the 1970's they would have really thought that far ahead and spent the extra money to keep someone from doing it.

Dave

[jbbaldwin]

I actually spotted one of these at the last gun show I went to and was wondering the same thing as to whether or not it could be removed.  Please let us know if you try it.

Jody

[Lee N. Fielder]

They can be removed, but High Standard intentionally made it difficult to do so.  The nut can be replaced with a standard DW nut as well.  I have a 4" HS barrel & shroud that fits on my DW model 15, so you CAN turn your revolver into one that can switch barrels.  I should point out that the HS barrel looks a bit odd on the DW frame since neither the lettering or the finish match, but I saw the HS barrel and shroud at a gun show for $35 and bit on it.

The question is, why do it?  You got into the gun cheaply and it's all original.  You don't see many of the HS guns and I believe one day they will be worth some money as collector's items if kept all original due to their relative scarcity.  Personally, I would keep it as-is and buy a Dan Wesson if I felt the need to change barrels but that's just my opinion.  It's your gun.

-Lee