High Power Pistol

“Oh, Mr. Marston, one more thing. This is for you.”

“You're too kind.”

“See, I have nothing but your best interests at heart.”

–Edgar Ross

The High Power Pistol is a weapon featured in Red Dead Redemption.

Description[]

The High Power Pistol is one of three semi-automatic pistols in the game, along with the Mauser Pistol and Semi-automatic Pistol. It is statistically one of the best all around handguns in the game, being the most powerful, with a high rate of fire, quick reload, and eight-round capacity. It is also one of the last weapons to be unlocked in the single player campaign.

This weapon was very uncommon during the game's era. It is a "gift" to John Marston from Edgar Ross, so it fits in with the theme of the encroachment of modernity in the West, and Ross' support of modern technology.

Acquisition[]

Single Player[]

In Single Player, the weapon is given to John Marston by Edgar Ross in the opening cutscene of the story mission "Bear One Another's Burdens".

Undead Nightmare[]

Rewarded to the player after successfully completing the Doctor world event several times; likely to be acquired after four to six instances.

Multiplayer[]

The High Power Pistol is unlocked into the player's regular inventory upon reaching rank 35.
- The "High Powered Killer" weapon challenges are unlocked at the same level. Completion of these challenges turns the weapon golden for the player.
It can also be obtained by killing another player who has the weapon equipped.
In Free Roam, the pistol can be found in Tesoro Azul and it is also carried by the local law enforcement in Blackwater.

Trivia[]

The High Power Pistol is based on the real world FN Model 1903 Pistol.

Unlike the real FN Model 1903, the High Power Pistol is strangely modelled with two slide stops; one on each side, and it lacks the manual safety on its frame's left-hand side.
- The in-game pistol also holds 8 rounds, while the 1903 in reality used 7-round magazines.
Despite Agent Ross having one and giving another to John Marston, the M1903 was never in fact adopted by the US Government. It was however issued to the armies or police of several other countries including Sweden, Russia, and Turkey. However, the Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless (whose design the FN 1903 is based on) was used by the U.S. Armed Forces.
The name "High Power" seems to reference a later Browning/FN pistol, the 1935 Hi-Power (Grand Puissance). However, it wouldn't make sense with a pistol designed after the FN Model 1903 as the "High Power" moniker of the Browning Hi-Power referred to its original 13-round magazine; which at the time was almost double that of most self-loading pistols at the time (7-8-round capacities).
Official Red Dead Redemption artwork shows Edgar Ross holding a Colt M1911 instead of the game-appropriate High Power Pistol. The M1911 was yet another John Browning design, his most famous, but featured a prominent external hammer and chambered the larger .45 Auto cartridge.
All High Power Pistols in Red Dead Redemption appear to be custom modified with eithet ivory or pearl grips.
When the High Power Pistol becomes golden, it appears to have engravings on the slide that look similar to the engravings on the 100th anniversary model of the original Colt Model 1903 hammerless.
When reloading the High Power Pistol; the gun's slide always locks back, empty or not, because of the reload animation treating the gun as empty.
When reloading with both hands, Marston will correctly pull back the locked open slide to put it into battery. However, he uses the slide stop when reloading one-handed.
In the mission "An Appointed Time", Arsenio Baldizon is seen holding a High Power Pistol and executing a rebel during the opening cutscene.
Like all pistols; Marston will attempt to fan its hammer during a duel, despite it being hidden inside the slide. The slide action would also most likely injure Marston’s hand, throw off his aim, or at the very least, not fire after the first shot due to the "hammerless" design.
The High Power Pistol is loosely similar to the Vintage Pistol, a weapon in another Rockstar title, Grand Theft Auto V.
Ironically, Edgar Ross can be killed in the ending duel with the very High Power Pistol he gave Marston years earlier.