Which one is the American Handgun?

[Marko Kloos]

When you think "America", what kind of handgun do you most closely associate with American image and our way of life?

I listed my four closest candidates. If you think of another one that deserves the title, write it in.

 

[All-Around-Shooter]

I say the 1911, Peacemaker is a close 2nd.

the reason I chose the 1911 is the amount of time it spent in service.

We still had some in the Marine Corps in the 90's.

 

[JNewell]

Tough call. I voted for the 1873 because it's a direct descendant of the original Colt (the Patterson -- 1836, right?), which was a genuine innovation in handguns and defines much of the rest of that century, and which I'd have voted for if it was a choice.

 

[Kamicosmos]

I voted for the Peacemaker. Go spend sometime in Europe. One of the first things people asked me when they figured out I was an American, was 'Are you a cowboy, and do you have any cowboy guns?'

For Americans, the 1911 seems to be the American Gun.

 

[El Tejon]

How about:

From the outside looking in, the SAA.

From the inside looking in, the 1911.

 

[Old Dog]

My first instinct was to go with J.M. Browning's classic ... but then I had a thought:
What was the first handgun any young American boy grew up seeing on television and/or in the movies, to a wide extent, really noticed, and what was the first handgun replica most of us played with as young children? C'mon, most of us grew up with the TV Westerns ... there was simply more exposure of the SAA in movies and TV than there was of the 1911 ... I know for me, I grew up believing that the SAA was the best-lookin' shootin' iron ever (still do). It was also the toy of choice for many of us kids growing up in the '60s.
I submit: the Colt Single Action Army (Peacemaker).

 

[MrMurphy]

The Marines still use the 1911 in small numbers, for Force Recon.

 

[mcmoyer]

I'm with Old Dog on this one...the Colt SAA.

 

[Brian Williams]

Yep, they are.

 

[SamlautRanger]

When I think of American guns, those that have been and still are being used.

2 come to mind. 30-30 Lever Actions and 1911 45s. The only two guns you really need!! (well and a ruger 375, 12ga O/U, HK P7, Sig 226, Glock, 45-70 lever action, m1 garand, ..........................)

 

[Black Snowman]

I'm going to say the 1911 for the reasons mentioned and our singular obession with it. It's not particularly popular outside the US. But here, not only is a symbol of our military and served for many years but it's been bastardized and customized to fit countless individuals in countless ways. Very few other places on earth have people that value this kind personalization. We see it in our cars and our guns, and nothing embodies this better than the 1911.

 

[orangeninja]

I'm gonna say the Winchest 94 or clones or the Colt Peacemaker.

The 1911 is cool, but a lot of countries use it, same thing with the Smiths...but lever actions and the Peacemaker? American as mom, apple pie and Billy the Kid.

 

[q102josh]

definitely the colt 1911

 

[JohnKSa]

From the outside looking in, the SAA.

From the inside looking in, the 1911.

+1

 

[larry starling]

Colt made 1911 comes to mind then colt SAA a very close second!

 

[Tory]

Colt INVENTED the modern revolver;

autopistols existed before the 1911 (think Borchardt and Luger).

Therefore, as a contribution to firearms development, the SAA, being a refinement of the original revolving cylinder/single barrel handgun (cartridges instead of cap and ball), is THE logical choice.

 

[GaryP]

Colt 1911!

 

[sm]

Yep, they are.

+ 1

Hate to admit this, growing up with Colts for semis and Smith's for revo's as I did...dang Colt Detective Special is associated with American Culture . Exchange Student even commented about the Old B/W movies, Later the color TV shows...reading about what American Detectives carried... Young lady is From Thailand no less.

 

[ZEN.45]

It's not particularly popular outside the US.

As far as Belgium is concerned your wrong. The 1911 is probably the most popular pistol here (maybe even more than the belgium FN Highpower). I have 3 1911's.

From the outside looking in, the SAA.

From the inside looking in, the 1911

From the outside I would say 1911 for the gun enthusiast and the SAA for the non gun enthusiast (who would indeed call it the 'cowboy revolver').

 

[geekWithA.45]

I think you'll get 2 sets of answers, depending on who you ask:


A gunny would say : "1911, in full accordance with the prophet John Moses Browning."

A non gunny would say: "One o them olde west cowboy revolvers...uh....Colt? Smith & Wesson? Glock? Yeah. Glock. Definately Glock."

 

[Crownvicman]

The old Smith&Wesson .38 has always seemed the most "American" handgun to me. Not alot of flash, but it will do just about anything you need it to do.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Wait......

There are other guns besides Colts???

Really?

I don't believe it. Nope, I refuse to believe it.

 

[Redneck Revolver]

the 1911. yes samuel colt made man equal to god, but its his legacy that spawned the .45 IMO.

 

[FPrice]

I had to go with the Colt SAA, if only because it came before the Colt Model 1911. Both though fairly scream "AMERICAN" with more than a touch of pride.

 

[Bacon]

Although I own mostly Smith & Wesson's, gotta give it to Colt on this one.

Steve