If you could have only one pistol?

[gwpercle]

Just one ... The S&W model 58 41 Magnum with Kim Ahrends Retro Combat Grips ...
that's it in my Avatar . She would be the one ... we go back to 1969 ... long time Love affair !
Gary

 

[The Happy Kaboomer]

Ain't never gonna happen......Wasted bandwith

 

[Bob Meyer]

Hello Everyone! I know this has been asked before so I apologize, but some of us like to read and participate in such discussions. The question is: if you could only have only one handgun for the rest of your life, which gun would you choose? Personally, I would probably choose the G17, although I hesitate between it and one of the CZ-75 models precisely because of the steel/metal frame, which may still be better in the long run and when the gun may serve as an heirloom. Although I wouldn't mind if it was a 92, P226, or USP. What would you choose?

Dan Wesson 357 Magnum pistol pack.

 

[Bristol Mt.Man]

I love the "one handgun" scenario but I would have to go with my 629, 4" barrel, with factory combats. Doesn't get any better than this!

 

[hdbiker]

Ruger LC9S PRO

 

[jar]

It would probably be a revolver.

 

[usaral63]

It would probably be a revolver.

I'd just break the law and carry what I wanted !

 

[trackskippy]

Well, youre not supposed to say that part out loud and let them think you're a good little worker bee, and follow all their "rules".

 

[GRIZ22]

Ok...done this before...4" 357 magnum, GP100 or L frame. You can do just about anything with it and factory ammo.

 

[Old_Grouch]

Only one handgun forever?
I won't narrow it down to a brand or model but it would be a medium or large frame, 3 or four inch barrel .357 Magnum; period.
No question, no hesitation, no re-consideration.
Mike drop.

 

[JeffG]

Hello Everyone! I know this has been asked before so I apologize, but some of us like to read and participate in such discussions. The question is: if you could only have only one handgun for the rest of your life, which gun would you choose? Personally, I would probably choose the G17, although I hesitate between it and one of the CZ-75 models precisely because of the steel/metal frame, which may still be better in the long run and when the gun may serve as an heirloom. Although I wouldn't mind if it was a 92, P226, or USP. What would you choose?

Pistol? Glock 23 Gen 3 .40 cal. Handgun? Blue steel Ruger Vaquero 4.65inch in .44 mag.

 

[2ndtimer]

For years I would have answered Glock 19, but it isn’t optimal in the woods that are shared with bears and mountain lions, and the communists in our state government have defied both state and U.S. Constitutions by restricting magazine capacity to 10 rounds, I now have a Glock 20.5 MOS, as 10 rounds of 10mm on tap is preferred to 10 rounds of 9mm. Just have to find a decent concealment holster for it and locate those 15 round magazines I acquired before the law took effect.

 

[tark]

It will be really nice to find one in great working condition.

Finding a good C-96 in working condition is easy...it just isn't cheap. I have two. One is in good working condition with a good bore. I re-sprung it and I shoot the snot out of it. The other one I never shoot because no one ever has except for the man who proof tested it at the factory in 1913. It has never been fired since. It is a 99% gun and it oozes cosmoline out of every opening.

Yes, I have the shoulder stock, numbered to the gun.

definitely a C96! good enough for the Empire, good enough for me!

Sorry, Mark Mark, That was Solo's personal blaster. The Empire never issued them.

Oh, to answer the OPs original question, My avatar is my favorite. And I have fired it...seven times, just to say I HAVE shot it.

Mark Mark can fire it seven more times... If he shows up on my door. The offer still stands, Mark Mark!

 

[Mark_Mark]

Finding a good C-96 in working condition is easy...it just isn't cheap. I have two. One is in good working condition with a good bore. I re-sprung it and I shoot the snot out of it. The other one I never shoot because no one ever has except for the man who proof tested it at the factory in 1913. It has never been fired since. It is a 99% gun and it oozes cosmoline out of every opening.

Yes, I have the shoulder stock, numbered to the gun.

Sorry, Mark Mark, That was Solo's personal blaster. The Empire never issued them.

Oh, to answer the OPs original question, My avatar is my favorite. And I have fired it...seven times, just to say I HAVE shot it.

Mark Mark can fire it seven more times... If he shows up on my door. The offer still stands, Mark Mark!

DANG that’s CLEAN! that stock is MONEY!

I hand a chance for 2 of them. One was a Bolo with heavy wear but good bore. Others had a good finish but bad bore.

Ooowell.. another will show up eventually

I can’t wait to come knocking at your door. But don’t shoot! LOL. I’m probably getting a Les Baer soon, always wanted on. My other shop has a couple of Premier 2 that are New but old stock, well over 10 years old. Maybe you worked on them!

 

[tark]

I got the unfired C-96 from a friend in California almost 30 years ago. He had cancer and he sold it to me for $2,000, which is what he paid for it. It would be worth a bit more if it had the lanyard ring.

I am very happy to say that my friend with cancer is still kicking and screaming, but not regretting the sale of the gun to me... I have left it to his son in my will.

That is only fair...

As to the OTHER Broomie, I got it from Simpson's Collector Guns in Galesburg, Ill. They are famous for their Lugers, but Mr. Simpson also knows more than a thing or two about C-96s as well. And they always seem to have a specimen or two on hand.

For a hefty price...

 

[stonebuster]

I’ve never learned anything from these “only one” threads. There is never a consensus on anything

The only consensus is none of us would want to be forced to make this decision. The thread does make me think hard about my priorities.

 

[JTQ]

If I could only have one, it would probably be a Glock G17.

Since I don't have that limitation, I don't own a G17.

 

[jstert]

o.p. was limited to semiautomatic pistols, and i answered theoretically: ruger sr22 or keltec p32, of what i now own.

however enough folks mentioned revolvers so i can add mine…my actual, non-hypothetical, real-world, one & only, surreptitious, firearm, for both home defense and occasional carry, for 25+ years because just one was all that i could manage moving one from one antigun locale to another for work. taurus 85 5-shot 38sp steel snubbie revolver that i got gently used in 1985. it came out to save my butt once and was most comforting otherwise. i replaced the oem wood grips with pachmayrs, and added 2x50 round boxes of 158gr ball ammo, two speedloaders and a generic nylon holster. k.i.s.s.

favorite one and done, also surreptitious, handguns of colleagues that i saw (from the 1980s before polymer wonder-9s) were steel ruger and s&w 357mag revolvers, and m1911 45acp pistols. later i noticed that the younger guys of the emerging wonder-9 pistol era chose to be unarmed. a subliminal message? old school was good school.

 

[American_Fusilier]

If I could only have one handgun, it'd be a fairly easy choice: the Glock 19 gen 5 MOS.

Small enough to conceal, big enough for a "go to war" gun, good enough for home defense.

Slap a TLR-1 on it. And maybe a red dot sight.

Ironically, it's a handgun I don't personally own. I have a PSA Dagger, but if I could only have one, I'd definitely get a genuine Glock.

 

[Mark_Mark]

I got the unfired C-96 from a friend in California almost 30 years ago. He had cancer and he sold it to me for $2,000, which is what he paid for it. It would be worth a bit more if it had the lanyard ring.

I am very happy to say that my friend with cancer is still kicking and screaming, but not regretting the sale of the gun to me... I have left it to his son in my will.

That is only fair...

As to the OTHER Broomie, I got it from Simpson's Collector Guns in Galesburg, Ill. They are famous for their Lugers, but Mr. Simpson also knows more than a thing or two about C-96s as well. And they always seem to have a specimen or two on hand.

For a hefty price...

$2,000 30 years ago!!! that’s EXPENSIVE

 

[Mark_Mark]

The only consensus is none of us would want to be forced to make this decision. The thread does make me think hard about my priorities.

I always think about this situation. If SHTF in Seattle, Earthquakes or Volcano. What guns would I take? can’t take them all and I have a few minutes to decide.

4 guns: 2 AR’s, Glock 17, and a LC9… All been proven to work. Ammo is ready, mags are ready.

 

[d2wing]

.357 Ruger Security -Six. Or H&K VP9. Guns I like to shoot and I shoot them well. They are both comfortable in my hand. Nothing wrong about other choices. Whatever feels right in your hand and hits what you point it at.
Pistols have been around for centuries. All handheld guns are pistols.

 

[plumberroy]

The only consensus is none of us would want to be forced to make this decision. The thread does make me think hard about my priorities.

This you think about priorities and what works for you.
Last night a town 80 miles north of here that we have a lot of friends and family members in took a direct hit from a tornado. Little bit later in the night another part of that storm rolled over us. I grabbed the stuff I needed in case I had to shelter in basement or go.
Glock 48 and a BK-10 went on my belt OLight seeker pro 2, weather radio. My go bag was set close. Already thinking about one gun helps in those situations

 

[tark]

$2,000 30 years ago!!! that’s EXPENSIVE

Not for a 99% unfired C-96 with matching shoulder stock...

 

[donki1967]

In general I prefer revolvers and exclusively from S&W.
If I had to choose a gun, it would be this big thing...