Classy Hammer Fired Handguns

[HisStigness]

I very recently acquired a SIG P226 in 9mm. One adjective that came to mind when I first shot is was classy. This got me thinking: as far as sophistication and style, are hammer fired handguns in a class above striker fired handguns? Hammer fired pistols are often metal framed (as opposed to polymer), have much lighter and crisper triggers (in SA), and generally seem to be prettier than striker fired guns. I also see that almost all the higher dollar handguns, such as HK's and 1911's, are hammer fired. The designers of these pistols also bothered to do some shaping to make their product look nice on the outside. Think of the classic looks of the 1911, Browning HP and Beretta 92, versus the quintessential striker fired handgun: the plain and square Glock.

Don't get me wrong, I like my striker fired handgun for what it is: simple and dependable. But I'm not drawn to it the way I am to a high end HK with its nice lines and light single action trigger pull. I liken striker fired guns to a pickup truck; they are made to to be used and abused, while still getting the job done. Whereas a hammer fired handgun is like a Rolls Royce or Bentley; not as useful or inexpensive, but a lot more elegant and enjoyable to drive.

I'm not looking to start a fight or bash people that love their striker fired handguns (I have both and like both). I'm also not saying that the people that own high end handguns are any better than people that can only afford a Hi Point. I'm just looking to see if anybody else thinks that hammer fired handguns are more classy than your average Glock.

 

[NGIB]

They're just different. I have a bunch of both and they all do what they're supposed to do. I do think a gun with a hammer looks better but that's just my perception...

 

[Jim K]

I wonder if there is not some element of the "old is classy, new is clunky" viewpoint here.

One of the first successful auto pistols, the striker-fired FN Model 1900, designed by John Browning himself, was not exactly (IMHO) a thing of beauty, though it was a design triumph, simple and reliable. On the other hand the Colt Model 1903 pocket automatic, also designed by JMB, was (again IMHO) one of the best looking auto pistols ever, and it was a hammer gun.

So I don't think good design or good aesthetics goes with any particular kind of pistol mechanism any more than the design of a classic car has to do with the cylinder arrangement of the engine.

Jim

 

[SigP229R]

I prefer hammer fired pistols to striker. However as to classy looking it's either or as far as I'm concerned. JMHO is that one of the classics in pistol are the Beretta 92's. I love the open slide.

 

[AustinTX]

It's less about hammer-fired versus striker-fired for me, and more about metal-framed versus polymer-framed (though there is obviously a pretty strong correlation between the action and frame types). It's hard for me to think of any polymer pistol as being particularly "classy" or "elegant," even when it's a great gun.

 

[sigarms228]

Yeah I think metal frame hammer fired pistols are classier looking than ANY poly frame pistols. However performance wise I only can dream that my hammer fired HKs have as nice a trigger as my Walther PPQ.

 

[bshepherd]

The ultimate in Classy. A 2012 version, blued steel and walnut!

 

[WestKentucky]

I greatly prefer metal frames than polymer, blued to stainless, and hammered over striker guns. I also am a revolver guy. It's a personal preference very much akin to what your favorite color is or what type of music you listen to. If a man likes one thing more than another then so be it. What's really sad is that very few new designs are hammer fired and fewer each year are metal framed. The guns I can say without a doubt are gorgeous classic designs are 1911s, pretty much all Beretta pistols designed before 2000, the Walthers designed before the 1980s, and about half of the sig products which tend to stay relatively 1911ish in form. My personal favorites are PPK, Beretta 84, llama minimax, browning 1911-22, and browning hipower. A nice Walther p1 is on my shortlist though.

 

[Girodin]

also see that almost all the higher dollar handguns, such as HK's

totally:

Oh, wait.

 

[Armor Snail]

Yeah this one has the same problem.

 

[Lucky Derby]

totally:

Oh, wait.

That's the one I imediately thought of.

 

[Rob96]

When I think of classy, hammer fired pistols two immediately come to mind; the Beretta 92fs and the 1911.

 

[bannockburn]

My idea of classy hammer fired handguns would be the Browning Hi-Power, any 1911 variant (both spur and round hammers), the Walther PP and PPK, and the Walther P-38.

 

[gc70]

This got me thinking: as far as sophistication and style, are hammer fired handguns in a class above striker fired handguns?

Lugers had sophistication and style before the major hammer-fired "classics" were designed.

 

[ritepath]

 

[340PD]

 

[19-3Ben]

I've always thought some of the single stack S&W 2nd and third gen autos (3913, 39, etc...) were some very classy looking guns.

Edit to add:

It's not exclusive to hammer fired guns. It just tends to be that way. I think Kahr's K series are very very classy looking indeed and still regret selling my K40)

 

[BigG]

 

[snooperman]

Yes, I think the way you do too. The SIG, H&K, Ruger and S&W 3rd gen are the ones I shoot the most. Lately I have been shooting the Sphinx SDP 9mm , which I recently bought . It is one of the best guns I have and the most accurate as well. That said, I do have 4 polymer striker-fired guns too , but they are too light in weight and hence do not shoot them as well as my heavier DA/SA hammer pistols.

 

[JN01]

For me, classy is a combination of the aesthetics of the design and how it is executed.

The lines of the 1911, PPK, Beretta 92 and Storm, S&W 3913 and M&P are all attractive to me, but a plastic frame will never be a thing of beauty- if the design were produced in steel with wood grips, then perhaps so.

Conversely, you can have an attractive design like the CZ75 or a Sig with a painted on or dull finish that also doesn't say "classy" to me.

 

[bikerdoc]

I never thought of it in terms of classy. I just like what I like. All steel, highly blued or stainless steel, wood grips, hammer fired guns. To each his own.