High Standard HDM

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]} full-metal-jacketed .22 LR rounds were developed for this pistol.

High Standard HDM
Type	Suppressed semi-automatic pistol
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1942–1951
Used by	See Users
Wars	World War II, Cold War, Gulf War, Vietnam War
Production history
Manufacturer	High Standard Manufacturing Company
Specifications
Mass	47 oz (1,300 g), empty
Length	13.815 inches (351 mm) Suppressor length × diameter= 7.75 in (197 mm) by 1 in (25 mm)
Barrel length	6.75 in (171 mm)
Height	5 in (127 mm)
Cartridge	.22 LR (5.6mm rimfire)
Action	Blowback, semi-automatic
Rate of fire	Semi-automatic
Muzzle velocity	1,080 ft/s (329 m/s)
Feed system	10-round single column, detachable box magazine
Sights	fixed Iron sights

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.^[1] 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.^[1]

Francis Gary Powers' HDM is displayed in Moscow after his capture and release at the Central Armed Forces Museum as of 2017.^[2][3]

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.^[4] 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.^[5]

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]}

A clone of the HDM is made by Arms Tech Limited.^[6]

Users

Current

•  United States: Still used by the Central Intelligence Agency,^[7] the United States Marine Corps with 10 HDMS in use with Force Recon,^[8] and the United States Army Special Forces,^[7][9]

Former

•  United Kingdom: Known to be used by the SOE in Nazi-occupied Europe.^[3]
•  United States: Formerly used by OSS agents.^[3] The weapon was also assigned to Lockheed U-2 pilots.^[10]