American Rifleman's Top 10 Handguns

[searcher451]

What's clear here once again is the beauty, and functionality, is always in the eye of the gun-holder. One man's perfect creation is another man's mechanical disaster, and arguing the point is often akin to getting into political discussions: The talk goes round and round easily enough, but little is decided when it's all said and done.

I would say, however, that my list, at least, wouldn't be complete without at least some passing mention of the original Whitney Wolverine and a Reid's "My Friend" knuckleduster. But that's just me.

 

[The_Shootist]

Anybody get their copy from the NRA - the Sept 09 edition. Has their picks for the Top 10 Handguns - as follows:

1) 1911
2) S&W Hand Ejector Revolvers c 1890's
3) Glock 17
4) S&W Model 1 revolver c 1857 (.22 short cal)
5) Volcanic volitional Repeater c 1850 (never heard of this one but ok)
6) Colt SAA
7) Walther PPK Series
8) Broomhandle Mauser
9) Browning Hi-Power
10) S&W .357 Mag 1935


Overall a pretty vanilla selection without too much to argue about, although I dunno about #'s 7 & 8 which seems to stretch their importance a bit.

 

[mongo4567]

They are all really the first of their kind. They each were huge leaps in gun development. The Volcanic was only important because it eventually led to the Winchester 94.

 

[ozarkhillbilly]

I have a question, why can not a revolver be referred to as a pistol since clearly the word was around before there where semi autos?

 

[JohnKSa]

... since clearly the word was around before there where semi autos?

Or even before there were revolvers, for that matter.

 

[tipoc]

Well I read the article and I'm still shakey on some of their choices. The criteria were self contained cartridge handguns only, those with the primer in the base of the cartridge. The other criteria were innovative and influential designs, widespread use and longevity.

I got of whiff of sucking up to at least one gun manufacturer and paying advertiser in the Rifleman in the article. And a whiff of discounting some European efforts which I also see regular in the Rifleman.

The Walker and Patterson Colts were excluded because the cut off was self contained cartridges. To included the Walker and Patterson you would have had to only count those with the Theur conversions which I think would have been a bit of a cheat. So the Colt SAA does belong, It is still manufactured and has certainly been influential.

The volcanic did not belong I don't think. Seems it was only included because it's failure brought together Smith and Wesson, Winchester, Henry and a number of other well known agents of firearms development in one place. But I don't know if the design itself was that influential.

Colt was the first to produce and widely distribute the swing out cylinder revolver or Hand Ejector. It was Colt that forced S&W to produce theirs and slowly drop the top breaks. Both Colt and Webly in England I believe beat S&W to the punch on that. But in the list S&W gets the nod.

Whoever, likely Colt, developed and sold the first mass produced .22 semi-auto should have made the list. Target shooters, plinkers and hunters have a lot to thank them for.

As much as I like the BHP the most influential handgun from that period was the P38.

tipoc

 

[9mm+]

I was surprised to see that the S&W Model 10 didn't make the list. As one of the most successful handguns of all time, it's current production is very similar to the original design from 1899.

 

[kanook]

I was surprised to see that the S&W Model 10 didn't make the list. As one of the most successful handguns of all time, it's current production is very similar to the original design from 1899.

it made #2 in a round about way.

 

[Bula]

pis·tol
n. A firearm designed to be held and fired with one hand.

 

[KenW.]

1. 5" 1911 (in .45 ACP ONLY)
2. Ruger single action revolvers
3. Ruger double action revolvers
4. Colt new service and new police
5. Hi-Power (esp P-35)
6. Colt Python
7. HK P-7
8. Walther PPK
9. Commander lenth 1911
10. Officer length 1911

 

[KyJim]

S&W 59 - the first true "Wondernine" and very influential.

Funny, I thought that was the Hi-Power.

The most obvious are the 1911, SW Hand Ejector, Glock, and Colt SAA are obvious choices. I think you also have to include the Colt Patterson Revolving Pistol because it's the first. Also, the Ruger Mark line of .22s and the Hi-Power. That leaves three spots but I'm not sure which ones should go there.

 

[Oro]

Funny, I thought that was the Hi-Power.

Nope, it was SA only - that's what limits it in that particular category. "Wondernines" are considered high-cap DA/SA autos. The P35 didn't have DA variants until the 1980s. The P35 was indeed the first high-cap. 9mm, but the phrase was coined to describe high-cap. 9mm's with DA/SA function (usually via a decocker, though later striker systems were included).

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

No!!!!!

The Colt All-American 2000 takes up all 10 top slots, without a doubt!

Yep, revolvers ARE also pistols. Always have been:

See PISTOL Pete:

http://www.math.okstate.edu/~wescoatt/2123/pistolpete.jpg

 

[alemonkey]

I still think it was silly to exclude the Colt Patterson, even if it wasn't a cartridge design. As the first successful repeating handgun I would say that was an earth shaking design.

 

[30mag]

I think SAA should be higher on the list...
I'm not sure all of the S&Ws should be on there... redundant.
Not sure how the Mauser wound up on that list... anyone want to enlighten me?

 

[tipoc]

Not sure how the Mauser wound up on that list... anyone want to enlighten me?

It made it because it was the first widely distributed and successful semi- automatic combat handgun. Other and better designs soon followed but it was the first and was produced for over three decades.

tipoc

 

[Oro]

I think SAA should be higher on the list...

Actually, I was wondering why it was on the list based on their stressed criteria of innovation and influence. It's romantic and historic, but I don't know what was cutting edge about it.

I finally got the mail collected and read their criteria and judging methods, as well as their reports on each model. I think the ones that people keep questioning do raise problems - the Volcanic and Mauser stand out as poor choices, and the absence of the P-38 is glaring given their stated criteria. The Registered Magnum's inclusion is blindingly selfish since it's there because of it's cartridge, not the gun itself - which was already named #2 with all other Hand Ejectors.

The other REALLY annoying thing is not that they named Browning's all-American Colt 1911 as number 1, but rather that they decided to illustrate it on the cover with a cheaper Brazilian-made copy rather than an actual 1911 model.

I know that some of the people involved in this - Supica, Clapp, Schreier, etc. are extremely intelligent, thoughtful gun-folk. This article and particularly the cover are the perfect example of why committees and "group think" can often end in horrible results. Somebody was letting some serious partisanship show - or perhaps it was just cash speaking instead of journalistic integrity. I'm sure others must have noticed this incongruity.

 

[JHK94]

Quote:
Funny, I thought that was the Hi-Power.
Nope, it was SA only - that's what limits it in that particular category. "Wondernines" are considered high-cap DA/SA autos. The P35 didn't have DA variants until the 1980s. The P35 was indeed the first high-cap. 9mm, but the phrase was coined to describe high-cap. 9mm's with DA/SA function (usually via a decocker, though later striker systems were included).

Glock 17's are certainly non DA/SA...are they not "wondernines"? What about Springfield XDs?

 

[Oro]

Glock 17's are certainly non DA/SA...are they not "wondernines"?

Yeah, they are. Actually, here's what I know about the phrase "Wondernine" - or at least I think is true...

The phrase didn't come about until the 80s - and it was used to describe 9mm duty/full sized guns that were both high-capacity and could be carried decocked - striker fired or otherwise. They could be fired without having to manipulate a manual safety.

 

[Kingofthehill]

That list is way off.

JOe

 

[tipoc]

The phrase didn't come about until the 80s - and it was used to describe 9mm duty/full sized guns that were both high-capacity and could be carried decocked - striker fired or otherwise. They could be fired without having to manipulate a manual safety.

True in part. The phrase "wondernines" did come about in the early 80s. Not true that it had anything to do with the action type (sa, da/sa, dao, etc.). The phrase came about in response to the rapid proliferation of high cap 9mms during the transition in law enforcement from wheelguns to semis. And the dominance of these guns in law enforcement circles and subsequently what folks saw in private hands and competitive circles. The type action they had had nothing to do directly with the dominance. It was the round count that was critical. 14,15, 17 rounds in a mag was what mattered and made these guns "more useful" than 8 rounds of .45. The craze gave birth to the .40 S&W and to the high cap .45s of Para-Ord.

The BHP is sometimes referred to as the first of the wondernines in acknowledgement of the round count but when the BHP was introduced, and up till the 80s or so, round count was only considered important in military weapons and not for law enforcement or civilian competition. Seems odd today but it was true then especially in the U.S.

tipoc

 

[tigeroldlone]

I would have though that BHP would have been a bit higher up on the list. I allsay wanted a broomhandle only one of the red 9. As for the glock it is up there a little biter higher then it should be but that just me to eachthere own.

 

[Oro]

Not true that it had anything to do with the action type (sa, da/sa, dao, etc.).

Er, that's not true, either. It's a subject that people define differently - as there's no real "dictionary" on the subject. Some can consider the action part of it; others don't. I do recall that as being part of the subject during the 80s when the gun rags lauded them for their "safety" and thus more suitable for duty issue. I can respect that you may not see it as vital to the definition, but since we don't actually know who invented the term we really can't say what he/she meant specifically.

Here's a good site discussing "Wondernines" :

http://www.notpurfect.com/main/wonder.html

 

[ElToro]

wasnt the SAA the first solid frame revolver ? prior to that you had a top break or no top strap at all.

my American Rifleman hasnt shown up yet so havnt read the article. is it just top 10 or top 10 influential or top 10 in sales ?

my top 10

1) 1911
2) S&W hand ejectors ( all frame sizes)
3) colt python/diamondback
4) Colt woodsman
5) GLock and variants
6) SAA
7) Sig 220 series
8) PPK and variant
9) Ruger blackhawk and variants
10) Browning HP