Got to musing about my accumulation of handguns the other day and realized that I like iconic handguns and that I like guns in stainless steel. And....that I have 150 years of iconic handguns, guns that set the standard for their era.
Samual Colt introduced his percussion revolver in 1836. It was refined until it was replaced by his Colt Army, known as the "Peacemaker" in 1873, "The handgun that won the west".
Ruger did the percussion revolver better and did it in stainless with the Old Army.
Ruger also did the classic single action Colt Army better with the New Vaquero and did it in stainless. Shown is a 7 1/2" New Vaquero in .45 LC and a 3 1/2" Bird's Head New Vaquero in .45 ACP.
Smith & Wesson and Colt introduced the swing out cylinder in about 1890. This became the standard American police side arm for the next 90 years.
Ruger did it better with the Six Series double action revolvers - shown is a stainless Speed Six in .357 magnum.
Luger introduced his innovative toggle action in 1900. It was the first really handy semi-auto and quickly gained wide acceptance. Mitchell Arms did it better in 1993 in stainless and in 9mm.
Colt met the U.S. Army's need for a better handgun with John Browning's 1911. It faithfully served for 70 years.
Ruger did it better with their 1911C in 2013 in stainless in .45 ACP.
Walther introduced their model PP in 1929 and the compact PPK in 1931. The first widely successful double action semi-auto. Walther introduced the same gun but in stainless in the 1980s in .380 ACP.
A hundred years of fire arms designs, 1836 - 1931 but produced in Stainless Steel in the late 20th and early 21 century. Some designs are timeless and improve with age and new materials, therefore, 150 years of firearms development.
Terry T
Samual Colt introduced his percussion revolver in 1836. It was refined until it was replaced by his Colt Army, known as the "Peacemaker" in 1873, "The handgun that won the west".
Ruger did the percussion revolver better and did it in stainless with the Old Army.
Ruger also did the classic single action Colt Army better with the New Vaquero and did it in stainless. Shown is a 7 1/2" New Vaquero in .45 LC and a 3 1/2" Bird's Head New Vaquero in .45 ACP.
Smith & Wesson and Colt introduced the swing out cylinder in about 1890. This became the standard American police side arm for the next 90 years.
Ruger did it better with the Six Series double action revolvers - shown is a stainless Speed Six in .357 magnum.
Luger introduced his innovative toggle action in 1900. It was the first really handy semi-auto and quickly gained wide acceptance. Mitchell Arms did it better in 1993 in stainless and in 9mm.
Colt met the U.S. Army's need for a better handgun with John Browning's 1911. It faithfully served for 70 years.
Ruger did it better with their 1911C in 2013 in stainless in .45 ACP.
Walther introduced their model PP in 1929 and the compact PPK in 1931. The first widely successful double action semi-auto. Walther introduced the same gun but in stainless in the 1980s in .380 ACP.
A hundred years of fire arms designs, 1836 - 1931 but produced in Stainless Steel in the late 20th and early 21 century. Some designs are timeless and improve with age and new materials, therefore, 150 years of firearms development.
Terry T