The Greatest Hand gun of all time.

[jayhawk]

Hmm...the list that immediately comes to mind includes the Hi-Power, the CZ75, the Glock 17 among others, but it's hard not to go with the 1911. With all that has changed in the past 100 years, the 1911 is still very hard to beat.

 

[EvilBlackGun]

Then I offer ...

... my Desert Eagle. A 1911-looking pistol with an AR- type action. Shooting IT says "sexy" for a mile!

Numbers are important. <snip> Love all of them or they would not be in the safe.
To me the 1911 is just so damn sexy....

 

[churchmouse]

Right on, I agree. If it makes you smile, what the hey.

 

[EvilBlackGun]

And let's not forget ...

... to compare the infamous "GLOCK/1911 vs the Corvette/Chevette: which sold more?" losers' attitude.

 

[kawtech87]

CZ P-01. Over 60 countries us CZs as thier sidearm of choice for a reason.

 

[PINski1015]

1911, Colt SAA, S&W MDL 19 4in, Browning Hi-Power, HK P7, Luger, HK USP, SIG P220, CZ75, Ruger 22's, Glock 17, S&W 5906, Beretta 92, Colt Python.

My alltime list in no particular order.

 

[jb1911]

Colt 1911
Colt Saa
Glock 26

 

[Jeremiah]

The P01, then G 19,

Greatest would have to be well defined, but rate of issuance and carry say a lot (yes the 17 is issued more than the 19 but for no reason).

 

[Colt556]

Colt SAA
Colt 1911
Browning Hi Power
Walther P 38
S&W K Frame
Colt Python
Ruger semi auto 22
CZ 75
Glock 17

All of these are great guns and changed the shooting world during the time of their introduction. To many great guns to pick just one, but if forced I'd have to go with the 1911. It has stood the test of time and is probably more popular today than ever. It, along with the CZ75, is probably the most copied pistol in the world. The 1911 is used for plinking, self defense, target shooting and by elite fighting units the world over.

 

[Dead Duck]

Maybe not practical but -
I'm into .50 BMG Handguns.

 

[Jeremiah]

The same can be said of the glock.

 

[Double T]

Walther P38 maybe. Thats pretty much what all modern 1911 or Beretta style guns are based on isnt it? Hats off to the Germans once again.

Except that the p38 was developed about 30 years after JMB drafted the 1911.

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

Subjective threads like this are fun, aren't they?

I think that a better thread might be "Paradigm-shifting handguns"

Because I think you have to look at each individual handgun almost in a vacuum; that is, nothing that has come after it can be included.

So, comparing a Colt Peacemaker to a Colt 1911 doesn't work because the 1911 didn't exist when the other was around.

But comparing a Colt 1911 to a Colt Peacemaker DOES work.

So, what has shifted the paradigms?

Colt 1851 Navy? Colt Peacemaker? Webley-Fosbury was a technological marvel, but never caught on. Mateba? Do you go by cartridge development? S&W M-27, the first for the .357Mag? What about the S&W M-29, the first with the .44Mag? Both of those have been game-changers, for sure.

Semi-automatics? The Borchardt C-93 is regarded as being the first self-loading pistol. I'd say that was certainly the beginning of a paradigm shift, but probably not a world-changer in and of itself.

Luger pistol? And it's offspring the P38? I think the Luger can be more of a game changer than the P38, even though the P38 was a double action pistol.

I do definitely think that the M1911 pistol was a world-changer.

But then so was the P35 - another basically Browning-designed pistol. ALL double-stack magazine-accepting pistols owe homage to the P-35.

Another shift? The H&K VP70 - the world's first polymer-framed handgun. Just think about all the polymer framed handguns on the market today. They ALL owe their existence to this first one.

It's just that the Glock 17 is generally credited with the change due to myriad factors (price, availability, ease of use, etc).

What about the Smith M-39? Couple the double-action of the Walther P38 with the double stack magazine of the Browning P35... Viola. Another game-changer. Every single double-stack double-action pistol owes homage to the S&W 39.

What do we end up with?

No easy answer... None are right, none are wrong.

What do I think are the game changers...sticking with semi-autos:

Luger
1911
P35
S&W 39
VP 70
G17

And if/when caseless ammo ever takes off, that'll be a game-changer, too.

-J-

 

[jayhawk]

Subjective threads like this are fun, aren't they?

...

What do I think are the game changers...sticking with semi-autos:

Luger
1911
P35
S&W 39
VP 70
G17

And if/when caseless ammo ever takes off, that'll be a game-changer, too.

-J-

Great post, and I completely agree.

 

[U.S. Patriot]

Greatest is nothing but opnion. For me personally, the best carry gun for me so far has been my FNP-9.

 

[Tombs]

Glock 1911

As silly as it may seem, I really like the slide profile on that.

Shame it isn't real. That's a very clean looking gun.

 

[churchmouse]

As silly as it may seem, I really like the slide profile on that.

Shame it isn't real. That's a very clean looking gun.

This looks a lot like one of my Springers. Pretty sexy gun.

Great post on the history (readers digest version) of game changing hand guns.
It is a personal opinion expressed from experience what we all believe to be
"The Best"
If you did not like it you would not have bought it.

 

[INyooper]

Subjective threads like this are fun, aren't they?

I think that a better thread might be "Paradigm-shifting handguns"

Because I think you have to look at each individual handgun almost in a vacuum; that is, nothing that has come after it can be included.

So, what has shifted the paradigms?

-J-

In that same line of thinking, you'd probably have to include the first muzzle-loader type pistol. Incredibly archaic by our standards, but I would imagine underwear sales increased when they were first being used ...if only for the psychological effect (likely they weren't terribly accurate). Talk about bringing a sword to a gun fight! "Bring me my brown pants!"

Just to say it's been done, someone ought to come out with a polymer pistol muzzle-loader. Then again, if it has been done before, I wouldn't be surprised.

 

[HICKMAN]

Colt Single Action Army "Peacemaker"
Colt 1911
Glock 17

Each became the "new normal" in it's day

 

[blamecharles]

HI POINT someone had to do it. I don't have enough knowledge to respond in an educated way so I am going with my gut response. Gatling gun best ever.