igousigloo
New member
1911, most of the others only lasted 10 or 12 years before another change.
Which handgun "changed everything"?
- Thread starter Elliottsdad
- Start date
I am hard put to think of a single handgun type that changed anything significantly in itself. (Individual guns might have made changes, like the gun that killed Archduke Franz Ferdinand, but the Browning 1910 in general had no special impact.)
The Colt Paterson was a major change, in retrospect, but at the time it went almost unnoticed and Colt went bankrupt. The Glock may have changed the way handguns could be made, but it had no special impact on general history.
IMHO, after the invention of firearms, only two types of small arms had a serious and dramatic impact on history - the high velocity repeating rifle, and the machinegun. Both altered drastically the way wars were fought and thus changed the course of history. No handgun or type of handgun had any similar effect.
Jim
The Colt Paterson was a major change, in retrospect, but at the time it went almost unnoticed and Colt went bankrupt. The Glock may have changed the way handguns could be made, but it had no special impact on general history.
IMHO, after the invention of firearms, only two types of small arms had a serious and dramatic impact on history - the high velocity repeating rifle, and the machinegun. Both altered drastically the way wars were fought and thus changed the course of history. No handgun or type of handgun had any similar effect.
Jim
Mike Irwin
Staff
"1911, most of the others only lasted 10 or 12 years before another change."
Very true. Like, say, the 1911... Changed in 1924 and adopted as the 1911A1.
Very true. Like, say, the 1911... Changed in 1924 and adopted as the 1911A1.
First: Colt Paterson revolver, then the Colt 1911. Next I would say the Glock - while not the first striker-fired pistols, it brought the technology into the forefront of the gun industry. Since then, it seems like most changes to handguns are variations on a theme and nothing truly new or unique.
Prior to the Mexican War, a typical cavalryman was armed with two single shot horse pistols, and then went to saber---or lance.
When the Colt Revolver came along, an American cavalryman now had twelve shots (two pistols) without having to reload, and the Mexican cavalry was no match for that quatum leap in weapon superiority.
A Comanche or Apache with a bow had superior weaponry to the single shot pistol in a cavalry engagement, since he could load and shoot faster from distance.
Yes it did. But while it revolutionized firearms manufacturing, and reduced cost, it didn't necessarily repesent superior effectivness on the street or battlefield, nor did it achieve better reliability over many existing pistol designs.
It did serve to polarize members of the shooting world. Many swear by the Glock---others have no use for one.
When the Colt Revolver came along, an American cavalryman now had twelve shots (two pistols) without having to reload, and the Mexican cavalry was no match for that quatum leap in weapon superiority.
A Comanche or Apache with a bow had superior weaponry to the single shot pistol in a cavalry engagement, since he could load and shoot faster from distance.
Yes it did. But while it revolutionized firearms manufacturing, and reduced cost, it didn't necessarily repesent superior effectivness on the street or battlefield, nor did it achieve better reliability over many existing pistol designs.
It did serve to polarize members of the shooting world. Many swear by the Glock---others have no use for one.
Last edited:
simonrichter
New member
1. Though I couldn't name a single model, I reckon the early Colts up until the "Peacemaker" make it at least for the 1800s: Though they were not the first and maybe not even the best wheelguns of their era, the became a siginificant symbol for individualism and activism (in terms of sociology) during the winning of the west. Moreover, "Colt" has been used as a generic term for "revolver" even in Europe (though it is getting out of use, I reckon most teens know "Desert Eagle" rather than "Colt" nowadays...).
2. The 1911 for the first three quarters of the 20th century: The sidearm of the US forces in WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam... became quite a symbol as well, and apart from that also set the technical standard that is still state of the art 100yrs later. Which major contemporary handgun does not utilize the tilting barrel locked breach approach (apart from some Walther / Beretta - locking block exotics?)
3. The Glock setting the early 21st century standard: Though it features no actual invention, for the first time it combined the characteristics of all of the newly developed handguns coming after: High cap, simple and relyable system yet rather accurate, and a polymer frame.
2. The 1911 for the first three quarters of the 20th century: The sidearm of the US forces in WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam... became quite a symbol as well, and apart from that also set the technical standard that is still state of the art 100yrs later. Which major contemporary handgun does not utilize the tilting barrel locked breach approach (apart from some Walther / Beretta - locking block exotics?)
3. The Glock setting the early 21st century standard: Though it features no actual invention, for the first time it combined the characteristics of all of the newly developed handguns coming after: High cap, simple and relyable system yet rather accurate, and a polymer frame.
Mike Irwin
Staff
"It's indroduction sounded the death knell for the revolver era, though many years would pass before the transition was complete."
Someone forgot to tell the US military, because they're still issuing some revolvers to specialized units. SEALS pop immediately to mind.
Someone forgot to tell the US military, because they're still issuing some revolvers to specialized units. SEALS pop immediately to mind.
Cheapshooter
New member
The 1911 led the way to the adoption by the armies around the way of a semi-auto sidearm. Not 1911's, but most of the other countries followed the US in the transition to semi-autos.
Also, were not the semi-autos preceding the 1911 all of 9MM and smaller caliber?
So it can also be said that the 1911 also led the way to larger caliber semi-auto handguns.
I'll stick with my first post. The 1911 changed the handgun 100 years ago. The Glock changed how people view the "modern" handgun 30 years ago.
Also, were not the semi-autos preceding the 1911 all of 9MM and smaller caliber?
So it can also be said that the 1911 also led the way to larger caliber semi-auto handguns.
I'll stick with my first post. The 1911 changed the handgun 100 years ago. The Glock changed how people view the "modern" handgun 30 years ago.
Mike Irwin
Staff
"The 1911 led the way to the adoption by the armies around the way of a semi-auto sidearm. Not 1911's, but most of the other countries followed the US in the transition to semi-autos."
Actually, the United States followed quite a few other world militaries, so we were closer to the butt end of the spear, not the tip.
The Germans, Japanese, Danish, Italians, Romanians, Austro-Hungarians, Portugese, and Swiss all adopted semi-autos before the United States. And, at the time of adoption, I believe each of those nations had armies larger than the US.
"Also, were not the semi-autos preceding the 1911 all of 9MM and smaller caliber?"
Yes, but that has more to do with the way that other militaries viewed the handgun in service usage than anything else.
The larger caliber was, by and large, a dead end in military service. The US, Britain (half heartedly, more as military expediency) and Norway were the big adopters of .45 caliber.
Most other nations went 9mm or smaller.
Sorry, I still can't see my way clear to saying the 1911 was really that ground breaking in terms of short or long-term impact.
Actually, the United States followed quite a few other world militaries, so we were closer to the butt end of the spear, not the tip.
The Germans, Japanese, Danish, Italians, Romanians, Austro-Hungarians, Portugese, and Swiss all adopted semi-autos before the United States. And, at the time of adoption, I believe each of those nations had armies larger than the US.
"Also, were not the semi-autos preceding the 1911 all of 9MM and smaller caliber?"
Yes, but that has more to do with the way that other militaries viewed the handgun in service usage than anything else.
The larger caliber was, by and large, a dead end in military service. The US, Britain (half heartedly, more as military expediency) and Norway were the big adopters of .45 caliber.
Most other nations went 9mm or smaller.
Sorry, I still can't see my way clear to saying the 1911 was really that ground breaking in terms of short or long-term impact.
When i open my safe ...I don't see anything in there that Glock influenced ...
nope ,no ,,striker fired pistols in there... woops ! cont. below
With the devolement of Colt Single Actions.....is where the history of the handgun took a turn....the big impact.....not the use of plastic....
If I was considering modern semi-automatics i would consider the S&W "Wonder Nine" before looking at a striker fired plastic gun...
nothing against Glocks ..fine weapons, ..but they really didn't make as Big of a Historical impact..as other handguns of the past ...that paved the way for the Glock and other modern firearms...
Without the metallic cartridge and the converted Colt 1851 or the Colt 1873 where would we be now....
Woops !!!! found a Striker fired pistol !!!!
nope ,no ,,striker fired pistols in there... woops ! cont. belowWith the devolement of Colt Single Actions.....is where the history of the handgun took a turn....the big impact.....not the use of plastic....
If I was considering modern semi-automatics i would consider the S&W "Wonder Nine" before looking at a striker fired plastic gun...
nothing against Glocks ..fine weapons, ..but they really didn't make as Big of a Historical impact..as other handguns of the past ...that paved the way for the Glock and other modern firearms...
Without the metallic cartridge and the converted Colt 1851 or the Colt 1873 where would we be now....
Woops !!!! found a Striker fired pistol !!!!
Last edited:
Mike Irwin
Staff
"With the devolement of Colt Single Actions"
I'm not even so sure about that.
Smith & Wesson made more New Model No. 3s during the original runs of both guns than Colt made Peacemakers.
The difference is that S&W sold most of their overseas
I'm not even so sure about that.
Smith & Wesson made more New Model No. 3s during the original runs of both guns than Colt made Peacemakers.
The difference is that S&W sold most of their overseas
I don't believe there is one single gun that changed everything. There are, however, a series of innovative guns that influenced new designs for years to come. The Colt Patterson, for instance, was the first major commercially successful revolver and ushered in the era of repeating handguns, but it's design has little if any influence on today's semi-automatic handguns. You also have guns like the Glock 17, which didn't have any features that were entirely new, but did combine a set of features in a new way that greatly influenced modern handgun designs. You can find quite a few revolutionary handguns out there.
Lots of weapons changed the industry. A few actually changed warfare tactics.
The muzzle loading rifle, that was accurate to 200 yds, combined with antiquated battlefield tactics, created mass slaughter during the Civil War.
The machine gun, again combined with antiquated battlefield tactics, created carnage, along with advanced artillery, on WWI battle fields.
In times gone by, weapons advancement out paced battlefied tactics, which always seemed to be one war behind.
The Colt revolver represented one of the most profound changes, since it made former cavalry tactics and weapons obsolete---instantly.
Eventually, of course, both sides acquired the better techology, and tactics had to change radically.
The muzzle loading rifle, that was accurate to 200 yds, combined with antiquated battlefield tactics, created mass slaughter during the Civil War.
The machine gun, again combined with antiquated battlefield tactics, created carnage, along with advanced artillery, on WWI battle fields.
In times gone by, weapons advancement out paced battlefied tactics, which always seemed to be one war behind.
The Colt revolver represented one of the most profound changes, since it made former cavalry tactics and weapons obsolete---instantly.
Eventually, of course, both sides acquired the better techology, and tactics had to change radically.