[Ian11]

Since its the 4th of July I'd thought I'd have a vote for what you think is the quintessential American Handgun.

I can already tell you that the Colt 1911 will probably be #1 based on previous polls we've had here and TFL. But it'd be interesting to see which would be #2 and #3.


*Thought about adding the BHP P-35 since its a J.M. Browning design but it has more of a European pedigree. So apologies to BHP fans.

[MarineTech]

My gut reaction was to say the 1911, but after I thought about it for a while, I really had to pick the Colt SAA. It has outlived the 1911 be more than a few years, and because of the current growing Cowboy action crowd, almost as many companies are making an SAA clone as are making 1911s.

[amprecon]

I also agreed with the Colt SAA, it's silhouette is recognizable world over. All those cowboy movies and John Wayne certainly helped its popularity.

[444]

My initial gut reaction was the 1911, but, I didn't want to make a knee jerk response. I thought about it and saw a lot of merit in the Colt SAA and the S&W Model 10. After giving the matter some thought I chose the 1911. It was carried to all corners of the globe throughout most of the 20th century by our military. It is one of most popular (if not THE most popular) handgun designs ever made in the US. It is THE gun for formal bullseye shooting. It was THE gun for a lot of the action pistol shooting sports through most of their existance. The Colt SAA is a well recognized piece, but was never used in such a variety of circumstances and locations. It also was never as popular and never had the numbers of the 1911. The S&W Model 10 has been in the S&W line up for a very long time and was a very widely used law enforcement handgun all over the world (one of mine is marked RHKP on the grip frame for Royal Hong Kong Police). But, it's popularity wasn't as wide spread as the 1911.

[cool45auto]

Okay, I'll go with the Colt.

[boing]

Colt 1911. Sometimes the gut reaction is right for a reason. :)

[sm]

1911.

3 guns stand out in my mind, in respectful platform: The SAA, The model 10, and the 1911. Tough call.

[Majic]

I'll go with the SAA. The 1911, which evolved from the 1905, was designed to modernize the merits of the SAA.

[seeker_two]

1911...

Closely followed by the SAA...

Actually, it's a toss-up b/t the two....

And no Glocks to be found...:D

[Mike Irwin]

I've got to go with the S&W Military & Police.

It's probably the single most manufactured, and copied, handgun in the world.

S&W alone has made over 20 million of them, possibly closer to 30 million.

Add to that the number of licensed and unlicensed copies, and you've got a true passel of handguns.

[Hand_Rifle_Guy]

I'm completely torn b/t the M&P and the 1911. I vote for both.

M&P for LEO use.

1911 for military.

Both for civilians.

[10-Ring]

Not so easy decision, but I ended up voting on the 1911 & the all American 45 acp ;)

[Tamara]

As much as I love S&W and Colt wheelies, Ol' Slabsides had to take my vote.

92 years and counting of military service. Currently manufactured in various versions by more gun companies than any other pistol design. More or less dominates IPSC, IDPA and Bullseye shooting, as well as being the majority favorite at any shooting school you go to. It can lay a serious claim to being the Big Kahuna of fighting and gaming handguns in America, if not the world.

[denfoote]

1911 followed closely by the SAA.

[Hkmp5sd]

The 1911, of course. :) The SAA would take the vote for the 19th century, but its functional life span and numbers manufactured pale in comparison to the Colt 1911 for the overall title.

[Rob96]

1911.

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's All-

For my personal interest, I voted for the Smith
and Wesson model 36/60; cuz that is my choice
in a CCW .38 Special snubby. I've owned several;
and occassionally still carry a 1979-80 vintage
2" pinned barrel "Chiefs Special" model 60, with
an "R" serial prefix.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

[YodaVader]

"And no Glocks to be found..."

Yes and thank goodness! Heard at comment at the range recently - "You can't beat a Glock!" They were trying to teach this young lady to shoot. I just shook my head - Give me a good 1911 any day! The most accurate semi-auto centerfire pistol shooting I have ever witnessed has taken place with 1911's usually in 45 ACP.

[Island Beretta]

The 1911 gets the edge over the M&P but only because of its continued popularity.

As for the Glock comments, ask this question 50 years from now and guess which handgun it will be:p :neener:

[stevelyn]

I too thought of the 1911, but after reflecting on the 4th of July spirit of the question, I chose the Colt SAA.
Reason? The 130 year old Colt SAA in both it's 44-40 WCF and .45 Colt chambering helped forge the nation we live in today. Serving with distinction in the Army and with civilians alike. It helped tame the west and made it safer for Americans to carve out their part of the American Dream in the wilderness of the western U.S. and was instrumental in securing safe passage for those building America.
When the 1911 came on scene, the nation was already established.

[YodaVader]

"Quintessential American Handgun"

"As for the Glock comments, ask this question 50 years from now and guess which handgun it will be"

The day the Glock is considered the Quintessential American Handgun - even if it is 50 years from now - will be a sad day. :(

[YodaVader]

"It's an 88 Magnum, it can shoot through..........."

Schools?

[Dave Markowitz]

Single Action Army.

[stevelyn]

Yes! I like the line, but thought the school term should be dropped to maintain the standards of the website and not give any enemies who could be lurking any ammo to use againt us.

[Jim March]

I went SAA.

A case can be made for the Model 19. It's the same K-frame as the 10, but in 357, which even more than the 45ACP is an "only in America is it common" caliber.

And it's a good symbol of America's continued reliance on wheelguns when the Europeans went almost entirely slidegun.

[Wanderer]

1911 all the way, not only did it forge a caliber still in use today, it has been used by generations of soldiers around the globe, and continues to be in use today for not only civilians, but for law enforcment as well. Something must be right with it...

[BHPshooter]

*Thought about adding the BHP P-35 since its a J.M. Browning design but it has more of a European pedigree. So apologies to BHP fans.

:( :banghead:

Okay, then I'll vote for the ever-popular model of 1911.

Wes

[Boats]

Just take a look at some of the fantastic calibers invented here in the USA! Among them still in relatively widespread use: .32 H&R, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .40 S&W, 10mm, .41 Magnum, .44 Special, .44 Magnum, .45 LC, .45 ACP, and then all of the wildcat revo rounds, and tell me what besides a crop of mostly insignificant "me too" 7.62 mms, 9mms, (especially after the BHP set the hi-cap standard), and the .357 Sig was invented anywhere else since Webley and its .455 went the way of the dinosaur?

When it comes to handguns, we essentially armed the world with ideas for anything that turned out to be really useful.

Europe "gave" the world 8mm French revolvers, status pistols like the Luger and the Broomhandle, plastic frames, as well as a gun control laborotory to watch foolish social phenomena play themselves out. Thanks.:rolleyes:

[Majic]

The SAA would take the vote for the 19th century, but its functional life span and numbers manufactured pale in comparison to the Colt 1911 for the overall title.

When did the SAA cease to have a functional life span?
:confused:
After 130 years they are still being manufactored with a great many still in use.

[DWS1117]

1911 gets my vote. If anyone wants to give me any of the others so that I can make a more educated choice, I'll take it :evil:

[Justin]

I have to go with the 1911 for my choice. It's a design that's nearly a century old and still going strong. Not only is it still manufactured, it's still in active service and customized to fit nearly every situation from SWAT operators to Bullseye pistol shooters.

As for you Glock detractors, the reason the pistol isn't on the list is probably because Glocks are made in Austria.

[YodaVader]

"Yes! I like the line, but thought the school term should be dropped to maintain the standards of the website and not give any enemies who could be lurking any ammo to use againt us."

Understand what you mean- yeah , I remembered that line from "Johnny Dangerously" after all these years.

[Zeke Menuar]

I cannot pick a specific brand of gun. I would pick the revolver for the quintessential American handgun. The revolver was designed and patented in the 1830's by Sam Colt and has been around in it's basic form since those times. There are single action and double action models, break-top and swing out cylinders. It really doesn't matter what the model number or brand name. Almost everyone on the planet knows what a revolver is and what country they were invented in.


ZM

[Johnny Guest]

- - - After giving due thought to its lengthy tenure as THE US Government service pistol, famed both at home and abroad.

I very nearly voted for the Colt SAA, due to the world wide popularity of the western movie. There ARE some European handguns which have a silhouette similar to the 1911, but until the rise of the Italian SAA clones, the SAA was a purely American design. (And of course I realize that the clones are nearly ALL sold in North America.;) ) In fact, the only reason I DIDN'T vote the SAA was the specification on the poll that it be in calber 45 Colt. The most popular caliber, to be sure, but there sure have been a bunch built in other chamberings.

Ian11, I believe you really split the vote by being too specific in your choices of calibers on the DA revolvers. I believe something like "Double Action Revolver with Four-Inch Barrel" and, "Double Action Snubnose Revolver" would have brought many of those votes together. ;)

It looks to me as if you were seeking something of the public perception of The Quintessential American Handgun, and not simply our own favorites. If I'm wrong, I apologize. It's your poll, and I think it is interesting.

Unlike my response in your Quintessential European Handgun poll, though, I DID vote for MY personal favorite, the 1911-type.

Best,
Johnny

[Nick96]

Man, .45 Autos and "cowboy guns". Too much movie watching going on here. As for "on American shores" handgun popularity, who can reasonably argue the .38 Spl. - and the most prolific platform of the 20th century, the S&W M-10 (Military & Police .38)?

[Spieler]

Had to go with the M1911 with the S&W Mod. 10 a close runner-up. Colt autos and Smith wheelguns...as American as it comes in my book! :)

[Ian11]

Johnny Guest,

I guess I could have combined all the DA/SA revolvers together because when people vote Colt 1911 they also thought to their Kimbers, SA, Les Baers, Ed Brown's too. Besides I wanted people to vote for their favorite S&W wheelgun. But I don't think it would have made much of a difference compared to the juggernaut that is the

1911 !!!! :what: :what: :what::uhoh: :uhoh: :uhoh:

[longeyes]

Colt, Argentine.

Because that's the one I have.