What are the “must haves” in a handgun collection?

The grip must be comfortable.
The caliber must be a popular cartridge like 9mm, 40cal..
Decent SD load
Decent value and price
I have to like it.

Must haves are

A Colt.

A Smith and Wesson.

A Ruger.

A Dan Wesson.

A great collection has many of each. Buy as many as you can.

This will be a fun thread because it is so subjective. For me, as many .44’s that I can get my hands on, .357 is a must as well as a variety of .22’s. I think a .45 Colt SAA is a must have and every collection needs a 1911.

Defensive calibers in 9mm(Beretta 92X Or Sig Sauer) and 45ACP (pick your fav 1911).

Some plinking calibers, preferably in 22LR.

Luger, BHP, Ruger Mark of some sort, Blackhawk or SAA

4" .38 or .357 DA revolver

If you like older, wood and blue guns, I have to say that you can't go wrong with an S&W M10.

My list of handguns for most of my life was something like this. I chose them well. Almost all of the handguns I've bought since were "just because".

a nice 22 revolver and a nice 22 semiauto

a nice single-action centerfire revolver

good Model 10 or similar service revolver

a nice 38 snub

1911

CZ75, Browning Hi-Power, Beretta 92, or similar

a nice "pocket auto" in 380 or 9mm

Things iconic
Model 29
Model 10
Jframe
Sp101
1911
92 series
Cz75
Ppk
Luger
Glock
Ar
Never mind the python or other super pricey stuff
Ruger Mark series
I don’t own all of these cause family and bills. But one day. You can keep going on this. But it’s a few ideas. (Edited to delete long guns adding more pistols)

I have a "collection of guns" that is different from my "gun collection". The first is guns that I actually use for one thing or another. The second are various pieces that I obtained for the purpose of owning them. My gun collection mostly consists of US mil property marked rifles and handguns- there is also a series 70 gold cup, a Colt super 38, a python, a S&W 19, and a 1943 mauser with swastikas, all matching numbers, and no import marks.

In a quick glance at your current collection, the thing missing seems to be an S&W revolver in K, L, or N Frame.

I'm all over the place, DA & SA revolvers, lever actions rifles, 1911's. I don't count my personal defense pistols as collectors-more as tools. We started a John Browning design collection that continues to grow & I just added another 7.65/32ACP pistol to the 32 collection, now up to five. I like the classic/iconic guns that you can recognize just by the silhouette-Tommy Gun, P08 Luger, 45 Colt SAA, Walther PPK, Model 29 S&W, etc.

Hi...
I don't have a collection...more like an accumulation.
However, I think certain items are a prerequisite in a handgun collection.
A Luger, a 1911 in .45ACP, Ruger BlackHawk, L frame S&W, N frame S&W, Dan Wesson revolver, a Colt 1911 and revolver, SAA clone and S&W Model 10.

I am sure others would consider other handguns just as necessary.

Basic Necessities:

1) A 1911. Your choice of caliber, configuration, and manufacturer.
2) A SAA. Your choice of caliber, configuration, and manufacturer.
3) A Double Action Revolver. Preferably in .38 Special or .357 Magnum. Your choice of configuration and manufacturer.
4) A Full Size 9mm Semi-Auto. Your choice of action, configuration, and manufacturer.
5) A Compact/Subcompact 9mm. Semi-Auto. Your choice of action, configuration, and manufacturer.
6) A Subcompact Semi-Auto.32 or .380. Your choice of action, configuration, and manufacturer.
7) A Subcompact Double Action Revolver .38 Special or .357 Magnum. Your choice of configuration and manufacturer.
8) A Semi-Auto .22. Your choice of action, configuration, and manufacturer.
9) A Revolver .22. Your choice of action, configuration, and manufacturer.
10) A Full Size Revolver whose cartridge begins with a "4" (i.e. .41, .44, .45, .454, etc.) Your choice of action, configuration, and manufacturer.

Optional:
1) A Black Powder Single Shot Pistol or Revolver. Your choice of action, caliber, and manufacturer.

At the most basic level, a good starter set should include:
.22 revolver
.22 semi auto
38/357 revolver
9mm semi auto
1911 any caliber
Single action revolver any caliber.
That should cover the basics and give a good platform to build on.

What should you collect?


Whatever you like / want. You determine your must have.

jpricewood said:

Guess I need to get a Blued Smith 19 or 29, or something similar to round out the collection that I may or may not have.

Click to expand...

Both would be an outstanding addition in my book.

A gun for belt carry a gun for pocket carry a fun gun and couple of long guns

Utility, id be fine with one Glock.

But of my guns that any "collector" should have.
Id say

colt Single action

a Smith or Colt double Action.

A 1911

a High power

A Sig 226/220

A Beretta 92/96

A Buckmark/mk series ruger or victory/champion/woodsman etc etc


And a Glock for when it matters.

A mix of all kinds of guns is interesting but sticking with a "genre" is more interesting since it shows how a "gun" changes and improves over time. An example would be Smith and Wesson .22 revolvers! Then add 38/357 revolvers and 44 revolvers. Now add barrel lengths. And then finish variations, blue high gloss, dull blue, stainless, nickel and "pintos"!

It only takes time and money, lots of money!

Smiles,

1911 45acp,
6-shot 4” bbl 38/357,
SAA 45 long Colt,
Beretta 92 series,
J frame snub,
Any 22 rimfire.

and, of course, a R51

I'm a S&W revolver guy, so I've accumulated the bookends, .22LR to .500 Magnum and one of each caliber (which is more than enough for me) in between. I reckon this year will be the year of the blue and I've already begun those 'must haves' with a Model 10. The other 'must haves' for me were a variety of 1911s and for now I'm good to go with those. And finally a couple of CC 9mm micro compacts. The other hand guns that I own were not 'must haves', but 'I wanna have'.......