Handgun of the decade

[10X]

What handgun was the most innovative or had the most influence in the various post WWII decades?

1940's - Had to be the 1911A1 It helped win the war and there were so many of them.

1950's - The Colt Python. Arguably the best revolver ever for the 50 years or so of its production. Colt quality at its best.

1960's - The Gold Cup National Match. Although introduced in the 1950s it
gave us factory produced high grade target guns in large numbers in the 1960s. Again, Colt quality at its best.

1970's - The S&W 59. The first "Wondernine" High capacity double action.
This began the trend of light weight high capacity 9mms.
Honorable mention goes to the S&W 29 after the Dirty Harry movies.

1980's - Had to think about this for a while. Nothing stood out in my memory other that the Beretta 92. The Beretta 92 because it was adopted by the military as the new service pistol replacing the 1911A1.
They high capacity 9mm trend continued.

The 1990's - The Glock introduced us to polymer guns, light, high capacity, reliable and comparatively cheap. It became prominent even with the assault weapon ban beginning in 1994 that limited mag capacity. Love 'em or hate 'em they definitely changed the market.

2000 - I don't have an answer for this decade. Again, the first half of the decade was negatively influenced by the AWB. We saw a lot of resurgance in the 1911 types produced by many manufacturers from low end to very high end. More polymer pistols. More European guns than ever before such as SIG and H&K. I really don't know what gun defines the first decade of the 21st century. Any opinion on this?

 

[GTFord1]

I'd swear Glocks were sold first in the 1980's in the U.S.

 

[ahpd1992]

While Glock did first appear in the 80's they didnt catch on and gain mainstream acceptance until the 90's when a goodly number of law enforcement agencies (like mine) started allowing them as carry weapons. They soon proved their mettle as a duty weapon and are considered the norm. So I would agree that the Glock is the gun of the 90's.

As for the 00's I am seeing a lot of dept's go the Springfield XD, for many of the same reasons Glock's were popular. Many of my coworkers carry them, Il let them be test mules, my G35 357sig convert will stay in my holster, Glock has proved its reliability to me.

You could also make an argument for the 1911, which has made a significant comeback in the LEO market, its main problem being price (cops are cheap and many of them dont like guns). It like a full circle as the powers that be "rediscover" what most shooters have known for 100 years now, John M Browning knows how to design a firearm.

 

[gripper]

Hi Point???(runs for flame retardant suit)

 

[WoofersInc]

I don't know. I think for the years 2000 and on I would say it's back to the 1911 considering the number of manufacturers that are now making them and the volume being sold.

 

[JohnnyOrygun]

Maybe Two guns of the Decade, Revolver and Pistol

While I don't disagree with 10X's list, I think the list would be better served if there were two guns of the decade, Revolver and Pistol. Although having "said" that, I realize that until the 70's or maybe even 80's, revolvers were the dominate handgun. But then in the 80's (at least for me, my teen years) you start seeing more pistols, i.e. the Bren 10 and then in the 90's (I believe) you start seeing CZ's, of course Glocks, and other "wonder 9's. Also you start seeing the 7 and 8 shot revolvers, so there has been innovation all along in both styles of handguns, revolvers and pistols.

Anyhow that is just my .02

Great thread though.

 

[Milkmaster]

I will chime in here...

Would the little pocket .380 pistols be considered as the pistol of the 2000 decade? Certainly not for accuracy, but for shear numbers of them being developed and leaving the shelves for someones' CCW firearm. The gun suppliers around here can't seem to keep them on the shelf especially since the election. I am not necessarily a big fan, but they have their purpose I guess.

 

[f4t9r]

2000 and on ?? How about the Springfield XD series and now the XDM
I did not search for when it started.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

The Sigma ve and the M&P by S&W.

 

[Boats]

The 40s is the decade of the BHP, used on both sides of WW2 in significant numbers. For revos the Colt Dick Special.

The 50s was the golden age of the 1911 between the new Commander, war bring backs, alloy frame, continued service in Korea, etc. For revos the Chief's Special, S&W's belated response to Colt.

The 60s was the S&W 39, as this is the decade in the USA that the DA wundernine first gained any acceptance in the USA. This is also the decade of the Colt Python.

The 70s is the decade of the H&K PSP, which evolved into the P7M8, perhaps the most iconoclastic pistol ever put on the market. Dirty Harry makes the Model 29 a legend.

The 80s belongs to the Beretta 92FS. Between replacing the 1911A1, Lethal Weapon, Die Hard, and other cinematic pieces, the big Italian became a star. The Ruger GP-100 is the revolver of the 80s, the end of the ejector rod as a lock up.

The 90s is the decade the Glock took law enforcement by storm even into Mayberry. The rise of single action shooting makes the Ruger Vaquero the revolver of the 90s.

This decade isn't over yet, but I think when it is over it might just belong to the S&W M&P, the first successful "Glock killer," with game changing ergonomic touches that also forced Springfield into marketing the XDm. For revolvers it's probably the Scandium models by S&W.

 

[tekarra]

The 1970s - cZ 75!

 

[czhen]

CZ 75
Correct price
Accurate
Ergonomic
Capacity
Reliable
Doesn't sound talking about BHP, isn't it?

 

[71Commander]

The 70s is the decade of the H&K PSP, which evolved into the P7M8, perhaps the most iconoclastic pistol ever put on the market.

If you bought one, that means they sold..............................one.

 

[mrt949]

I would say any firearm you can conceal carry with out much of a problem .times have changed .in the world of gun mfg.small is better .from 22.32.380.9mm.to what ever your pleasure .carry on

 

[bluetopper]

I feel the 00's is the decade of the custom 1911 with all the high end manufacturors out there that can't seem to make enough of them.

If you mean sheer numbers sold something else would have to be named.

 

[MMCSRET]

Wondernines: More varieties than tooth paste and feminine hygiene products combined!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Duke of Doubt]

The HK .45 gets my vote for "handgun of the oughts", even though I don't have one. State cops here carry them, replacing their 92FS back in '97. The XD is a sort of "McGun" in my view; dependable, reliable, not a bad design. But the one I've shot, which belongs to a friend, was not at all accurate in his hands or mine, and it just rankles that the same gun was available under a different name (HS95, HS2000) for half the price before SA bought the rights to it.

 

[Boats]

Speaking of rankling, when it comes right down to it, you should be able to get a polymer H&K handgun, which have always been more hat than cattle, for about half the current price too. they simply aren't that impressive.

 

[Walkalong]

1911

From 1911 and still counting.

 

[CoRoMo]

P3AT??

 

[fishingjld]

i would say the 1911 for the decade of 2000s. i say this for it's undying popularity and HUGE aftermarket following.

 

[sgt127]

Hey, for fun, can I go backwards on your list? 1930's the auto award would go to Walther for the PP series and for revolvers, the Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum.

 

[HelpUsRonPaul]

i agree with Milkmaster and CoRoMo. i think kel-tec takes it for making pocket pistols a good idea again. the demand was always there and was only being filled with crappy saturday night specials.
almost everyone has one of their guns and people that normally didn't carry, carry now since kel-tec started making good pocket pistols.

ok, there were good pocket pistols before kel-tec, but they were often very expensive or too heavy to comfortably carry. the 3at's really made pocket carry easy for everyone and the sales numbers prove it.

 

[sm]

I concur with Boat's list in post 11.

I do feel since about 2005, The Colt Detective Special, and Smith & Wesson J frames, have made a comeback and again have influences.

Good used ones were and are still sought after.
Currently the 642 has been enjoying quite a following.

I find it interesting, even though new offerings come to be, a cycle exists where older and proven are discovered again.

 

[10X]

The posts have been very interesting to me. There is not a strong consensus. The 1911 has been noted more that others and I think in this country it will be for the foreseeable future. As SM said the traditional and proven designs keep reemerging in popularity. I, for one, haven't found "the gun" of the 2000s.