American Riflemans Top 10 Handguns of all...

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TRguy

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American Riflemans Top 10 Handguns of all time

1. 1911

1911-A1Springfield8-10-08.jpg


and the rest are.... (Ah Hell doesn't really matter anyway, does it?)

http://www.americanrifleman.org/ArticlePage.aspx?cid=24&id=1777

http://www.americanrifleman.org/Webcontent/pdf/2009-8/2009819114252-top10handguns.pdf

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The 1911 was going to be #1 hands down. I was surprised to see the Browning HI Power at #9. I personally hate the HIPOWER but i know of its great reputation.
 
"The panel was comprised of Brian C. Sheetz, senior executive editor; Glenn M. Gilbert, shooting editor; Aaron Carter, managing editor; Angus K. McClellan, assistant editor; Field Editors Chad Adams, Wiley Clapp and Mike Humphries; and National Firearms Museum Director Jim Supica, Senior Curator Phil Schreier and Mark Keefe.

Each panelist listed his picks for the "Top 10" from one to 10. A first-place vote received 10 points; a 10th place vote received one. With 10 panelists, the maximum score possible was 100 – the top gun received 92, an "A" in most school systems. The 10 handguns receiving the most points were named to the list. In the event of a tie, the guns with the highest-placed votes received the lower ranking."

1. M1911 M1911A1 pistol and variants (92 points)
2. S&W Hand Ejector revolvers (53 points)
3. Glock 17 pistol (41 points)
4. S&W Model One revolver (33 points)
5. Volcanic Volitional Repeater (31 points)
6. Colt's Single Action Army revolver (31 points)
7. Walther PP, PPK, PPK/S pistols (31 points)
8. C96 Mauser "Broomhandle" pistol (27 points)
9. Browning High Power pistol (25 points)
10. S&W Registered Magnum revolver (18 points)

this might fit a bit better in the general handgun forum.
 
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I thought it was a good and fair list.

Browning was the man. We now use new materials that were not available during his life...but what has really changed? Everything still functions the way he built them.
 
I thought it was a good and fair list.
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For the most part, I would agree.

However, both the Volcanic and Browning Hi-Power don't belong on it. The Volcanic was a complete failure as a handgun. While the lever action design later evolved to become the action made famous by Winchester in their rifles, that is historically significant only for rifles, not handguns. As a handgun, the Volcanic was not practical, and was an utter failure.

The Browning Hi-Power was also not innovative enough to deserve mention.

I would replace those two guns with the first successful revolver: The Colt Model 1851 Navy Revolver, and the first successful pistol with a magazine in its grip: The Luger. They were both far more significant developments in handguns. The 1851 Navy Revolver was especially revolutionary in its day.

My Great-Great Grandfather carried a Navy Colt with him when he came to California from Missouri in 1854, and was forced to kill three with it during an incident on the trip. He was quite a man, and also had 12 children from one wife. Although one did die at childbirth.

Back then, a man armed with a 1851 Colt Navy had a huge advantage over any opponent. Having handguns go from 1 shot to 6 shots was a very substantial development indeed.

To not include that handgun on the list is a crime.

--
 
The 1851 Navy was excluded right from the start because it was not a cartridge handgun... so it's not that it was left off, it just didn't make the criteria for the list.

I would agree that the Volcanic shouldn't have made the list for exactly the reasons you stated.

I would also remove the Registered Magnums from the #10 spot... as is actually denoted in the article, Hand Ejectors are already in there. And if you are going to stick another Hand Ejector on the list, the Register Magnum is pretty cool, but beyond cool and the fact that it ushered in a new caliber, what makes it better than, say, a Triple Lock?

And the way the article was laid out in the magazine, you had to flip pages to get to the last #10 in there. I thought for sure I was going to find... a Luger. There's just such an air about it. It's nearly as recognizable as anything.

One last thing... was it this article or somewhere else where someone said (in print) that the Colt Single Action Army has been chambered in some 30+ different calibers-- is this for real? Honestly, I'd have a tough time coming up with 30 handgun calibers total. Has the SAA really been chambered in that many different choices?
 
Disagree, Volcanic isn't on my wish list but it was the start of a long line of guns and deserves a spot on the list for that reason alone. My sentimental favorite was the SAA colt but I think those old boys put out a pretty decent list.
 
Is it just me or do "Top X of all time" lists favor the older items in a category. A new platform cant win a 25, 50 or 100 years of heritage contest ever. Same with service life, how many were made, and how long. I can appreciate heritage and progression and how all that is now is built upon the progress of others, but in a game where the rules are skewed to reward the past how is the present ever gonna win?
 
My thoughts: remove the .357--just another hand ejector; remove the 1935 Browning--just an evolution of the Model 1911; remove the Volcanic--it led somewhere but not on the handgun tree; remove the Mauser--different but a sort-lived dead end; add the Colt 1889 family an its off-spring--just as influential as the S&W hand ejector, long lived, and widely used; add the Webley top-breaks; add the S&W top-breaks; and add the Luger.
 
Where's the Python?

The AR top ten are all great guns, but I thought the Colt Python .357 magnum would have been in there somewhere. One of the most accurate hand fitted revolver ever made. Anyone agree or disagree?:confused:
 
I thought the Colt Python .357 magnum would have been in there somewhere. One of the most accurate hand fitted revolver ever made. Anyone agree or disagree?
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The Python, the Officer's Model/Official Police series, and the early Army and Navy .38s were very influential historically. I would broaden to include all of them plus the "D" frame Positive and Detective Special models.
 
I agree with the other posters the Luger should have been in the top 10.

The J frame or the Colt Detective special should have been on the list. The alloy J-frame changed concealed carry.

Bowning's pocket autos should be there some where too. (maybe not to 10 but not to far from it.)
 
Is it just me or do "Top X of all time" lists favor the older items in a category. A new platform cant win a 25, 50 or 100 years of heritage contest ever. Same with service life, how many were made, and how long. I can appreciate heritage and progression and how all that is now is built upon the progress of others, but in a game where the rules are skewed to reward the past how is the present ever gonna win?
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I see your point and it's duly noted-- but the Glock checked in at #3, leaving seven handguns trailing it, and the youngest of those seven would date back to the 1940's (I think? -- the PPK's)

Again, your point is a good one, but the Glock debuted in what... '84 or '85? The closest trailing one behind the Glock has like 50 years on it, and the others have more.
 
Again, your point is a good one, but the Glock debuted in what... '84 or '85?
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Actually the Glock debuted all the way back in 1980, nearly 30 years ago.....

Also debuting in 1980 the movie Airplane!, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back, and Superman II.

People would think of a Glock as something "NEW", but I was negative 3 (-3) years old when it came out.

I'm not saying in any way this list is bad, it was just something that popped into my head bored @ work.
 
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The 1911 was introduced in march 1911 as the sidearm choice of the American soldiers because of its extreme durability and will soon celebrate its 100th birthday. Where as most guns don't last 50 years in production!The Browning Hi power was introduced in 1935 and is still a production pistol with almost 75 years in service.Many countries have adopted the hi power as there sidearm of choice!The list includes Britain Canada, Greece and Nationlist china along with countless number of law enforcment agencies!One might say its hard to argue with that kinda staying power! Some guns that I think should've been in this list are the colt patterson and the Ruger Superblackhawk. Would my list of top ten guns be different? Yeah the Hi power would be second!
 
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