[kalboy]

I was perusing some gun books at an area shop today and while looking at an interesting article on military blowback pistols of yore found mention of the HP ancestor guns Maverick and Stallard. The author wrote that the pistol was designed by "Ohioan Ed Stallard" and the gist of his comments were directed at the pistol's soft recoil. Anyone know anything about Ed Stallard and or anything else about primordial Hi Point or it's ancestor brands?

[kalboy]

Here's a reply I received from Farmkid on the BJJ forum... this is the article I mentioned in the op.


I don't know anything about Ed Stallard specifically (though there are references to an Ohio deputy by this name, and I don't know whether this is the same guy or not).

The following is from From "Gun Digest Book of Classic Combat Hundguns" by Dan Shideler. Note that this description is very dated (no mention of Hipoint) even though the book was published earlier this year.

"In September 1987, the new Maverick blowback 9mm pistol was quietly introduced to the American market. The concept of Ohioan Ed Stallard, the new pistol combined some of the design features of early pocket pistols with a full-power cartridge and late 20th century manufacturing techniques.

Ignoring current trends, the pistol has a single-action trigger mechanism, single-column magazine and thumb safety on the left only. The simple striker firing mechanism also uses the firing pin as an ejector. The design offers few surprises to those familiar with the blowback pocket automatics of many decades go.

The construction of the pistol, though, is strictly modern. Plastics, easily cast alloys, steel stampings and unbreakable coil springs are used throughout. Roll pins instead of screws are used for assembly — the only screws are the grip screws. The grips themselves retain parts on the side of the frame.

The resulting pistol was made inexpensively and sold at a low price. It was heavy, with a squared-off, boxy shape and a wrinkle paint finish. By traditional standards, it was not particularly handsome, but it was the cheapest new pistol on the market chambered for the 9mm Parabellum cartridge.

Weight was the primary reason for the Maverick's easy handling of the 9mm cartridge. The original version was listed as 48 ounces (about as much as a Smith & Wesson 44 Magnum) and some specimens, even ran a few ounces heavier. The 22-ounce slide is a large 43 percent of the total weight of the pistol. The inertia of the massive slide helps keep the case in the chamber longer, giving pressures a chance to drop.

Strangely, the recoil spring is not particularly heavy. Perhaps to make the pistol workable for women and the elderly, spring strength was kept moderate, and prime emphasis was placed on weight.

However, some other subtle techniques were used to control pressures. The rifling is cut only about .002-inch deep, about half the standard practice. This lowers initial resistance to the bullet and helps keep chamber pressure down. in addition, the slide in battery is designed for "zero headspace", allowing the cartridge no play between the chamber shoulder and the breech face. Looseness would have the effect, however slight, of letting the case “slam" back against the slide. Zero headspace allows only a "push" against the slide.

As the new pistols began to sell, the "Maverick" name was called into question in 1988. Although it had been registered by Stallard in Ohio, "Maverick" was registered nationally by a Texas shotgun company. A friendly agreement was reached. and the name of the pistol was changed.

Renaming of the pistol was in keeping with the policy of keeping expenses down. The original pistols bore this legend on the slide.

MAVERICK FIREARMS
MODEL JS-9MM
Mfg. By Stallard Arms Inc.
Mansfield, Oh.

The same die for the legend was kept, but the top line was simply ground off, getting rid of "MAVERICK FIREARMS.' The pistol was known thereafter as the "Stallard ."

In early 1991, a new grip frame with a curved rear portion was offered, with contoured grips to match the frame shape. The new frames were made of a lighter alloy. The total weight of the pistol went down to about 39 ounces, close to the weight of a Colt 1911. The weight of the slide, relative to the other parts, thus went up.

The version introduced in mid-1991 does away with the wrinkle finish in favor of smooth black or nickel. With little fanfare, the Stallard seems to be finding a market as an acceptable 9mm pistol at a low price."

My reply to him....
That's the same book I was looking at Farmkid!!! That's the article that got me so curious, and mostly because it's the first thing I've ever seen about HP or it's ancestors which mentioned a name other than Tom Deeb.
It's an interesting article , Shideler would never let anything into a Gun Digest publication putting HP in a bad light.
Dan Shideler passed away last April.. age 50. Fellow Hoosier and a guy who always had kind words for a decent cheap gun, esp. Hi Points.

BTW Thanks for this reprint Farmkid, that was a nice touch.

[ajole]

And here is a JS 9, with the Maverick logo on the roll stamp. Note the straight grip. Alloy frame, so it is heavier than the later poly framed C9; and the large heel release on the mag.

[kalboy]

Nice pic Ajole, thanks.

[ajole]

Not a problem!

Any info on who Haskell was? I have the JH 45 with the Haskell name on it.

I really like how it feels, I mean, it isn't as if the newer polymer JHP45 kicks...but this heavier model is SSOOOO easy to keep on target.



The Haskell roll stamp




And the target the first time I took it out to shoot.

[kalboy]

Who is Haskell? Good ?? Another nice looking classic Zamac there Ajole!

[panamared1951]

I have a Stallard, Haskell and a Maverick but sorry no info on the men behind these pistols.

[kalboy]

Haskell is the plant where all 45acp handguns( presently model JHP) are made, that much we do know.

[ajole]

I knew it was the plant, just wondered if the name were a person, too.

Iberia is the plant for the JCP, and I'm guessing, that isn't a man's name.

[farmkid]

Iberia, OH is about 6 miles from Galion, OH where the Iberia plant now is. I'm guessing that it started down the road and later moved to Galion.