Handgun of Our Time

Even though I think they look like black bricks, I would definitely have to say the Glock as well for the past 20-30 years. Out of my friends that carry on a regular basis about half of them carry Glocks. That being said though, I totally agree with several others' assessment that this has been changing over the last couple of years. However, being mostly a revolver guy myself, I'm not really sure what is taking over as the new iconic handgun.

For just 2011, I would say the 1911, just because production and sales have gone up tremendously due to the 100th anniversary, but I don't know if that will continue long enough for it to become the "handgun of our time" again. I would also say that it might be small 380 and 9mm pocket guns, but I can't think of any one brand that stands out enough above the others in the public's eye (obviously shooters will each have their preference).
 
ATW525 said:
Glock

New handgun designs of the 21st century have largely been polymer framed and often striker fired. It was Glock that brought mainstream acceptance to these handgun technologies and it's usually Glock that new designs are often compared to.

It's worth noting that I doubt in the 1980's that the majority of people would have considered the Glock to be the handgun of their times. Back then it really was the handgun of the future. Does the next handgun of the future already exist? Only time can really tell.
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I think this posts sums it all too well. And pretty much echo's anything else I might have tried to type.

I think Glock is the handgun of our times. I think something along the lines of the FiveSeven will be the future, although I don't know if it's here yet or not.
 
Being a huge SIG fan it really pains me to say it, but it has to be the Glock.

Glock may not have been the first polymer pistol (I'm not sure), but it was the most successful, blazing a trail for all the other polymer guns to follow. It made polymer pistols more acceptable and mainstream. Many LEOs and government agencies use/issue Glocks. Glocks seem to be in every action movie out of Hollywood and every cop and procedural show on TV.

Just because I think it is the "handgun of our time" does not mean I think it is the best handgun, however. You all should know where I fall on that. ;)
 
I am a Colt man. There, I said it. And the handgun of our time right now is the Glock. I'm confused as to how this cannot be so
 
For the record I'm a fan of Springfield Custom/Les Baer/Wilson Combat 1911's, 9mm Glocks, S&W M&P autos, H&K's in general, German made SIG Sauers of the late 80's up til early 2000's, and S&W and Ruger revolvers. I've simplified to one semi-auto platform and DA revolvers as a matter of personal practicality and discipline. Just because a certain handgun has not risen to a popular iconic status does not diminish its worth.

edit: The Colt SAA is pretty much the de facto single action revolver of the "Old West" to the avg person, shooters and non-shooters alike. But it has not diminished the unique aura and mystique of revolvers like the S&W Schofield, Remington 1875, Colt Walker, Colt Navy 1851 etc etc for those who care enough to look a little deeper.

This thread isn't necessarily about what you think is THE BEST or FAVORITE and I think enough people in this thread got that.
 
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I have to vote for Glock. No I am not a Glock fan boy... I would not mind owning one if they made one in a caliber I use but I do not plan to own one any time in the foreseeable future.

I am a 357 magnum fan (for handguns)
 
I interpret handgun of "our time" as the last 30 to 40 years. Based on that, it's the Glock series. I'm not particularly fond of Glocks but they revolutionized the handgun world and are still the most prevalent service pistol in this country.
 
Summed up well...

I would say the definitive pistol of the last 20 years has been the Glock. It is not particularly attractive looking like many of the iconic guns but it is still very brilliant. Their reliability is well known. They were the first widely popular polymer pistol. The Glock is widely recognized even by people who aren't into firearms. Lastly, they are the inspiration for most of the new polymer striker-fired pistols on the market and the standard to which they are measured. Let's face it, the Glock is the pistol of current time, whether we like it or not.
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Yeah, the 1911 is far more desirable but the glock is definitively late 20th/early 21st C.
 
The polymer guns no doubt last 20 yrs, but the 1911 is surging back and right now I beleive is king again...thank goodness!
 
The polymer guns no doubt last 20 yrs, but the 1911 is surging back and right now I beleive is king again...thank goodness!
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Can you elaborate? The 1911 is a perennial favorite and its popularity has remained relatively steady since the 90's around the time of the Federal Assault Weapons ban of 1994 (expired in 2004) which restricted "high capacity" magazines. Where do you see a resurgence for 1911's today? For civilian CCW, home defense, competition, law enforcement etc?
 
If anything, the revolver is making the greatest resurgence of popularity....just look at the sales for the S&W Night Guard....or the Ruger LCR....and don't forget the Taurus Judge....or the Chiappa Rhino...

...maybe the early 21st Century can be considered "The New Age of the Wheelgun".... :D
 
Diehard Ruger fan here....but I'd have to admit, it's Glock. Just looking at how many LE agencies issue it, how many regular folks buy them, this seems to be obvious to me. Not unlike how the S&W Third Generation series were the guns of the late 80s and early 90s {and frankly, they need to be brought back}.
 
Handgun Of Our Time

The Sig P226 (& variants)

Have run into many who shoot this pistol (and who also shoot & own other quality brands) but they treat their Sig 226s with a strange reverence, like it is a breed apart.

Tho I've shot the Sig P226 (but do not own one) I must acknowledge a quiet respect of their opinion.
 
I'll revise my vote and go with the growing consensus that for a 30-year period, the Glock is most significant. But if going back only 10 years, I think the pocket .380 is the most significant trend in handguns.
 
The 1911 Has been doing its job over 100yrs and going strong. Tell me what is better than that?
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If the thread had been titled Handgun of all time, the 1911 would have been hard to ignore.
 
Considering what television and the movies have been showing us these last 10 years, I'd say the Glock is definitely the handgun of our era.
 
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