What is your Favorite non-S&W Handgun

[sipowicz]

My Hi Power is my favorite shooter but the history behind this one makes it my favorite possession. Knowing that it was carried by a LT Colonel while liberating a Nazi death camp gives me chills when I hold it.

 

[panther]

I'm not surprised to see so many references to the classic Hi-Power on here.
I also love the Hi-Power but I'm going to have to say a favorite I always turn to is a CZ 75 9mm. I like the decocker versions alot. Full sized, compact, subcompact, like a 2075, all are good.
Here's my 85B that's my current favorite,

 

[CajunBass]

Without a doubt, my 4.2", Colt Python. Best shooting revolver I've ever fired.

 

[Echo40]

Well I guess for me it would be my 1967 ppk, then my 1996 combat elite and last but not least my browning hipower.

If it weren't for the fact that my PPK/S was manufactured by Smith & Wesson under license, then it most likely would have been my choice. Sure, it's not rare or fancy like my H&K USP45 Elite, but it's still just about my favorite pistol.

@bushmaster1313
Please, for the love of John Moses Browning, clean the surface rust out of those rollmarks! It drives me crazy whenever I see surface rust on a classic G.I. M1911. I know some folks say that it adds character, but all I see is neglect. Clean that old warhorse up and give her a proper coat of lube, she deserves it.

 

[.357magger]

@bushmaster1313
Please, for the love of John Moses Browning, clean the surface rust out of those rollmarks! It drives me crazy whenever I see surface rust on a classic G.I. M1911. I know some folks say that it adds character, but all I see is neglect. Clean that old warhorse up and give her a proper coat of lube, she deserves it.

Not my gun of course, but I don't think it's rust you're seeing on that Ithaca. If looks more like leftover highlighting from previous effort to color the rollmarks.

See my attached pic below. Ist is a "before" shot where previous owner had colored slide markings on my Colt, 2nd is "after" removing that coloration.

Just my $.02, but I'm not seeing rust on his 1911.

 

[153]

 

[S&W629]

I do not leave the house without my Browning HP....(have three)....but I have sent more rounds down range...since 1974...with my Ruger Old Army..(have four)......so...I have to say....two favorites

 

[gerhard1]

Being a revolver guy , my favorite " non smith " is my OM Colt Trooper , 4" barrel in 357 magnum , followed closely by my Colt Police Positive Special , 4" barrel chambered in 38 special . I just got a Ruger Security Six , stainless , 4" barrel that came from an estate sale , the owner died , for $395 . Original grips that look brand new . Be interesting to see how it compares to my love for my Colts . Regards Paul

Just curious: do you carry the PPS?

 

[biku324]

High Power in 40 concealed.

 

[mattallamerican]

glock they allways work

 

[Robspeire]

Springfield Armory 1911 Loaded in stainless

 

[kmyers]

A pair picture of both my favorite handguns.

S&W 25-5 and H&K USP .45. I have a fondness for the .45 caliber.

 

[cowboy4evr]

gerhard1 , I just recently got the Colt PPS . It looked almost brand new , was priced real reasonable . I couldn't pass it up , looked like it had spent a lot of time in someones collection . I finally have a really good and truly " gunsmith " . I had him take it home and clean and lube it . Sure made a difference with the action . I don't have a holster for it yet . I am just getting used to it . It's very accurate . Regards Paul

 

[Gunhacker]

In addition to the Gold Cup I posted earlier, I also have a Ruger favorite:

.41 Mag NM Blackhawk, I modified a Bisley Hammer to work in a regular style grip frame, which has been changed to a stainless steel frame and polished out.

The grips were fashioned by me from figured Claro Walnut.

The Ruger ejector rod was changed to a Colt "bullseye" style ejector rod.

 

[hittman77]

Ruger Security / Service / Speed Six!

Then Redhawk.

 

[squidsix]

I would normally say 1911
Then sometimes I would say HiPower.
And the I bought a Colt 1903.
Definitely the 1903.

 

[Baltimoreed11754]

A Webley revolver.

 

[Targets Guy]

Rock Island M1911-A1 CS

 

[crazyphil]

My favorite non-S&W handgun? Colt's Gold Cup...by FAR.

 

[geen]

My 1961 python

 

[JJEH]

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

That was my service pistol. If you looked close enough you could see where they tried to scratch out the Hakenkreuz. They weren't all successful

It was then gradually replaced by the H&K P8.

 

[DCSSTEVE]

Beretta 92FS, 92x with customized trigger and Landon RDO.

 

[bummer]

22 cal Browning Buckmark, 9mm either a Beretta 92 or APX Centurian

 

[Birdhunter6]

Glocks, extremely ugly but as reliable as a double action Smith. (I have more Smith Wheelies than Glocks right now, but not by much.

One exception: The 26 or other double stack subcompacts. They don't fit my hand. (Big hands, but short fingers.)

The single stack subcompact Glocks let me control recoil well enough for split times approaching those I get with the G17 & 19.

 

[Moo Moo]

Of the Non-S&W Handguns I do own, I'd have to say my Sig P228. Of all the Handguns I don't currently own, I'd say a Colt Python.

 

[PALADIN85020]

My favorite gun is one I've never shot, and probably never will. It's an original Walther PPK in .32 ACP, vintage of 1941.



Its previous owner was a WWII P-47 fighter pilot. He kept it as a personal protection piece during his stint in the European theater. I don't know if he had it on him when he had to bail out of his plane that was put out of commission by intense flack, but I think he probably did. He kept this gun as a memento of his wartime experience until he died at age 96 in 2019. I was proud to be his guardian on an Honor Flight visit to Washington DC a few years before his death.

Here's a photo of Dick Plowden as a young lieutenant with his P-47 during the war, standing with his crew chief.



And here's Dick well into his 90s showing off his PPK and a scale model of a P-47, painted in his unit's color scheme. Dick was then a retired USAF Lt. Colonel.



When Dick passed away, his lawyer called me and said that he had a gift that was willed to me by Dick. It was his PPK.

So you asked if I have a favorite gun. I do have a number of candidates for that, but on reflection, this one stands out - a gift from a good friend that I miss a lot. He was a member of the Greatest Generation.

And like me now, he twisted and turned in disbelief and chagrin at how his beloved country was unbelievably turning into something unrecognizable. I will always treasure his thoughtful gift as a reminder of a brave man.

John

 

[Zackary]

Ruger Speed Six. Tough, Simple, Reliable.

 

[S&W Fan]

This custom built 1911 originally belonged to late member IBSandy. His widow gifted it to me when he passed in 2012. It was built by a retired Green Beret SM in March of 2004. He built it in the style of the 1911s being used by the SF when he was a much younger guy. He lives near by and gave it a "once over" for me when I got it just to check it out. It has Caspian slide/frame, Kart barrel/bushing, Koenig speed hammer, Ed Brown safeties and ignition parts, Novak sights.



I've never owned or shot a more accurate 1911-including Les Baer, Novak built and a Wilson. I hadn't shot it for a while, took out this past weekend. Here's the target with the first rounds fired, 10 yards, Winchester Ranger 203gr JHP standard pressure. It just got better after that. The paper plate is covering up the rounds from my 9mm M&P.

 

[Jimmyjones]

Probably my Beretta 950B, goes with me everywhere it can. Small as it is, that's pretty much everywhere.

 

[Shark Bait]

My favorite gun is one I've never shot, and probably never will. It's an original Walther PPK in .32 ACP, vintage of 1941.



Its previous owner was a WWII P-47 fighter pilot. He kept it as a personal protection piece during his stint in the European theater. I don't know if he had it on him when he had to bail out of his plane that was put out of commission by intense flack, but I think he probably did. He kept this gun as a memento of his wartime experience until he died at age 96 in 2019. I was proud to be his guardian on an Honor Flight visit to Washington DC a few years before his death.

Here's a photo of Dick Plowden as a young lieutenant with his P-47 during the war, standing with his crew chief.



And here's Dick well into his 90s showing off his PPK and a scale model of a P-47, painted in his unit's color scheme. Dick was then a retired USAF Lt. Colonel.



When Dick passed away, his lawyer called me and said that he had a gift that was willed to me by Dick. It was his PPK.

So you asked if I have a favorite gun. I do have a number of candidates for that, but on reflection, this one stands out - a gift from a good friend that I miss a lot. He was a member of the Greatest Generation.

And like me now, he twisted and turned in disbelief and chagrin at how his beloved country was unbelievably turning into something unrecognizable. I will always treasure his thoughtful gift as a reminder of a brave man.

John

That story takes the cake for me. Awesome! I salute Dick and respect your choice. Thanks for sharing this.