What do you consider a "handgun"?

[Alan Fud]

If you were building a web site or putting out a newsletter and had to include a picture of a 'handgun', what would you use?

A Glock? A 1911? A snubbie revlover? A single action cowboy gun? a DA/SA pistol?

When somebody says 'handgun', what image comes to mind?

If you could use only one image, what would it be?

 

[sm]

Handgun to me is a firearm designed to be used with one hand. Not that the support hand cannot be used ,it just means designed as such.

Depending on the positioning I wanted to put in the customer's mind would determine the type of handgun image on web page.

For example if the web page was generic, lets say outdoor pistol range, I would use examples of all platforms. Tabs could be a different platform for linking to new member info( 1911 style), Hours of operation ( snubby), Ammo avail/or not for sale at site( SA revolver), CCW classes and info ( Glock) , contact information ( Sig)...and so forth.

Targeting a specific customer I'd position myself through the Web accordingly. SASS, comes to mind as an example, we wouldn't have a Bersa or Beretta used as tabs.

 

[Mastrogiacomo]

All of what you mention is what I think of for handguns. The very first thought though would be a Beretta...naturally... followed by a revolver -- but that's just because the Beretta is my first love.

 

[Tamara]

A 4" medium-frame square-butt revolver.

If anything has been the Generic Handgun for the last hundred years, that'd be it.

 

[HogRider]

Whenever there is a bad story in the local news ( and we all know that only bad stories are good stories for the media ), that has somehow remotely do with "shooting" or "gun", they always show a stainless 2" to 3" barreled medium size Revolver in the background. Seems to me, that this has become the "symbol" for bad handgun. All local media stations seem to use the same type of gun. I found that rather strange, wouldn't you expect to see something something like a Glock,Mac,Ingram, etc as a symbol for bad handgun.

Couple of weeks ago there was a massive shootout between rival illegal immigrant smugglers on a freeway in southern AZ. All the shooting was the done with AKs. Nevertheless the image of the revolver was used again.

 

[XavierBreath]

In visual design, the image associated with a handgun used to be the 1911. Now it's the Beretta 92. I figure trhat is probably because of it's position as the military sidearm.

 

[Ala Dan]

O.K. Folk's, all this is very interesting, but

how about the old Remington XP-100
single-shot, chambered for the .221 Remington Fireball?

Is it a handgun, or is it a "short barreled rifle"; as the
BATF likes to say?

With a second thought, does anyone own one of these?

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[CleverNickname]

A Remington XP-100 would still be a pistol, because it's a stockless firearm with a rifled barrel that's designed to be fired with one hand. It would only be an SBR if you put a stock on it.

 

[Ala Dan]

WOW Clever Nickname -

Many thanks for that good information, and the
excellent pic! Most likely, some of our younger
viewer's had never even seen one~

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[BerettaNut92]

Beretta 92. Because it's me.

 

[Standing Wolf]

A 4" medium-frame square-butt revolver.

I concur, although I'd say it's a toss-up between the four- and six-inch barrel—and I'd like to know why more manufacturers don't make five-inch revolvers.

 

[Ala Dan]

Happy Holiday's Folk's-

Standing Wolf - I'm with you on this one my friend!

While I enjoy shooting the 4 and 6 incher's; I have really
fallen in love with my 5" Smith & Wesson 629-5
"Classic" .44 magnum. Kind'a makes me wish that my
6" 686-5 was a 5 incher also.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[cool45auto]

Love 'em or hate 'em the Beretta would be a good pick. It's the first thing I thought of when I read the post heading.

 

[P95Carry]

OK .... I know these days the auto has probably ''top spot'' but for me (at my age!) .. the archetypal pic of a handgun would be ........ yep, a Smith N frame. In this case one of the nicest proportioned revo's ever (IMO) ... the 5" M27(-2).

To the ''uninitiated'' .... surely a handgun, 'par excellance'

 

[Ala Dan]

Hello P95 Carry-

That is one of the most beautiful Smith & Wesson
27-2's I've ever seen; bar none my friend!

Probably a stupid question, but would you be
interested in selling it?

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[P95Carry]

Probably a stupid question, but would you be
interested in selling it?

Beautiful it is Sir ..... beautiful indeed. Well . your question could not be in any way labelled as stupid ... far from it but .... unforyunately, no, it cannot be for sale. (Explanation follows!!!)

Thing is - I had an early 5" M27 way back, in 80's ... and it ''went'' ..... from then on I hankered after that gun more than any. Early this year, I decided to put my Citori Hunter on consignment .. seemed like too much money tied up in one gun (at that time) ...... danged if ... a bit later when it was bought - I went to claim my check ....... but what did I see under the counter??

Yep .. above M27-2, in a wooden box. $400 price tag I admit but .. it was love (lust???) at first sight.

So - yeah - you guessed it .... I walked out with that gun (nearly walkin on air) .. and the check was $400 lighter!!

I have no regrets at all . I now again have a P&R N frame, with my fave 5" barrel .. to me the prettiest of all proportions. I am both relieved, delighted and privelaged even ... to again have such a piece.

That hopefully, explains in part at least .... why I have no wish to sell.

 

[Ala Dan]

Chris-

I truly understand! NO harm, NO foul - I just had to ask.

You know what, you could have named your own price;
and I promise it would have been taken into serious
consideration!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[P95Carry]

Ala Dan my friend .. think on this!

I tell my wife as each extra purchase acrues ....... ''but Hon ... (and she is oh so understanding!) .... when I pop off ....... this collection will raise more than enough to bury me three times over (at least!).

I will Sir make sure she knows that on this piece in particular .... should I ''depart this mortal coil, earlier than I wish ...... you should have first refusal!

I am sure you are well younger than me ..... so, ya never know!!

There!!

 

[Ala Dan]

AW! CHRIS MY FRIEND-

please don't even go there, think about LIVING
life to its fullest; not being entombed in some dark,
lonely, and cold hole 6' under the earth's surface!

I respect your decision immensely; and I will abide
by your wishes.

Thanks for the update, and I may be reached at:
[email protected] if the need ever arises?

In the meantime, enjoy that one fine looking S&W!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Hal]

IMNSHO, nothing says "America at peace" like a D/A revolver.


Then again, IIRC Alan you have a very fine looking .380 (BDA?) that would look pretty sharp too.

 

[Amish_Bill]

I don't know... revolvers are pretty much everywhere, but nothing says American Pistol like a 1911.

 

[Feanaro]

M1911. Business end, of course.

 

[BHPshooter]

It would have to have a hammer, so I'd say either an old Smith square-butt revolver, a M1911, an FN Hi Power, or a Beretta 92. I don't know why, but those are the ones that stand out in my mind.

Wes

 

[ksnecktieman]

Either a smith M&P or a beretta 92

 

[Zach S]

When somebody says 'handgun', what image comes to mind?

1911.