Highest quality production handguns of all time

[blazinbill]

What would you consider to be the highest quality production handguns of all time? Here's my best guess:

• S&W Triple Lock
• Sig 210/P49
• S&W Registered Magnum
• Freedom Arms Premier Grade
• Colt Python (the original)
• Hammerli 208, Pardini SP, etc.
• Colt Target Master
• I suppose you could include high end 1911's, like Wilson, Nighthawk, Alchemy Custom Weaponry, Cabot, etc.

Thoughts? What would you include, or remove?

[AxeHandle]

The term "Production" puts a kink in the process. Comparing a virtually hand built gun to an actual production built gun isn't really a fair comparison. For me Production Revolver is the sub $1000 S&W L frame until you compare it to a $3000 Korth. The three screw Ruger could be nice but compared to a Freedom Arms revolver? High end 1911s? Hard to beat a sub $2000 Dan Wesson until you compare it to a $4000+ Nighthawk.

Starts to make the old $$ limit rules in the IHMSA early years make sense.

[aciera]

Original Korth at 120 a year, 2500 a year now. Changed hands 3 or 5 times
MR73 Manurhin which includes many Walther target pistols
Pardini
Unique
S&W 41
Colt woodsman target
HS 10X was amazing
Production is a grey area

[Yetiman]

HK P7M8.

Probably the best out of the box production gun I have come across in my limited experience, even if the finish isn't much to write home about.

[bigbore5]

The bfr

The Ruger sbh maximum

The HK mk23 mod0. As some were sold on the civilian market, I am including it. Best sidearm I was ever issued.

[aciera]

Sig P210 the original ones
For got

[parallaxbill]

Hamden built High Standard 22 target pistols such as The Victor and Supermatic Trophy.

[blazinbill]

I understand the production/$$$ issue, but unsure how to navigate past that when some of the candidates would be older, hard to value in today's dollars, guns (i.e. S&W Triple Lock, Colt Target Master).

[gnappi]

Not many, S&W DX .44's, the BFR, some of Ruger's distributor specials.

[aciera]

Apr 23, 2024 4:24:25 GMT -5 parallaxbill said:

Hamden built High Standard 22 target pistols such as The Victor and Supermatic Trophy.

They were so fine. And I see you said……The Victor as it should be.
But ahhhhhh I’ve always dreamed of a 10X…….arguably the best of the best.
Yes. I would shoot it. As I do my The Victor.

But….I guess the 10X would not be considered production

[pleadthe2nd]

I was hoping to see Freedom Arms in everybody's list, since I'm slowly saving for my first one, speaking of the old HI Standard, somewhere is a Supermatic Trophy , that my dad misplaced, or possibly was stolen , which is what he thinks, it was given to him by his dad, who shot competition with it in the 70's-80's

[paleroadster]

Oberndorf commercial C96 Mausers. Not only incredibly well made and finished the screwless pinless mechanism is one of my very favorite examples of elegance in engineering.

Also some commercial P08s.

[reflex264]

Production is a gray area
1. Triple Lock S&W
2. Freedom Arms model 97
3. Pre-war Outdoorsman
4. Sig P210
5. 2nd model hand ejector after SN 16600
6. Ruger/Lipsey Flat Top .44 Special

[diddle]

Apr 23, 2024 17:54:50 GMT -5 pleadthe2nd said:

I was hoping to see Freedom Arms in everybody's list, since I'm slowly saving for my first one, speaking of the old HI Standard, somewhere is a Supermatic Trophy , that my dad misplaced, or possibly was stolen , which is what he thinks, it was given to him by his dad, who shot competition with it in the 70's-80's

If the request was for the highest quality production “revolver” the FA would probably be on everyone’s list … it would be on the top of mine.

[mike454]

Freedom arms 83 and 97, US made USFA revolvers, and any S&W K and N frames from the mid 50s and earlier make my list.