HMMM.
Well, what's really remarkable (to me) is that there are so many high quality, superior designs and excellent manufacturers making so many variations of pistols, its hard to choose "the best." If it weren't for puddin'-headed legislation, this would be considered the "Golden Age of Handguns."
I'll go out on a limb here though. Smith and Wesson makes the best out-of-box revolver. Pick your configuration/caliber, they probably make it.
Glock, Sig and HK should all have a shot at being considered the best autoloader. The Sig line, overall, probably wins by a nose, however.
1911's are there own breed, for sure. I would put them in a seperate category. The best COMMERCIAL manufacturer (excluding custom and semi-custom shops) is Springfield and Kimber in a duel to the death.
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"Put a rifle in the hands of a Subject, and he immediately becomes a Citizen." -- Jeff Cooper