Great Handguns Fallen out of Favor

[Fiv3r]

I don't see many people packing around a metal pistol that isn't some sort of flavor of 1911 much these days.

Yes, there are a number of SIGs out there and maybe a Beretta if someone likes a really full size gun, but polymer seems to rule the day. Even revolvers that are made of steel are generally snubbies.

I'm just as guilty of it. I would much rather have 25oz pistol on my belt that I forget about than a big bruiser of a 40oz gun weighing me down. I just don't remember the last time I saw someone EDC a BHP or an old Smith auto or a big ol' chunky Ruger P89, etc.

Lots of great shooting guns out there that only lose out getting carried due to tipping the scales a tad much.

 

[MCgunner]

I'm just as guilty of it. I would much rather have 25oz pistol on my belt that I forget about than a big bruiser of a 40oz gun weighing me down. I just don't remember the last time I saw someone EDC a BHP or an old Smith auto or a big ol' chunky Ruger P89, etc.

Lots of great shooting guns out there that only lose out getting carried due to tipping the scales a tad much.

Totally agree. I carry a polymer .357 magnum 20 ounce revolver a LOT and my 17 ounce .38 Stainless ultralight rides in my pocket, sometimes replace with a 9mm Kel Tec. But, I still like the steel guns and I don't like striker guns like Ruger seems to be in love with now....but I can't blame 'em, it's what sells.

All that said, I love shooting that P90 and do carry it on occasion when I feel I need a bit more firepower, it or my P85. They're not THAT heavy and they ARE concealable, but they're sure not pocket guns.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I don't see many people packing around a metal pistol that isn't some sort of flavor of 1911 much these days.

The Browning tilt-barrel design is everywhere.

There have been automatics that don't use it, but they haven't been roaring successes.

 

[45ShooterRFB]

4. Colt Series 70 Gold-cup.
3. Remington Model 51.
5. Remington XP-100.
1. High Standard HD Military, and all other HS .22s!
2. Schwartslose Standart Model 1898!!!
6. S&W model 25-5.

 

[NorthGeorgiaHunter]

All gen 3 Smith pistols. I didn't realize it at the time but these were some of the best pistols ever made.

 

[Billy Shears]

Most revolvers.

How true! Seems like capacity is all most want to consider these days.

Why not? If you can have capacity at no extra cost, why wouldn't you want it? The reason the modern striker-fired pistol has become so dominant is that shooters finally have the best of both worlds: the simplicity of operation of a revolver, and the capacity of an auto. Like the revolver, there are no thumb safeties you have to train yourself to use (on most MSFPs anyway), so you just draw and shoot, same as the revolver. You could get that years ago in DAO autos, but most of them had long, heavy trigger pulls which, owing to their trigger geometry, were generally not nearly as good a DA revolver trigger. The MSFP finally gives you the revolver's simplicity of operation with an actually very good trigger, and so it's no wonder that it's become so popular. And you've got the autos greater capacity and faster reloading. The best MSFPs have also been brought to a level of reliability that makes the old complaint that "autos jam and revolvers don't" largely obsolete as well. For self defense use, I can't think of a single decisive advantage the revolver still has. For sporting use, it still has the ability to chamber more powerful cartridges, or to fire cartridges varying from light target loads to full power magnum rounds in the same gun.

That said, I love the older guns for their superior aesthetics and craftsmanship. We live in an age where skilled labor is expensive, so we'll likely never see the kind of fit and finish on guns that we used to see, which is a real pity. Modern rust resistant finishes, plastic holsters, nylon belts, etc. are all functional and practical, but they just don't look nearly as good.

 

[Relicmoto]

I'm not certain how popular they were when new, but the Jericho 941 did enjoy a little bit of notoriety from being featured in a cartoon in the late 90s/early 00's that has since died down. I hear they have a new version coming out but it has a rail which ruins the line of it. In addition, i haven't heard of or seen any actually for sale in a lgs or on a website yet. Those older ones though...Smooth contours and easy to look at.

 

[The Alaskan]

Colt Police Positive (32-20). I carry it most times I'm in the woods or at the cabin, camping, canoeing, etc. For "concealed carry" (IF I were to carry for defense-I don't), Colt Detective Special.

I really dislike "modern" firearms, regardless of the advantages. I just believe guns should be made of metal and wood.

PS: I'm glad someone mentioned the generational connection. "Kids these days" grew up with video games and first person shooter games. They thing everything is a toy. I'm seeing the oldest of their ilk, now young men and first time fathers, who still think life revolves around a video game. Sad.

 

[Jellicle]

My old S&W Model 49. I bought 'er new around 30 years ago at a Gun Shop in Yucca Valley, CA. I understand things aren't quite that simple there anymore. I went in looking for a Chief's Special, and they didn't have any. BUT, they had this little Quasimodo looking thing he called a Bodyguard.

The two of us have grown old and traveled far together.

 

[jad0110]

Quote:
Quote:
Most revolvers.
How true! Seems like capacity is all most want to consider these days.
Why not? If you can have capacity at no extra cost, why wouldn't you want it? The reason the modern striker-fired pistol has become so dominant is that shooters finally have the best of both worlds: the simplicity of operation of a revolver, and the capacity of an auto. Like the revolver, there are no thumb safeties you have to train yourself to use (on most MSFPs anyway), so you just draw and shoot, same as the revolver. You could get that years ago in DAO autos, but most of them had long, heavy trigger pulls which, owing to their trigger geometry, were generally not nearly as good a DA revolver trigger. The MSFP finally gives you the revolver's simplicity of operation with an actually very good trigger, and so it's no wonder that it's become so popular. And you've got the autos greater capacity and faster reloading. The best MSFPs have also been brought to a level of reliability that makes the old complaint that "autos jam and revolvers don't" largely obsolete as well. For self defense use, I can't think of a single decisive advantage the revolver still has. For sporting use, it still has the ability to chamber more powerful cartridges, or to fire cartridges varying from light target loads to full power magnum rounds in the same gun.

That said, I love the older guns for their superior aesthetics and craftsmanship. We live in an age where skilled labor is expensive, so we'll likely never see the kind of fit and finish on guns that we used to see, which is a real pity. Modern rust resistant finishes, plastic holsters, nylon belts, etc. are all functional and practical, but they just don't look nearly as good.

"If you can have capacity at no extra cost" is the key phrase. I use it as a tie breaker, which is why my bedside gun is a 686 Plus instead of a standard 686. I rely on both platforms for protection, but still prefer the revolver for a few very valid reasons / advantages for me. Also, I've never experienced a polymer frame auto trigger that I would call very good. Adequate perhaps, but not very good ... but YMMV.


Back to the OP, as far as "falling out of favor", falling out of favor for what? For example, the S&W K Frame has fallen out of favor for LEO use and probably to an extend for personal defense, but the prices the things fetch indicate they are favored and valued for other reasons.

As far as personal defense and concealed carry in particular, I'd say guns that weight more over 2 lbs loaded have fallen out of favor. Don't get me wrong, such guns do have a place. My S&W 642 is a fantastic pocket gun. But there seems to be a common myth these days that it is impossible to carry and conceal a gun that exceeds 25 oz or so in weight.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

S&W 4006

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Another great gun that's fallen out of favor this was my first.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

A great howitzer supplanted by a bleedin' missile system.

 

[tipoc]

Great Handguns Fallen out of Favor

I also gotta ask Fallen out of Favor with who?

True the BHP left service with the UK and was replaced by the Glock. But the transition is still ongoing and the reason for the replacement had to do with cost of the gun and it's upkeep. The G 17 is a much easier weapon to maintain than the BHP. The transition began 2 years ago. That fewer armies use the BHP than a decade ago means nothing about it's usefulness as a self defense piece.

The op also mentioned the M9 as a gun fallen out of favor. Well that hasn't completely happened yet. It is still more widely seen in military service internationally and in the U.S. than any other single offering, including Glocks.

Revolvers? They fell out of favor with the military and law enforcement decades back. But they still sell and hundreds of thousands still shoot them particularly in the U.S.

So I don't know...I'm missing something on the criteria.

tipoc

 

[The Alaskan]

Not to speak for the OP, in MY view, "fallen out of favor" means in the marketplace, or with the general public.
For example, I can't recall the last time I saw a revolver at a gun range. It's all these plastic POS guns you load up on Sunday and shoot all week. Likewise, when I go to a gun store (rarely these days) I see 2-3 revolvers, only one of which is made of steel, and 10-20 plastic autoloaders. So, given that criteria, I would argue that revolvers in general, and guns made from metal specifically, although superb, finely crafted, high quality firearms, have definitively "fallen out of favor."

PS: someone should start a similar thread over in Rifle Country ("Great Rifles Fallen out of Favor") and one could apply the exact same criteria with the exact same result.

Edit: I need to make a correction. In my area (Alaska) revolvers in heavy calibers (44 Mag and up) are still in favor, due in large part to the perceived need for a slef defense firearm against bears. But I don't know of anyone up here, or see anyone, who shoots or carries a 357 revolver.

 

[Crayfish]

My EDC for the last 15 years is a 1994 SS 38 special snubby. My open carry woods gun is a 5" SS 357 and the only auto I own is my old duty weapon from the Sheriff's Dept., a S&W 4506-1. Try and find a used j frame for a used price and tell me what is out of favor again. I just think a lot of guys have torn up their man cards and opt for plastic guns that won't pull on their panties or chip their nails. Excuse me..."polymer".
I'll tell you whats out of favor and that's shooting skills which have been supplemented with capacity and "tacticool" marketing BS. If you can't think of a single advantage that a revolver has over an auto (or visa versa) than you don't know much about firearms. I like em both for very different reasons. It's really not a bad idea to carry an auto as a good backup to a wheel gun.

 

[skoro]

S&W k-frames

S&W 3rd gen pistols

I have some examples of each and they're really good pieces. I like my 3913 better than my M&P9c.

 

[Spec ops Grunt]

Browning Hi Power

Snub nosed revolvers in general.


Revolvers.


I think people give the Makarov crap as a combat gun when really it was designed to be an Officer's sidearm and I think the fact they are still kicking around says a lot about the reliability of the design. (Though I understand the derision its cartridge has.)

 

[Spec ops Grunt]

Colt Police Positive (32-20). I carry it most times I'm in the woods or at the cabin, camping, canoeing, etc. For "concealed carry" (IF I were to carry for defense-I don't), Colt Detective Special.

I really dislike "modern" firearms, regardless of the advantages. I just believe guns should be made of metal and wood.

PS: I'm glad someone mentioned the generational connection. "Kids these days" grew up with video games and first person shooter games. They thing everything is a toy. I'm seeing the oldest of their ilk, now young men and first time fathers, who still think life revolves around a video game. Sad.

Sorry for double posting but I just thought this was interesting. Older generations deriding how video games are a part of modern culture always seem to be the same ones that wax nostalgic over shows like the Rifleman and others.


I feel like there is a bit of inherent hypocrisy there.

 

[tipoc]

Snub nosed revolvers in general.

The strongest selling segment of the revolver market is snubbies!

Snubbies out of favor?!? With who? Guys who ride skateboards to work and wear hip porkpie hats?

tipoc

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

I really dislike "modern" firearms, regardless of the advantages. I just believe guns should be made of metal and wood.

PS: I'm glad someone mentioned the generational connection. "Kids these days" grew up with video games and first person shooter games. They thing everything is a toy. I'm seeing the oldest of their ilk, now young men and first time fathers, who still think life revolves around a video game. Sad.

Hi there.
I am of that 'Ilk' at 26 years old. My older brother is a first time father.

Now, I know that you are an older gentleman and by default I have much respect for you 'old timers' because you usually have lots of experience and have much knowledge. Usually there is lots to learn from you all and Usually I get along great with 'old timers'.

You however, seem to be the exception to the rule.

You sound like someone who doesn't know what they are talking about.

I find it incredibly disappointing that someone of the gun community can paint us all with such a brush.
Even I can remember when we were on the same team.

For some reason you seem to think that we are incapable of responsibility because of our generation? Yeah, no.

I am a firearms instructor and a sponsored competitive shooter. My brothers are all capable shooters and not ONE of us views guns 'as toys.'

I don't own a plastic gun. accept for 2 AR's all my guns are metal and wood.
I played some shooter games as a kid. My life does not revolve around games.

I work hard, am financially responsible. My wife and friends are much the same.

The people you have a problem with played video games as children. So did some of the most successful people I know. And they don't treat guns as toys either.

Correlation does not equal causation.

It is sad that you seem bent on making enemies of our generations when we have much to learn from each other.

I am done now.

 

[yugorpk]

Well, I'm gonna say the Star Firestar. I fell in love with them and it was going to be my first handgun purchase when I turned 21. Went in to look at it and the guy behind the counter wanted to know if I wanted to see the Glock 23 as well. I wanted nothing to do with those plastic POS pistols but I figured, why not? Ended up buying 2 Glock 23's!

Anyway, a used Firestar just came in at the LGS. I have been looking long and hard at it but unfortunately, parts availabilty seems to be non existant. Well built solid guns from what I can tell.

Ive got a .45 firestar. Bought it new in '92 or '93. Nice gun but don't drop it on your foot. Weighs more than a full size Glock 21. A LOT more.

The P-38 I bought in the Army when stationed in Germany for $110 has had more 9mm through it than any other gun i own. Never has skipped a beat.

 

[Lj1941]

S & W Model 19 Combat Magnum / 4 inch barrel.

 

[The Alaskan]

Sorry for double posting but I just thought this was interesting. Older generations deriding how video games are a part of modern culture always seem to be the same ones that wax nostalgic over shows like the Rifleman and others.


I feel like there is a bit of inherent hypocrisy there.

How so?

 

[The Alaskan]

rant deleted. It's getting too far off the topic.