Handguns from the 80's/90's that didn't make it.
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Here are some Iver Johnsons that didn't make it. The first is the Iver Johnson Pony in 380 caliber. It was a Star design, I forget the nomenclaure. Colt was interested in it, but finally IJ made a few.
Second pictures shows, clockwise from the top, an Iver Johnson TP 22, somewhat modified copy of the Walther TPH, and an IJ TP 25. The bottom pistol is the Iver Johnson Compact 25, built on an Iver Johnson frame using Bernadelli Baby parts. The frame is a TP 25; evidently there were quite a few of these that never got made into pistols, as I've seen a shoebox full of them at a gun show a few years ago.
Production of all these pistols was quite limited, as Iver Johnson was on its last legs.
Second pictures shows, clockwise from the top, an Iver Johnson TP 22, somewhat modified copy of the Walther TPH, and an IJ TP 25. The bottom pistol is the Iver Johnson Compact 25, built on an Iver Johnson frame using Bernadelli Baby parts. The frame is a TP 25; evidently there were quite a few of these that never got made into pistols, as I've seen a shoebox full of them at a gun show a few years ago.
Production of all these pistols was quite limited, as Iver Johnson was on its last legs.
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cmort666
Member
The Colt All American 2000, the Chauchat of handguns.
A friend had one. It quite literally had the worst trigger pull of ANY handguns I've EVER shot. It stacked, and stacked, and stacked, and just when you thought the trigger was going to snap in half, it went off.
The trigger aside, I seem to recall it having other accuracy problems as well.
It was also the basis of their doomed "smart gun".
It was a total disaster, from start to finish.
A friend had one. It quite literally had the worst trigger pull of ANY handguns I've EVER shot. It stacked, and stacked, and stacked, and just when you thought the trigger was going to snap in half, it went off.
The trigger aside, I seem to recall it having other accuracy problems as well.
It was also the basis of their doomed "smart gun".
It was a total disaster, from start to finish.
I had a TP-22 and it was 100% reliable with hyper velocity ammo only.
Handgun Follies
I remember that period of the 80s and 90s quite vividly. It seemed that gunmakers, especially S&W, were coming out with a new gun every week and Combat Handguns, a magazine I once enjoyed reading, hailed each new model and sub-model as the greatest thing since tighty-whities. Those in the market for a handgun were left with their heads spinning. Decide on exactly what you want, then wait a week for yet another flavor of the same handgun to hit market.
Jeff Cooper endorsed a 10mm handgun by a company called Dornier and Dixon and for which you could not get magazines, even if your were Jeff Cooper. A full-house 10mm was the equivalent of a 41 Magnum and few could handle it as a duty cartridge.
I remember that period of the 80s and 90s quite vividly. It seemed that gunmakers, especially S&W, were coming out with a new gun every week and Combat Handguns, a magazine I once enjoyed reading, hailed each new model and sub-model as the greatest thing since tighty-whities. Those in the market for a handgun were left with their heads spinning. Decide on exactly what you want, then wait a week for yet another flavor of the same handgun to hit market.
Jeff Cooper endorsed a 10mm handgun by a company called Dornier and Dixon and for which you could not get magazines, even if your were Jeff Cooper. A full-house 10mm was the equivalent of a 41 Magnum and few could handle it as a duty cartridge.
Back in the mid 90s, I bought a Beretta Mini Cougar in 9mm. Very nice gun, and at the time, was considered a great 'compact' size for 9mm. I never really got into that gun, and it a bit wide at the hips for carry, so it just sat in the safe. I sold it a few years ago, and got about all of my money back out of it. I guess the Cougar line still exists as Stoegers. But, technically, Beretta stopped making them, and I'm not sure if a Mini Cougar is made by Stoeger?
A couple of comments from the other posts:
Checkman, that's a great looking M745! Back in the day, I came real close to buying one of those, they are very nice guns. But, given the choice, I just couldn't choose the 745 over a nice Colt 1911. Still have that Colt, and many others...
Cmort, I love Colts, have a bunch of them, and have always had an interest in buying a 2000. But, holy God, every time I tried a trigger on one of those guns, I was so disgusted I just walked away! Even as a pure collectable purchase, I just couldn't bring myself to buy one. Absolutely horrible trigger!
A couple of comments from the other posts:
Checkman, that's a great looking M745! Back in the day, I came real close to buying one of those, they are very nice guns. But, given the choice, I just couldn't choose the 745 over a nice Colt 1911. Still have that Colt, and many others...
Cmort, I love Colts, have a bunch of them, and have always had an interest in buying a 2000. But, holy God, every time I tried a trigger on one of those guns, I was so disgusted I just walked away! Even as a pure collectable purchase, I just couldn't bring myself to buy one. Absolutely horrible trigger!
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Another one I just thought of was the Marlin Camp Carbine. As a teenager, I used to hunt with one back in the 80s, and liked it. They don't make them anymore, but they were a cool gun.
I saw one at a gun show a couple of years ago. It was in 9mm, and NIB condition, and priced very reasonably from a private seller/aged-accumulator. I was there right as the doors opened, and I was going to buy it right then and there, but wanted to look down the aisle to see if there were any hidden S&W gems before I spent my gun money. Well, by the time I walked back to get the Marlin --- WAIT-FOR-IT --- it was already sold...! ;(. Hey, that's life at the gun show!!
I saw one at a gun show a couple of years ago. It was in 9mm, and NIB condition, and priced very reasonably from a private seller/aged-accumulator. I was there right as the doors opened, and I was going to buy it right then and there, but wanted to look down the aisle to see if there were any hidden S&W gems before I spent my gun money. Well, by the time I walked back to get the Marlin --- WAIT-FOR-IT --- it was already sold...! ;(. Hey, that's life at the gun show!!
oneflycowboy
Member
Anything made by Jennings/Bryco.
I have one of their paper weights around here somewhere....
I have one of their paper weights around here somewhere....
Mickey D
Member
I've got one of those funky .45s in stainless.
Also an '80s second Gen Wonder Nine.
Don't know why I'm holding on to these.
Also an '80s second Gen Wonder Nine.
Don't know why I'm holding on to these.
kenv1950
Member
cmort666
Member
It was descended from the Rogak P-18. Both were gas delayed blowback.
"Soldier of Fortune" did a less than glowing review of the Rogak, the finale of which was a picture of the reviewer throwing it downrange like a boomerang.
GatorFarmer
Member
The Bren Ten was the name of the 10mm. I believe it was the first 10mm, and was based off the CZ75 that was then rare in the United States. To get a real CZ75 you had to buy it through Canada back then, as the Czechs were still Commies and we did not trade with them.
The Jennings .22 is still made. It is now the JA-22. I actually have one, purchased just before I left SC. Mine works fine though the finish wears rapidly. They were regionally popular in Beaufort as tacklebox guns.
I miss the 940 steel J frame and its temperamental moon clips.
The Czech made Springfield M6 survival guns were also interesting and I had one in .22Hornet.
The Jennings .22 is still made. It is now the JA-22. I actually have one, purchased just before I left SC. Mine works fine though the finish wears rapidly. They were regionally popular in Beaufort as tacklebox guns.
I miss the 940 steel J frame and its temperamental moon clips.
The Czech made Springfield M6 survival guns were also interesting and I had one in .22Hornet.
DWalt
Member
"The Bren Ten was the name of the 10mm."
It could also be converted to .45 ACP. The current EAA Witness (by Tanfoglio of Italy) is about as close as you can get to the old Bren. Quite a story exists surrounding the checkered history of the Bren Ten. I've had an EAA Witness in .45 ACP for about 10 years, along with slide, magazines, and barrels for .38 ACP and 9mm. Caliber switching is a snap. A truly excellent and well-made handgun, but quite heavy in the all-steel version.
It could also be converted to .45 ACP. The current EAA Witness (by Tanfoglio of Italy) is about as close as you can get to the old Bren. Quite a story exists surrounding the checkered history of the Bren Ten. I've had an EAA Witness in .45 ACP for about 10 years, along with slide, magazines, and barrels for .38 ACP and 9mm. Caliber switching is a snap. A truly excellent and well-made handgun, but quite heavy in the all-steel version.
Another Colt that went away for a different reason than the 2000. The pocket nine.
I've shot one. Great gun. Would be more popular than reality TV nowadays. Production got shut down after a few thousand guns due to a patent lawsuit, won by Kahr.
I've shot one. Great gun. Would be more popular than reality TV nowadays. Production got shut down after a few thousand guns due to a patent lawsuit, won by Kahr.
Totally agree, my son just had to have one. I swear it would shoot around corners, and to make matters worse he traded off a Mark II Bull Barrel Ruger for it.
doublesharp
Member
S&W 619 & 620s were 2005 editions that didn't stay in the production line-up long. I had 2 620s but sold one to a pal. Still have one and it is a real shooter. Other than the lock, these were worthy successors to mod 65 and 66 but I guess they didn't sell or there wasn't enough profit in them. The 620 is a 7 shot .357 with the cut away underlug it has the look of a mountain gun.
M3Stuart
Member
Wow! The list is so long. Guns that never caught on enough to continue production;
I thought they were ok, but apparently these never 'caught on' enough that anybody thought they should continue producing them: Colt Python, Anaconda, Agent, Detective Special, S&W 610, 620, 60 no dash, Ruger MkII...
Just kidding. I know this isn't what the OP meant...or is it?
I thought they were ok, but apparently these never 'caught on' enough that anybody thought they should continue producing them: Colt Python, Anaconda, Agent, Detective Special, S&W 610, 620, 60 no dash, Ruger MkII...
Just kidding. I know this isn't what the OP meant...or is it?
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