What are the modern day classics?

[CarbineKid]

Are there any pistols designed with in the last few years(lets say around 25) that will someday be considered classics, like the 1911.

 

[Chrome]

Beretta 92FS. Not exactly sure of the design vs production dates, but it's definately a modern classic.

Later,
Chrome...

 

[strat81]

Glock 17
CZ-75B
S&W 642 (Is it already a classic?)

 

[cookekdjr]

Without a doubt, the most influential gun of the last 25 years or so is the Glock 17 and its progeny. They may be as common and as boring as tupperware, but they have revolutionized the industry.
-David

 

[FireArmFan]

Glocks were introduced in the 80's. They don't have the military history of the 1911 but I would say they are definately have a place in firearms history due to their popularity and reliabilty

 

[Quiet]

In alphabetical order.

Beretta Model 92FS
Ceska Zbrojoka CZ-75B
Glock Model 17
H&K P-7M8
Sig-Sauer P-220

 

[JesseL]

Handgun design has been pretty evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, for the past 100 years or so. There have been new materials introduced and a few interesting variations on some of the mechanisms, but for the most part handguns are a very mature technology.

It's hard to have a new classic when the best you can do is a particularly good implementation of existing ideas.

I don't know what the next big thing (tm) will be, but it is due any day now.

 

[JesseL]

Beretta Model 92FS
Ceska Zbrojoka CZ-75B
Glock Model 17
H&K P-7M8
Sig-Sauer P-220

None of those pistols were invented or adopted less than 25 years ago.
The Beretta was built in 1972.
The CZ in 1975.
The Glock in 1980.
The H&K in 1971.
The Sig in 1975.

 

[CountGlockula]

Great job JesseL!

 

[RNB65]

There are no modern day (25 year) classics. The handgun world is in a long term period of stagnation. Revolvers have been in decline for years with nothing on the horizon that might revive the market. There hasn't been a true innovation in the pistol world since the Glock 17 almost 3 decades ago.

The small pocket-sized Kahrs might qualify as a modern day classic IF they didn't have so many quality control problems. The big bore S&W revolvers (.500 & .460) are interesting, but certainly not classics. These days the almighty dollar rules and making guns as cheaply as possible pretty much precludes innovation and new ideas.

The next classic will probably be whatever the US military adopts to replace the Beretta M9. But I'm guessing it's going to be years, if not decades, before that happens.

 

[strat81]

Okay, nitpickers.

I nominate the Glock 22/23! The first ever .40S&W caliber pistols, and direct descendants of the disqualified Glock 17.

 

[ugaarguy]

Revolvers have been in decline for years with nothing on the horizon that might revive the market.

I must disagree. While it's nothing new, but is a great execution of existing technology, the 642 is by far S&W's best selling handgun. The supply of them has been outstripped by demand for quite a while now.

None of those pistols were invented or adopted less than 25 years ago.
The Beretta was built in 1972.
The CZ in 1975.
The Glock in 1980.
The H&K in 1971.
The Sig in 1975.

designed with in the last few years(lets say around 25)

I'm gonna say that 27 years is "around 25" years. I think we can infer that the use of "around" means give or take a couple or three years. I'd also add the Beretta 92, simply because it wasn't adopted by the US Military until the early 80s which undoubtedly made many more Americans aware of it - again around 25 years ago.

 

[10-Ring]

In the last 25 years? I'd probably put my vote in for the Beretta 92fs, the Glock 17, HK P7M8, German SIG P-Series and maybe the HK USP 45.

 

[JesseL]

Maybe I've got an overly critical view of what makes something a "classic". I just can't see all the subtle variations on the same theme as being classics. To me a classic has to bring something new to the table, be aesthetically pleasing (or at least inoffensive), be influential, and successful.

The Beretta 92 isn't much of leap beyond design of the 1930's. It's barely more than a Walther P38 with a longer slide and a Browning P35 magazine.

The Glock 17 has an interesting trigger mechanism and while it wasn't the first handgun to use a polymer frame, it was the first to become much of a commercial success. Other than that - it was just another high-capacity 9mm with a Browning style, short recoil operated, linkless tilting barrel, breech lock mechanism. This is as close as anything gets to being a modern classic, but I find it lacking.

I feel like Grampa Simpson ("Why the fax machine is nothing but a waffle iron with a phone attached!") though I'm only 29.

The only really new ideas from the past century have been technical and commercial flops (the Gyrojet, Dardick pistol, & various attempts at caseless ammo).

 

[10-Ring]

D'oh! double tap

 

[Ethereal]

modern classics

Here's my list, talk amoungst yourselves (insert Linda Richmond impersonation here)--
Beretta 92FS
Glock 17
Sig 226
MRI Desert Eagle
S&W 500/460

 

[SigfanUSAF]

I nominate the Glock 22/23! The first ever .40S&W caliber pistols, and direct descendants of the disqualified Glock 17.

The .40 S&W was released January 17, 1990 with the new Smith & Wesson Model 4006. I know the Glock 22 also showed up in 1990, but I doubt it was before the 4006. I mean, Glock no longer recognizes the .40 cartridge as .40 S&W anyway

 

[MaterDei]

Kt P32

 

[Geno]

The Thompson/Center Contender pistol still holds the World Record at 500 yards, a group measuring 1" X 3.5", and was fired using iron sights! If not a classic, it is without rival at worst.

 

[novaDAK]

The .40 S&W was released January 17, 1990 with the new Smith & Wesson Model 4006. I know the Glock 22 also showed up in 1990, but I doubt it was before the 4006. I mean, Glock no longer recognizes the .40 cartridge as .40 S&W anyway

Nope...Glock actually beat S&W to the market

 

[SigfanUSAF]

Nope...Glock actually beat S&W to the market

Yep, you're right! Interesting little tidbit, guess you learn something new everyday. Gotta love the ease of production when you're making tupperware

 

[JesseL]

Interestingly, S&W got beaten to the punch when they introduced the .44 Magnum too. Ruger got hold of some of the prototype cases and had their Blackhawk out before the Model 29 in many places.

 

[sm]

Are there any pistols designed with in the last few years(lets say around 25) that will someday be considered classics, like the 1911.

Nope.

The Reality is, the definition of "Classic" has been diminished in the last 25 years as so many words have been diminished in the last 25 years.

The Truth is, we have had every firearm and caliber we will ever need for any task since 1935 with the arrival of the .357 magnum, or 1955 at the latest with the arrival of the .44 magnum.

Since 1955, the rest of this crap that has arrived has been:
marketing hype, unscrupulous means to low ball bids to get a Police Dept to carry that gun ( which led to "if the police uses it , it must be the baddest") a way to sell magazines, a means for writers to make a few bucks and with the invent of Internet and Fora a means to waste bandwith, stir up arguments, silly tribes, kewl toy klubs, and polymer plastic party poppers.


Classic 25 years ago : Sophie Loren

Classic today, I've seen whores that look better than the skanks everyone is calling a classic.

 

[Soul Assassin]

Glock Model 17

 

[Gunnerpalace]

Yeah. Glock 17,HK P7,and the FN Five-Seven are my votes.