What handguns have been discontinued for '05?

[armoredman]

EAA seems to be dumping a number of models of the Witness pistols made by Tanfoglio, and CDNN is/has picked the discons up for a song. It looks like steel frames will be heading to CDNN, and EAA, which must be wanting OUT of the firearm business, will continue with polys for now. Details are sketchy. This is the same EAA that sold the Baikal shotgun line, and stopped importing the popular Saiga rifles and shotguns. great guns, idiot importers.

 

[valnar]

Does anyone know if the new Ruger Vaquero's were made to be the same size as the original Colt SAA? Their web page says they are "smaller", but I don't know what that is. It would mean the difference between finding holsters for it, or waiting yet again for aftermarket products for a new THIRD sized single-action frame.

-Robert

 

[kevin387]

sp101 in 22 has been discontinued

 

[Glocker]

if they ban the F&N five seven will they still be made ????

 

[Island Beretta]

..heard the Beretta Vertec is being discontinued as well but not the Elite version..apparently to make way for the PX4....

 

[Myself]

I heard that Smith has discontinued the 610.

 

[BluesBear]

Does anyone know if the new Ruger Vaquero's were made to be the same size as the original Colt SAA?

The "new" Vaquero will be the same size as the original .357 Blackhawk. Holsters made for Colt size SA revolvers will work just fine with them.

 

[valnar]

The "new" Vaquero will be the same size as the original .357 Blackhawk.

So that means the new Ruger Vaquero's will be the same size as the Beretta Stampede's and Colt SAA's? Basically you get a honest-to-goodness sized SAA but with a transfer bar?

Finally, a second alternative to the Beretta Stampede! All I need now is a New Ruger Vaquero in a Bisley grip and they've made the perfect single action. Thanks.
Robet

 

[akluvr]

Props to DMF

DMF almost singlehandedly brought Colt out of their self imposed "marketing problems". I held my breath reading that and then laughed myself sick on the next post- good one. Sounds like a lot of bad decisions on the serious posts though. A lot of the guns being mentioned have pretty solid followings.

 

[Bob41081]

Both the New Vaquero and the Vaquero are shown on the Ruger website.

Bob

 

[mjb]

DMF, shame on you. You almose made a grown man cry. I was trying to figure out when I could afford a 1911 Colt made this year untill I saw the next post. Thanks alot

 

[Brass Balls]

 

[357wheelgunner]

S&W in all their wisdom has discontinuted the .357 K-frame line, no more model 65 or 66. Sad sad to see the best belt gun ever made drop from production, to be replaced by *shudders* an L-frame. The S&W .357 K-frame fires a potent round, points like a finger, and is light on the belt, what more could you ask for?

 

[BluesBear]

357wheelgunner, Thomkins sold S&W to Saf-T Hammer because they had the money, not because they knew what the customer wanted.

 

[Joshua Hutchison]

They are DISCONTINUEING the steel frame witness?!? what of the 10mm model! :O dang it, who has them?

 

[farscott]

S&W also discontinued the M647, the K-frame revolver chambered for the .17 HMR, after only a few years of production and a couple of variants. I had one of the M647's with the 8-3/8" barrel and now have one with the 12" barrel.

I wonder if we will see another M647 chambered for the .17 Mach 2 round.

 

[SnubbyMan]

S&W discontinued the Model 64 in 2" barrel length.

 

[gringolet]

k frames

I am still lamenting the death of the k frame S&W! It seems like a dumb decision to me...I wish S&W would keep some of the great old guns in the line up and make 'em the old way with pinned barrels, recessed cylinders,
all the nice cosmetic work like the frame dimples on the top strap, etc...and go ahead and charge what they are worth...rather than cheapen the line down completely with "bean counter" guns. Oh well, guess I'll go look for some good k frames and parts to keep them ginning.

 

[Elmer]

Business

After all these years around this stuff, what I've learned is that what we think will sell, differs greatly from what the great unwashed public will actually buy.

When I was a young man, most of the quality handguns cost a week's pay or more. Some of our favorites from the past would cost $1000.00+ today, and most of the gun buying public won't shell out that kind of coin. I'm afraid that means more plastic, Mim, etc.

 

[rick_reno]

It's looking like the Ruger Alaskan will end production this year. It might be the first handgun that existed on paper only.