The Quintessential European Handgun

[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.

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.

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.

 

[enfwago]

Walther PP/PPK/PPKS

 

[Johnny Guest]

"Quintessential" vs. personal preference - - -

- - - 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.

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.

 

[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!

 

[556A2]

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.

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

 

[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...

 

[BigG]

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