What is each makers Masterpiece?

[legion3]

What would be considered each pistol makers "masterpiece"?

That gun that sits apart from all the others, in fit finish craftsmenship, or that has that something unique or special?

Not measured by sales.


For Example, IMO

Walther = to me its the P88 well made, beautiful blued finish, one of the last craftsmenship items to come out of a European gunshop. The P5? The PPK?

HK = P7 Series, or is it the HKP9 ? or some other?

Beretta = to me its the Beretta 92 SB Italian made blued round trigger guard, excellent. the Inox Italian? or some other?

Colt = is it the Stainless Enhanced 1911, Gold Cup or the Peacmaker (Revolver OK for this purpose) or some other?

Smith & Wesson = The 39 or 59? The Schofield? The Second Generations? or the Model 19/29?

CZ = to me its the original CZ75 with the blued finish made in Czechlovakia.

Ruger = the Blackhawk? The Vaquero? The Bearcat?

Glock? Kahr?= can they have masterpieces? I like polymer but it seems to remove the craftsmenship of gun making.
The Glock 21 maybe? high capacity 45?

Browning = the high power "T" series? older BHP?

Star Megastar?

Other makers I have missed?

What do you guys think?

 

[DHaught]

sounds like you pretty much nailed it

 

[benderx4]

HK - P7
Beretta - 92FS
Colt - Python
S&W - Model 10
CZ - CZ75B
Ruger - 10/22
Browning - High Power
Taurus - Model 85
Sig Sauer - P210
Glock - Who cares?

 

[Teddyb]

Since you have a Python I would like to offer up the S&W K38 6" bbl.

 

[TheProf]

Smith & Wesson.... 586... and 642..
Kahr..........PM9

 

[9mmepiphany]

H&K - P9S, the engineering in that thing is amazing
Colt - Python, it was designed to be their Masterpiece
S&W - 8.375" Model 27, the original Magnum

 

[searcher451]

One man's treasure is another man's Glock, I guess.

The Walther masterpiece is likely the P5; it's the best extension of the P.38 line and is a flawless performer. It's hard to argue with the simple beauty of the PPK, however -- a truly elegant firearm.

IMO, the Ruger handgun masterpiece is the Bearcat; for a rifle, the 10/22.

Following Bearcat logic, the original Colt SAA is doggone tough to overlook in any discussion about masterpieces. It's a design that's still being copied today, and with good reason.

 

[StephenT]

Tough question, but here are my choices (mixing pistols and rifles):

Baikal: IZH-35M 22LR target pistol
Beretta: standard model 92FS
Browning: Hi-Power
Colt: Detective Special and original 1911.
CZ: the original CZ-75 with the round trigger guard. 22LR: the 452
DWM: Luger P08
Glock: the original 17, perhaps the 19.
H&K: P7, either PSP or M8
Marlin: model 60
Mosin Nagant: Finn M-39
Remington: 870
Ruger: P95, not the SR9. 357 Magnum: GP-100
Sig: P210
Smith & Wesson: 38 Special: 6 inch pre model 14 with target trigger and hammer
9mm: model 952
45 ACP: model 945
357 Magnum: model 27, although I prefer the 686.
44 Magnum: 629 with 8 3/8 inch barrel
Springfield: M1 Garand
Tanfoglio: 45 Witness Elite Match
Taurus: can I skip this one? I like their guns and all, but a masterpiece....
Walther: P5
Winchester: 1873 lever action

 

[dwave]

Well:
Glock: 34
Colt: 1911
HK: USP Match

 

[1SOW]

oops

 

[Girodin]

For Glock I would say the Glock 19.

Kahr probably the PM9, although enough people complain about them I might argue for the K9.

You didn't have Sig on your list, maybe the P226?

Kel Tec: P3AT

 

[earlthegoat2]

Why this is a highly subjective topic is it not?

Ill bite though.

Colt-Python
Smith and Wesson-K Frame
Winchester-1892
Remington-700
Browning-Superposed
FN-FAL
HK-P7
Savage-AccuTrigger (yeah, I know)
Marlin-39
Mossberg-500
Benelli-Montefeltro
Franchi-48 AL
CZ-75
ParaOrdinance-P14
Mauser-K98
Springfield-M1A
Walther-PPK
SigSauer-210 (yeah, just Sig)
Beretta-84
Ruger-MKI

Plus tons of others.

 

[bluetopper]

Sorry, maybe some can put masterpiece and polymer in the same sentence when we are taking about firearms.......but I just can't.

 

[Dr.Mall Ninja]

glock has a masterpiece?

 

[NinjaFeint]

I think the masterpieces are the guns that changed the world of firearms or defined a company. Fancy is cool but design is paramount.

Glock: 17 changed the game. Not the first polymer but the one that changed handguns.
Colt: Original 1911. I am not a huge fan of them but it is undeniable.
CZ: 75 was THE gun on the other side of the world.

 

[Scott707]

Beretta - 92fs
Browning - HP
Colt - 1911 Gov series 80
CZ - CZ75
Glock - G17
Ruger - sp101
Sig - P226
S&W - 586
Walther - PPK

 

[Perseverance]

Colt has to be 1911...

 

[Mike OTDP]

Let's see how many people I can offend here...

Beretta: Original model 92 with frame-mounted safety
Colt: 1851 Navy. Honorable mention to the Python
Hammerli: 208S
HK: P7 PSP
Ruger: Super Blackhawk
Smith & Wesson: Model 29
Walther: OSP (Olympia Schnellfeuer Pistole)
SIG: P210

 

[memphisjim]

on the glock id go with the 20

 

[hinton03]

Using ninjataint 's logic:

Colt SAA, Python, M16 and 1911.

Browning M2 BMG, HP and Superposed

S&W Registered Magnum (Pre-27), model 41 and M36

Springfield M1

Reminton 700 and 870

Winchester 1894, pre-64 M70, Model 21 and Model 12

Marlin 336

Ruger Blackhawk and No. 1

 

[Curare]

Glock 17

A game changer. An engineering masterpiece--not in its complexity, but rather through its minimalist functional elegance. It is the pistol to what the Kalashnikov has been to the rifle. The dominant pistol of the last quarter century.

 

[dwave]

The dominant pistol of the last quarter century.

I would not consider the dominant pistol of the last quarter. Great selling? Yes. Dominant? No.

 

[Coltman 77]

BHP, Colt NMGC, Colt Python, HK USP, Sig P220/226.

 

[bluetopper]

I guess "masterpiece" to me means along with the engineering of it, lots of attention to detail, lots of hand fitting, and finely finished.
This is one among a few I can think of that meets that criteria.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

Smith & Wesson: the original Registered Magnums in .357. Honorable mention: the original .44 Magnum.

Colt: Python

Ruger: "old model" Super Blackhawk