Description
Please read the Item Characteristics for important listing details. You must contact your FFL transfer dealer and have them send a copy of their license with your name, username, the item and order numbers to the seller.
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Item Description
Bryant Ridge Auction Company is pleased to present this desirable double-action revolver today for a penny start auction, this is the High Standard Crusader 50th Anniversary Model!
**This example is number 331 of 500 of the .44 Mag Anniversary models**
Click here to view our other Live Auctions!
**This example is number 331 of 500 of the .44 Mag Anniversary models**
Click here to view our other Live Auctions!
SPECIFICATIONS:
Manufacturer: High Standard
Model: Crusader
Serial: 44K331
Date of Manufacture: 1976-77
Caliber: .44 Magnum
Finish: Blue / Plum on right of frame
Barrel Length: 6 1/2"
Optics/Sights: Pinned Serrated Blade on Ramp Front / Adjustable Rear
Stock/Grips: Smooth Wood
Action: Double
Markings: Standard / Golden Crusader Emblem on right of frame / "1927 HIGH STANDARD-50TH ANNIVERSARY 1977 on right of barrel / CRUSADER on left of barrel
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
At this time, the .44 Magnum was all the rage. In December of 1971 the movie Dirty Harry premiered, starring Clint Eastwood as a cop who carried a Smith & Wesson Model 29 in .44 Magnum, which he touted as “the most powerful handgun in the world.” Early in 1973 High Standard hired an engineer by the name of Dick Baker to design a revolver for the .44 Magnum cartridge. Baker was the primary design engineer, though an engineer by the name of Ralph Kennedy was also assigned to work on the project, and took it over after Baker left to work for Smith & Wesson. The gun Baker designed was highly innovative, with a gear-driven double-action trigger, an advanced cylinder lock mechanism, and a hammer that pivoted on an eccentric in such a way that it could not strike the firing pin unless the trigger was pulled. Kennedy designed a combination cylinder release and safety lever that locked the cylinder, trigger, and hammer. Baker and Kennedy produced their first prototypes, a medium-frame .357 Magnum and a large-frame .44 Magnum in the Fall of 1974. The .44 was originally marked “The Valkyrie,” though it was later renamed “Crusader.” Charles Petty was invited to the High Standard facility in Hamden, Connecticut to test fire one of the early prototypes.
Eventually, as Petty explains, it was decided to raise money by selling 1000 revolvers to be produced as High Standard 50th anniversary commemoratives. The plan was to make 51 deluxe engraved .44 Magnum pistols with a 8-3/8 inch barrel, and another 51 pistols in .45 Long Colt. These engraved guns were to be designated “Special Commemoratives” and would be sold in presentation cases for $1000 each, and the serial numbers would be 0 through 50, with a different prefix for each caliber (the two guns with serial number 0 were to be retained by the company). In addition, another 500 guns would be made in each caliber with a 6-1/2 inch barrel and no engraving. These guns were to be designated “Commemoratives” and would be sold in presentation cases for $600. The serial numbers would continue up to 500. The guns were offered to dealers in advance for a 50% deposit, and sufficient funds were raised by this means to allow the company to tool up for limited production.
Contents:
This example will ship with the wooden presentation case w/ inlaid red velvet and the key pictured above!
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Model: Crusader
Serial: 44K331
Date of Manufacture: 1976-77
Caliber: .44 Magnum
Finish: Blue / Plum on right of frame
Barrel Length: 6 1/2"
Optics/Sights: Pinned Serrated Blade on Ramp Front / Adjustable Rear
Stock/Grips: Smooth Wood
Action: Double
Markings: Standard / Golden Crusader Emblem on right of frame / "1927 HIGH STANDARD-50TH ANNIVERSARY 1977 on right of barrel / CRUSADER on left of barrel
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
At this time, the .44 Magnum was all the rage. In December of 1971 the movie Dirty Harry premiered, starring Clint Eastwood as a cop who carried a Smith & Wesson Model 29 in .44 Magnum, which he touted as “the most powerful handgun in the world.” Early in 1973 High Standard hired an engineer by the name of Dick Baker to design a revolver for the .44 Magnum cartridge. Baker was the primary design engineer, though an engineer by the name of Ralph Kennedy was also assigned to work on the project, and took it over after Baker left to work for Smith & Wesson. The gun Baker designed was highly innovative, with a gear-driven double-action trigger, an advanced cylinder lock mechanism, and a hammer that pivoted on an eccentric in such a way that it could not strike the firing pin unless the trigger was pulled. Kennedy designed a combination cylinder release and safety lever that locked the cylinder, trigger, and hammer. Baker and Kennedy produced their first prototypes, a medium-frame .357 Magnum and a large-frame .44 Magnum in the Fall of 1974. The .44 was originally marked “The Valkyrie,” though it was later renamed “Crusader.” Charles Petty was invited to the High Standard facility in Hamden, Connecticut to test fire one of the early prototypes.
Eventually, as Petty explains, it was decided to raise money by selling 1000 revolvers to be produced as High Standard 50th anniversary commemoratives. The plan was to make 51 deluxe engraved .44 Magnum pistols with a 8-3/8 inch barrel, and another 51 pistols in .45 Long Colt. These engraved guns were to be designated “Special Commemoratives” and would be sold in presentation cases for $1000 each, and the serial numbers would be 0 through 50, with a different prefix for each caliber (the two guns with serial number 0 were to be retained by the company). In addition, another 500 guns would be made in each caliber with a 6-1/2 inch barrel and no engraving. These guns were to be designated “Commemoratives” and would be sold in presentation cases for $600. The serial numbers would continue up to 500. The guns were offered to dealers in advance for a 50% deposit, and sufficient funds were raised by this means to allow the company to tool up for limited production.
Contents:
This example will ship with the wooden presentation case w/ inlaid red velvet and the key pictured above!
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Shipping Details
Handgun Standard Shipping $50.00
Long Gun Standard Shipping $70.00
We strive to ship orders within the close of the following business day after payment and documentation is received.
Payment Details
We accept all forms of Payment including Personal Check, Business Check, PO Money Orders, Certified Check, Etc.
Please note we place a 7 business day hold on shipment, for all non-certified payments.
Return Policy
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Additional Details
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About Us
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