High Standard Model 10
Encyclopedia
The High Standard Model 10 is a recoil operated
, semi-automatic shotgun
that was manufactured by the High Standard Manufacturing Company
of Hamden, CT
. It is easily recognized by its bullpup
design, rotatable shoulder stock
, and integrated flashlight
.
police
sergeant
. Crouch's goal was to create the ultimate entry shotgun for SWAT
and tactical units. His original design used a modified Remington
semi-automatic shotgun.
In the mid 1960s, Crouch sold his design to the High Standard Manufacturing Company, who used their Flite King shotgun as the basis for the first model, the 10A. The Flite King was modified by replacing the stock, relocating the trigger assembly, and fitting a three-piece plastic
shell around the receiver
and first half of the barrel
. The rearward piece of the shell provided an attachment point for the rotatable shoulder stock. The lower piece of the shell provided the grip. Since the trigger assembly was moved forward to accommodate the bullpup design, a rod that connected the new and original trigger locations was used to allow minimal modifications to the original Flite King receiver.
Although the standard capacity of the Model 10 is 4 cartridges
, there was a magazine
tube extension available which would increase the capacity to 6 cartridges.
On the early model, the 10A, the upper plastic section also housed the built-in flashlight and carrying handle.
The later model 10B was improved with a left-hand charging handle, flip-up front sight, and utilized the new flashlight mount/carrying handle mounting block (which doubles as the carrying handle mount) as the rear sight. The "Kel-Lite
" branded flashlight can be removed, as it is attached to the aforementioned mounting block.
The most common problem was the failure to cycle correctly. According to the instructions on the Model 10, only magnum or "high brass" cartridges were to be used. However, even with the correct cartridges, the action would sometimes fail to cycle reliably. Other problems that plagued the shotgun were the rough and unpredictable trigger feel, the strange rotatable shoulder stock, and the tendency of the recoil
to cause the flashlight's batteries
to become damaged.
Another problem was that the Model 10 could only be fired from the right arm, as the gun ejected spent cartridges from its right side of the unit with a high force. There is a warning on the right side of the shotgun reading "CAUTION - DO NOT SHOOT FROM LEFT SHOULDER."
Recoil operation
Recoil operation is an operating mechanism used in locked-breech, autoloading firearms. As the name implies, these actions use the force of recoil to provide energy to cycle the action...
, semi-automatic shotgun
Semi-automatic shotgun
A semi-automatic shotgun is a form of shotgun that is able to fire a cartridge after every trigger squeeze, without any manual chambering of another round being required...
that was manufactured by the High Standard Manufacturing Company
High Standard Manufacturing Company
High Standard Manufacturing Company Inc. is an American manufacturer of firearms, based in Houston, Texas. The company was originally founded in Hamden, Connecticut in 1926 as a supplier to the numerous firearms companies in the Connecticut Valley.-History:...
of Hamden, CT
Hamden, Connecticut
Hamden is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town's nickname is "The Land of the Sleeping Giant." Hamden is home to Quinnipiac University. The population was 58,180 according to the Census Bureau's 2005 estimates...
. It is easily recognized by its bullpup
Bullpup
Bullpups are firearm configurations in which the action is located behind the trigger group and alongside the shooter's face, so there is no wasted space for the buttstock as in conventional designs. This permits a shorter firearm length for the same barrel length for improved maneuverability, and...
design, rotatable shoulder stock
Stock (firearm)
A stock, also known as a buttstock or shoulder stock, is a part of a rifle or other firearm, to which the barrel and firing mechanism are attached, that is held against one's shoulder when firing the gun. Stocks are also found on crossbows though a crossbow stock is more properly referred to as a...
, and integrated flashlight
Flashlight
A flashlight is a hand-held electric-powered light source. Usually the light source is a small incandescent lightbulb or light-emitting diode...
.
History and design
The basic design of the Model 10 shotgun was developed in the late 1950s by Alfred Crouch, a Santa Monica, CaliforniaSanta Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
. Crouch's goal was to create the ultimate entry shotgun for SWAT
SWAT
A SWAT team is an elite tactical unit in various national law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers...
and tactical units. His original design used a modified Remington
Remington Arms
Remington Arms Company, Inc. was founded in 1816 by Eliphalet Remington in Ilion, New York, as E. Remington and Sons. It is the oldest company in the United States which still makes its original product, and is the oldest continuously operating manufacturer in North America. It is the only U.S....
semi-automatic shotgun.
In the mid 1960s, Crouch sold his design to the High Standard Manufacturing Company, who used their Flite King shotgun as the basis for the first model, the 10A. The Flite King was modified by replacing the stock, relocating the trigger assembly, and fitting a three-piece plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
shell around the receiver
Receiver (firearms)
In firearms terminology, the receiver is the part of a firearm that houses the operating parts. The receiver usually contains the bolt carrier group, trigger group, and magazine port. In most handguns, the receiver, or frame, holds the magazine well or rotary magazine as well as the trigger mechanism...
and first half of the barrel
Gun barrel
A gun barrel is the tube, usually metal, through which a controlled explosion or rapid expansion of gases are released in order to propel a projectile out of the end at a high velocity....
. The rearward piece of the shell provided an attachment point for the rotatable shoulder stock. The lower piece of the shell provided the grip. Since the trigger assembly was moved forward to accommodate the bullpup design, a rod that connected the new and original trigger locations was used to allow minimal modifications to the original Flite King receiver.
Although the standard capacity of the Model 10 is 4 cartridges
Cartridge (firearms)
A cartridge, also called a round, packages the bullet, gunpowder and primer into a single metallic case precisely made to fit the firing chamber of a firearm. The primer is a small charge of impact-sensitive chemical that may be located at the center of the case head or at its rim . Electrically...
, there was a magazine
Magazine (firearm)
A magazine is an ammunition storage and feeding device within or attached to a repeating firearm. Magazines may be integral to the firearm or removable . The magazine functions by moving the cartridges stored in the magazine into a position where they may be loaded into the chamber by the action...
tube extension available which would increase the capacity to 6 cartridges.
On the early model, the 10A, the upper plastic section also housed the built-in flashlight and carrying handle.
The later model 10B was improved with a left-hand charging handle, flip-up front sight, and utilized the new flashlight mount/carrying handle mounting block (which doubles as the carrying handle mount) as the rear sight. The "Kel-Lite
Kel-Lite
Kel-Lite was the first heavy-duty aluminum bodied flashlight, which became popular with law enforcement agencies due to its heavy construction...
" branded flashlight can be removed, as it is attached to the aforementioned mounting block.
Service
Originally, the Model 10 was sold to law enforcement only. The concept of this shotgun was quite interesting to many police agencies who adopted the Model 10 in the late 1960s and early 1970s, however, most of the agencies found many shortcomings, and ultimately ceased using the Model 10.The most common problem was the failure to cycle correctly. According to the instructions on the Model 10, only magnum or "high brass" cartridges were to be used. However, even with the correct cartridges, the action would sometimes fail to cycle reliably. Other problems that plagued the shotgun were the rough and unpredictable trigger feel, the strange rotatable shoulder stock, and the tendency of the recoil
Recoil
Recoil is the backward momentum of a gun when it is discharged. In technical terms, the recoil caused by the gun exactly balances the forward momentum of the projectile and exhaust gasses, according to Newton's third law...
to cause the flashlight's batteries
Battery (electricity)
An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Since the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power...
to become damaged.
Another problem was that the Model 10 could only be fired from the right arm, as the gun ejected spent cartridges from its right side of the unit with a high force. There is a warning on the right side of the shotgun reading "CAUTION - DO NOT SHOOT FROM LEFT SHOULDER."