Cosmoline
Member
I've been thinking about this recently, and it seems to me that the golden age of American handguns was between the end of WWII and about 1982. I would include these as examples of Golden Age handguns:
--S&W two-digit revolvers, including K frame magnums, most N and NT frame models, the J frames, and others were either introduced during this period or reached their peak. Triggers tend to be excellent during this period, as does overall quality.
--Ruger flattop single actions and three screw models. Ruger "six" line of double actions. These have the best triggers and balance of any Rugers, and are a notch less bulky than the modern lines.
--Colt Mk.III firearms and the Python & others in the snake line. These represented the perfection of earlier Colt short guns, with improved lockworks and stronger frames.
--The civilian production of the 1911 and BHP, as opposed to the military production that dominated in the eariler period. From what I've read it was only after WWII that civilian shooters started getting interested in these platforms in large numbers. Prior to that, most US civilian interest in semis was restricted to smaller platforms such as the 1903 or 1908.
After this period, the importers secured ever larger portions of the US handgun market. More than that, their designs set the standard. While classic American designs continue to be popular, quality and attention to detail is not what it was. For example, while S&W continues to make lots of revolvers, they have a decidedly "fun gun" feel to them. Ruger makes serious wheelguns, but since the epic courtroom battles of the 70's the company has packed more and more steel on its frames. Other safety and cost-cutting measures have decreased the quality of trigger pull and balance. Colt has all but vanished, of course.
Before this period, in contrast, there were many great designs but the materials weren't the best. Engineering still relied on extensive hand-fitting and stoning of parts. The advent of improved steel and machining techniques, along with introduction of new designs that utilized superior coil springs, went a long way towards resolving persistant timing problems, strength and sensitivity to abuse. A Model 36, for example, is vastly stronger and more reliable over time than a lemon squeezer from the 19th century. And an OM Blackhawk is considerably stronger and more reliably than the vaunted Peacemaker.
American handgun cartridges also came onto their own during this golden age. The .357 of course had been developed prior to WWII, but at that point it was a rare custom-order affair for the wealthy elite. After WWII its use became much more widespread, and an array of other great magnums evolved.
On top of all this, the gun writers of the time included the likes of Elmer Keith, Bill Jordan, Skeeter Skelton, Col Cooper, Charles Askins and many others. They not only had enough clout to criticize new designs from advertisers, they could call up the president of the relevant company and have changes made. More than this, they literally changed the way we shoot and view handguns.
What do you think?
--S&W two-digit revolvers, including K frame magnums, most N and NT frame models, the J frames, and others were either introduced during this period or reached their peak. Triggers tend to be excellent during this period, as does overall quality.
--Ruger flattop single actions and three screw models. Ruger "six" line of double actions. These have the best triggers and balance of any Rugers, and are a notch less bulky than the modern lines.
--Colt Mk.III firearms and the Python & others in the snake line. These represented the perfection of earlier Colt short guns, with improved lockworks and stronger frames.
--The civilian production of the 1911 and BHP, as opposed to the military production that dominated in the eariler period. From what I've read it was only after WWII that civilian shooters started getting interested in these platforms in large numbers. Prior to that, most US civilian interest in semis was restricted to smaller platforms such as the 1903 or 1908.
After this period, the importers secured ever larger portions of the US handgun market. More than that, their designs set the standard. While classic American designs continue to be popular, quality and attention to detail is not what it was. For example, while S&W continues to make lots of revolvers, they have a decidedly "fun gun" feel to them. Ruger makes serious wheelguns, but since the epic courtroom battles of the 70's the company has packed more and more steel on its frames. Other safety and cost-cutting measures have decreased the quality of trigger pull and balance. Colt has all but vanished, of course.
Before this period, in contrast, there were many great designs but the materials weren't the best. Engineering still relied on extensive hand-fitting and stoning of parts. The advent of improved steel and machining techniques, along with introduction of new designs that utilized superior coil springs, went a long way towards resolving persistant timing problems, strength and sensitivity to abuse. A Model 36, for example, is vastly stronger and more reliable over time than a lemon squeezer from the 19th century. And an OM Blackhawk is considerably stronger and more reliably than the vaunted Peacemaker.
American handgun cartridges also came onto their own during this golden age. The .357 of course had been developed prior to WWII, but at that point it was a rare custom-order affair for the wealthy elite. After WWII its use became much more widespread, and an array of other great magnums evolved.
On top of all this, the gun writers of the time included the likes of Elmer Keith, Bill Jordan, Skeeter Skelton, Col Cooper, Charles Askins and many others. They not only had enough clout to criticize new designs from advertisers, they could call up the president of the relevant company and have changes made. More than this, they literally changed the way we shoot and view handguns.
What do you think?
