Whitney Wolverine
Encyclopedia
The Whitney Wolverine was an advanced, "space-aged", light-weight aluminum, semi-automatic, .22 LR caliber pistol created in 1956. It had a 10 round magazine, and weighed only 1.3 lbs.
, who learned about aluminum casting during WWII while working with aircraft guns and later became research engineer for High Standard Manufacturing Company
. Only 13,371 of these .22 semi automatic pistols were made in its short period of production between 1956 and 1958. There were approximately 500 nickel plated according to company records, the rest finished with in varying shades of anodized blue, The plastic grips came in either a black,dark brown or white, the white grips are found mostly on the nickel plated models. The frame being investment cast by Alcoa was a new idea for the gun industry at the time, now it,s widely used by almost every major gun manufacturer today. Its name "Wolverine" was named after Mr. Hillberg's favorite football team, the University of Michigan Wolverines. A victim of extremely poor marketing in the beginning, financial problems and then being under priced by $2.00 by both Ruger and Colt with their new semi-automatics .22, the company was doomed.
The original retail price was $39.95 blue and $44.95 nickel plated.
manufactures and sells a version which is a polymer frame, instead of aluminum like the originals. Samson Manufacturing Corp. has planned on creating their own version, but it is not yet in production.
History
The Wolverine was engineered by Robert HillbergRobert Hillberg
Robert Hillberg is a firearm designer. He was the former head of High Standard Manufacturing Company. His designs included the folding shotgun stock, the Whitney Wolverine, the Wildey .45 gas-operated pistol, and the four-shot COP 357 Derringer...
, who learned about aluminum casting during WWII while working with aircraft guns and later became research engineer for 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:...
. Only 13,371 of these .22 semi automatic pistols were made in its short period of production between 1956 and 1958. There were approximately 500 nickel plated according to company records, the rest finished with in varying shades of anodized blue, The plastic grips came in either a black,dark brown or white, the white grips are found mostly on the nickel plated models. The frame being investment cast by Alcoa was a new idea for the gun industry at the time, now it,s widely used by almost every major gun manufacturer today. Its name "Wolverine" was named after Mr. Hillberg's favorite football team, the University of Michigan Wolverines. A victim of extremely poor marketing in the beginning, financial problems and then being under priced by $2.00 by both Ruger and Colt with their new semi-automatics .22, the company was doomed.
The original retail price was $39.95 blue and $44.95 nickel plated.
The Modern Wolverine
Two companies have attempted to revive the Wolverine design. Olympic ArmsOlympic Arms
Olympic Arms, Inc. manufactures and markets AR-15 and M16 pattern rifles, carbines and pistols. Olympic also manufactures Colt 1911 series 70 style pistols. All products currently manufactured by Olympic are sold under the Olympic Arms brand name....
manufactures and sells a version which is a polymer frame, instead of aluminum like the originals. Samson Manufacturing Corp. has planned on creating their own version, but it is not yet in production.