Vern Humphrey
Member
Here I sit, wearing Wranglers, cowboy boots, and a M1911A1 in an IWB. You can't get more American than that. 
Which one is the American Handgun?
- Thread starter Marko Kloos
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Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
I had too go with Colts 1911 .45 ACP
From WW-I thru Viet-Nam is was the PRIDE of the American fighting man!
From WW-I thru Viet-Nam is was the PRIDE of the American fighting man!
Cowboy Preacher
Member
Brian Dale
Member
I'm with El T, Zen.45 and kinda with geek: gun people (including me) will say 1911; other people will describe a SAA. No matter how much you love your 1911, admit it: when you were a little kid, the 1873 Colt Peacemaker was the gun of your dreams.
Tied for 3rd place in pop culture throughout the years: the image of the Colt Dick Special snubbie in people's minds, but the name "Smith and Wesson" for handguns.
To whoever voted for the Registered Magnum: I like your style.
Tied for 3rd place in pop culture throughout the years: the image of the Colt Dick Special snubbie in people's minds, but the name "Smith and Wesson" for handguns.
To whoever voted for the Registered Magnum: I like your style.
sturmruger
Member
I had to say the 1911, but might have voted for a 30-30 in lever action if it was an option.
SapperLeader
Member
Ill definity agree with that, and I voted for the SAA. I do think that the model 10 is probely been in more police and security guard holsters, and next to more beds than any other firearm.
JohnBT
Member
"30-30 in lever action"
I'd vote for the Model 39, 39A, etc. Marlin's .22 lever action has been around longer than even the 1911.
JT
I'd vote for the Model 39, 39A, etc. Marlin's .22 lever action has been around longer than even the 1911.
JT
Brian Dale
Member
John:
Ahhhh, Annie Oakley's rifle. Can't argue with that.
{except to nit-pick w/r/t not fitting the thread title: "Which one is the American Handgun? "}
Ahhhh, Annie Oakley's rifle. Can't argue with that.
{except to nit-pick w/r/t not fitting the thread title: "Which one is the American Handgun? "}
Spieler
Member
Has to be the Colt M1911 - no doubt about it...when thinking about the USA's overseas military escapades of the 20th Century. However, I think the quintesential cop gun is the S&W M&P/M10.
tlhelmer
Member
What no Glock? Just kidding. I voted the 1911.
chaim
Member
I would have to say all of the above with one minor change and one "honorable mention" addition.
The lever rifle, paired with the Colt SAA are the guns that won the West (not really, there were others just as important, but we now know the Hollywood version best). What picture of the Old West Cowboy is complete without a matched pair of SAAs and a Winchester?
The 1911 served our military so long, and many civilians now too, that it is an all-American. Possibly the most popular gun (and most hated) in the US. Served through 4 wars and several smaller actions as our primary sidearm and still serves today in smaller numbers. It is a tinkerers gun (what is more American than that). How many here own one?
The M10 is the American police revolver. It has also been in many citizens' hands as well.
Then I would change the Registered Magnum to a more generic "magnum". What is more American? Take something that is already a good thing, tinker with it, make it better (or at least "more").
Honorable mention- the snub especially in Colt or S&W form. The Detective Special and Chief's Special were the undercover and plainsclothes police gun for decades, and still are often used in those roles. What American gun enthusiast doesn't have at least one form of snub? Even many died-in-the-wool auto owners will likely have a snub if he/she has a revolver, and he/she probably carries it too. The more I think about it this isn't an honorable mention, it needs added to the list.
I don't see how any could be removed from the list because each one screams American.
The lever rifle, paired with the Colt SAA are the guns that won the West (not really, there were others just as important, but we now know the Hollywood version best). What picture of the Old West Cowboy is complete without a matched pair of SAAs and a Winchester?
The 1911 served our military so long, and many civilians now too, that it is an all-American. Possibly the most popular gun (and most hated) in the US. Served through 4 wars and several smaller actions as our primary sidearm and still serves today in smaller numbers. It is a tinkerers gun (what is more American than that). How many here own one?
The M10 is the American police revolver. It has also been in many citizens' hands as well.
Then I would change the Registered Magnum to a more generic "magnum". What is more American? Take something that is already a good thing, tinker with it, make it better (or at least "more").
Honorable mention- the snub especially in Colt or S&W form. The Detective Special and Chief's Special were the undercover and plainsclothes police gun for decades, and still are often used in those roles. What American gun enthusiast doesn't have at least one form of snub? Even many died-in-the-wool auto owners will likely have a snub if he/she has a revolver, and he/she probably carries it too. The more I think about it this isn't an honorable mention, it needs added to the list.
I don't see how any could be removed from the list because each one screams American.
dfariswheel
Member
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I'll be even more basic.
THE American handgun is.......The revolver.
Other countries make quite nice autos.
The United States ALONE truely understands the revolver.
Sam Colt invented it, and Colt and S&W perfected it.
No other country has ever really understood the revolver and even super high quality foreign made revolvers like the Korth LOOK like cartoon drawings of a revolver.
No matter how well made, foreign designed revolvers just aren't "right".
NO ONE has ever been able to design a revolver that just somehow seems to look, feel, and operate "right".
Although they may work quite well, foreign revolvers like the Korth, Webley, Manurhin, and any of the foreign military revolvers never really measured up to even the cheapest Colt or S&W.
All the foreign revolvers, even of top quality are second rate designs by people who have no idea what a revolver is supposed to be.
John Browning solidified what an automatic should be, and the world took that to heart and expanded on it.
Sam Colt decided what a revolver was to be, and it was "Right" for all time.
The rest of the world, for whatever reason never understood this, and still doesn't.
For that reason, while the automatic belongs to the world, the revolver was, is, and always will be an exclusively American "thing".
THE American handgun is.......The revolver.
Other countries make quite nice autos.
The United States ALONE truely understands the revolver.
Sam Colt invented it, and Colt and S&W perfected it.
No other country has ever really understood the revolver and even super high quality foreign made revolvers like the Korth LOOK like cartoon drawings of a revolver.
No matter how well made, foreign designed revolvers just aren't "right".
NO ONE has ever been able to design a revolver that just somehow seems to look, feel, and operate "right".
Although they may work quite well, foreign revolvers like the Korth, Webley, Manurhin, and any of the foreign military revolvers never really measured up to even the cheapest Colt or S&W.
All the foreign revolvers, even of top quality are second rate designs by people who have no idea what a revolver is supposed to be.
John Browning solidified what an automatic should be, and the world took that to heart and expanded on it.
Sam Colt decided what a revolver was to be, and it was "Right" for all time.
The rest of the world, for whatever reason never understood this, and still doesn't.
For that reason, while the automatic belongs to the world, the revolver was, is, and always will be an exclusively American "thing".
Bear Gulch
Member
The 1911 was the arm of the american soldier through 2 world wars, korea, Viet Nam and a dozen other places. My MP unit carried them at Fort Wainwright, Alaska up until 1988.
When they have served in the hands of folks like Hanneken, York, Murphy and others they are the American gun.
When they have served in the hands of folks like Hanneken, York, Murphy and others they are the American gun.
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Dang good question M. Tough one too. For me, it's a toss-up between the Colt 1873 and the 1911. Both are distinctly American and recognized world wide as American guns. One was on the frontier and the other the semi-auto against which all others are measured. Heck, the latter even will even see service with the Space Marines in Aliens.
OK, I'll throw my hat in for the 1873 Colt SAA. Why, when anyone thinks of Americans, they think of Cowboys and Indians. That's us! Indians, that is, the real good guys.
OK, I'll throw my hat in for the 1873 Colt SAA. Why, when anyone thinks of Americans, they think of Cowboys and Indians. That's us! Indians, that is, the real good guys.
Baba Louie
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For non-gun types, I'd think the old Peacemaker would be recognized first and foremost as THE American Handgun.
For them what shoots, it'd be a tie between the SAA and the Model 1911 followed closely by the S&W Model 10... which is fine by moi, as that just about sums it up.
For them what shoots, it'd be a tie between the SAA and the Model 1911 followed closely by the S&W Model 10... which is fine by moi, as that just about sums it up.
Bullet Bob
Member
S&W M&P; for the first 50 years of the 1900's, you could hardly give away a 1911 or SAA except to a dedicated few. M&P's have been popular since 1899.
DSRUPTV
Member
I had to say 1911. It's just the first handgun that comes to mind when I think of patriotism and America. I agree with the notion that the 30-30 lever would be the classic American rifle.
No_Brakes23
Member
Even though auto-loaders will always be my main pistol love, it pains me to not give it to the wheelguns. They are so American. But which one? Without more distinct parameters, the SAA and the Smiths are left to squabble over the title.
Unfortunately the revos split the vote, and the .45ACP/1911 has unmatched symbolic stature among auto-loaders and pistols in general. More than one European pistol manufacturer has made mention of such in their literature. Phrases such as "the American love affair with the .45ACP" show the "outside looking in" attitude concerning that weapon.
As for me, I have been in love with the 1911 since I was 3 years old. There are some really neat firearms out there, some arguably more tactical, useful, accurate, or reliable than the 1911, but if I could only have one handgun, it would be my 1911.
Unfortunately the revos split the vote, and the .45ACP/1911 has unmatched symbolic stature among auto-loaders and pistols in general. More than one European pistol manufacturer has made mention of such in their literature. Phrases such as "the American love affair with the .45ACP" show the "outside looking in" attitude concerning that weapon.
As for me, I have been in love with the 1911 since I was 3 years old. There are some really neat firearms out there, some arguably more tactical, useful, accurate, or reliable than the 1911, but if I could only have one handgun, it would be my 1911.
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