Hartford Arms Model 1925 .22 LR Semi-Automatic Pistol – 6.75" Target Barrel, Rare Pre-High Standard Design
This Hartford Arms Model 1925 is a scarce, early-production .22 LR target pistol manufactured in the late 1920s, long before High Standard became a household name. With only about 5,000 units produced, survivors such as serial number 4823 are desirable to collectors who follow the lineage from Hartford Arms to High Standard. Its 6.75-inch barrel, blued carbon-steel construction, and ribbed walnut grips showcase the company’s focus on precision rimfire shooting during the inter-war era.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair – Extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Fair – Generally clean with some residue or smudges and slight corrosion.
Bore Rifling: Fair – Rifling is worn with slight loss of definition.
Specific Condition Notes: The blued finish shows scattered marks and wear. The ribbed walnut grips have chips. No magazine is included.
What’s Included
- Hartford Arms Model 1925 .22 LR pistol (serial number 4823)
Designed by former Colt engineer Lucius M. Diehm, the Model 1925 uses a simple blowback, single-action striker-fired system that became the foundation for early High Standard pistols. The tooling for this design was later purchased by Carl G. Swebilius, directly linking this example to the birth of High Standard Manufacturing.
The 6.75-inch carbon-steel barrel was considered a target length at the time, providing a longer sight radius for improved accuracy. Fixed front and drift-adjustable rear iron sights remain intact, giving shooters traditional sight pictures consistent with 1920s match pistols.
Vertical rear slide serrations, a manual thumb safety that doubles as a slide lock, and an internal striker block reflect the period’s approach to user controls and safety. Despite its age, these original features are still present, underscoring the pistol’s authenticity.
Blued carbon-steel frame and slide retain much of their original finish, now softened by decades of honest wear. The ribbed walnut grips show handling marks and chips but remain serviceable and correct to the model.