[Ian11]

Which handgun by the folks from across the pond do you consider the quintessential European Handgun? The one that first comes to your mind and embodies their philosophy.

*BHP is a J.M. Browning design but I think it belongs here than the other poll I posted.


*SIG P226 9mm for me. Because its the best European pistol I've ever owned or shot.

[Croyance]

No Mauser Broomhandles or Webley's?

[Ian11]

Yes, it is heavily geared towards modern handguns becuase these are the ones that I thought had the best chances of getting popular votes. Same goes for the other poll I put up. But if I could go back and add them to make the list more complete, I would. But these polls aren't set up that way. Unless one of the mods would like to step in.;)

[Hkmp5sd]

While not really the quintessential handgun, I think the Luger is the most widely recognized European handgun. People with no handgun knowledge can generally identify it due to its shape. While the broomhandle is also easy to identify, it's not that fimiliar to the younger crowd.

[amprecon]

I agreed with the Luger. It is most certainly a recognized European handgun and highly prized.

[MarineTech]

First reaction was to say the Luger, then I realized that nobody is making them anymore. The Hi-Power has pretty much passed the test of time in Europe.

[444]

The Browing High Power has definitely been used by more military organizations in more countries for far longer than anything else listed. I don't know what Europeons think about it. In this country I would guess that very few non-gun people would recognize the P35 or have any idea what it is other than a handgun. They would probably recoginze a Luger and probably be able to specifically name it. The James Bond movies probably also made the PPK highly visible. I doubt that many non-gun people could call it by name but they might say that it was the gun James Bond used.

[cool45auto]

Beretta. The gun is world famous. Military use, movies, video games and just about every other form of media you can think of.

(And, yes, I'm biased!:D )

[Majic]

Most Europeans couldn't/didn't use military calibers and large belt pistols were seldom seen. The Walthers were designed just for this purpose. The PPs for belt carry and the PPKs for concealment.

[seeker_two]

PPK...

Bond had one, and most Euros go for the smaller calibers...

[Hand_Rifle_Guy]

BHP.

More Euro militaries used 'em than anything else, methinks, until supplanted by more modern designs just lately.

[10-Ring]

When I think Euro handgun, my first thoughts aren't surprisingly HK! 1st thoughts go to Walther & the PPK line up.

[Tamara]

The GP-35 may be the most widely-used service auto in history. We may never see a pistol used by (and copied by) so many countries.

[David4516]

I wanted to vote for the Makarov, as I am a big fan of this pistol. But I don't think of it as "European", I think of it as Russian, and I think of Russia as an Asian country...

So I voted for the Luger. I think that the Luger in .30 Luger is more of a "classic" European handgun than the 9mm Luger, but that is a minor detail...

[denfoote]

I assume you meant the Walther P38!!
This design has spawned the current US military handgun: Beretta 92FS!!
I almost chose the Luger, but you said gun, not cartridge.

[Rob96]

Walther PP/PPK/PPKS. The Browning GP-35, may see use by military, but the Walther is probably seen, and used more by police and citizens alike.

[Ala Dan]

SIG-Sauer's P226/P225/ and P228

*FootNote- I've been in the SIG camp for a
long time; and I ain't ready to leave just yet!

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

[Island Beretta]

The Hi-Power by far!! Nothing comes close.. In the also rans the Sigs, Luger and CZs saw some popularity; Walther was more seen as a vintage weapon.

[Sean Smith]

I'm going to go out on a wierd limb and say the SIG P210, maybe because it is the only truly European gun that interests me. If the BHP wasn't almost totally designed by its American namesake, it would probably rank higher in my mind as a "European" gun... the 1911 has conquered alot of European territory, too. :D

[CTgunteacher]

I see the 1911 is leading the poll on the quintessential American handgun. This is appropriate, since the 1911 was characterized by Jeff Cooper as "coarse, brutal, and deadly." This is how most Europeans view America, if you can believe the opinion polls.

For similar reasons, I chose the little Walther PP series as the quintessential European handgun. It's refined, dainty, and ineffectual -- just like most of Europe. :D

Mike

[Boats]

For similar reasons, I chose the little Walther PP series as the quintessential European handgun. It's refined, dainty, and ineffectual -- just like most of Europe.



Three Cheers! I was going to say that the quintessential European handgun was any most readily carried for capping ethnic minorities or political rivals in the back of the head during summary executions at a distance of less than a meter. They mastered that "pistolero skill" pretty well in a lot of continental Europe and exported it to much of Asia.

[firestar]

I voted Walther PPK but it was a toss up between that and the Luger.

[Mike Irwin]

Gotta be the Luger...

[Skunkabilly]

Sig 210. When I think of a european 'luxury' gun....

[Ian11]

Yep, SIG P210. Can't believe I left that out of the poll.

My bad.

[BHPshooter]

I see the 1911 is leading the poll on the quintessential American handgun. This is appropriate, since the 1911 was characterized by Jeff Cooper as "coarse, brutal, and deadly." This is how most Europeans view America, if you can believe the opinion polls.

For similar reasons, I chose the little Walther PP series as the quintessential European handgun. It's refined, dainty, and ineffectual -- just like most of Europe.


:evil: LOL!

I just had to pick the BHP/P-35. To me, it really is an American handgun, which I guess is why it trumps all the others. It may not be the quintessential european handgun, but what did Europe know about guns (until lately, of course)? We obviously had to show them. The BHP gets my vote.

And yes, I am biased. :D

Wes

[Peter M. Eick]

No 210 and no Broomhandles??????????

What kind of poll is this?




I guess I will have to go with the luger also.

[Boats]

After much consideration, I had to go with a gun not in the poll, the Mateba .357 Magnum.

It is the quintessential European handgun. Unlike the the paradigmatic Luger or the American-Walloon BHP, the Mateba is truely emblematic of European firearms culture.

It is yet another brilliant answer to a question nobody asked.
http://elek.osemka.p.lodz.pl/~robertog/graphics/mateba_model_6.jpg

[enfwago]

Walther PP/PPK/PPKS

[Johnny Guest]

- - - is the topic. I have to concentrate on this.

I voted the Luger, mostly for image reasons. It was THE movie gun favored for German officers and all kindsa European gangsters and spies for many years. A readily-identifiable pistol in propaganda posters and comic books, and - - - all that kinda stuff.

A truer, more objective, representation would probably be some "pocket pistol," such as the Walther PP -- PPK series, in 7.65 mm, but they don't have the recognizability (??) factor of the Luger. For the past decade or so, the Makarov would really, truly, win the "widespread use" award.

In my mind, though, "typically European" brings to mind something with a very square shape, with lotsa levers, buttons, hard edges, bells and whistles, given the current popularity of the HKs, SiGs, big Walthers, and Berettas.

OTOH, my personal favorite European handgun remains the P35 Browning High Power. :D

Interesting poll, Ian11

Best,
Johnny

[bad_dad_brad]

Another vote for the SIG 210. Someday . . .

[Ian11]

Too bad my beloved SIG P226/P228's aren't rating any higher but I'm glad the Browning HP's is doing so well since I've been obsessing about the BHP lately. I'd love to get one again but it just isn't possible right now. And no there's no way I would give up one of my SIG's for a BHP. I sacrificed and worked too hard to get them. I'll just have to keep visiting FN HIPower.com and live vicariously through them for now.:o

[Nick96]

All right!!!! Walther PP series with High Power second (distant second I'd suspect). Luger - maybe for WWI military use - but after that, pretty much a worthless gun (replaced with P-38's and Browning Hi-Power variants by the time the real shooting broke out in the late 1930's). Where's the Astra 600 - very popular in those days with the "bad guys" in Europe (especially with the Luftwaffe)?

[Spieler]

I had to go with the Walther P-38/P-1. First general issue, large caliber, double-action service auto. Perhaps not as widely utilized outside it's country of origin as some of the other guns listed, but it was certainly a trend setter whose influence is still seen in modern designs. Besides, the West Berlin Polizei carried Manhurin made P-1s as standard issue when I was growing up there! So there! :D

[The Silver Bullet 1719]

The Luger, I would have said Glock, but they have been Americanized.

[Ian11]

Not one person noticed I made a mistake and typed Walther P-35 when the proper designation is the P-38. :o

What?! You guys are gonna let things like that slide from now on? :what: :neener:

[stevelyn]

The BHP has longevity and widespread use across Europe and is still in service with some militaries.
I would give Beretta second place for name recognition and history. 400 years and counting.

[seeker_two]

Not one person noticed I made a mistake and typed Walther P-35 when the proper designation is the P-38.

It's alright. I didn't vote for it...:D

[BigG]

Walther .32 because they are weak and ineffective but stylish. They were also made by the French for quite a while, by Manurhin. :uhoh: