It is not all that unusual to apply human traits to guns, people do it with cars, musical instruments and other man made objects.
Some guns have universal appeal. They have something about them that piques our interest. The following guns were picked by me, but I'll bet there are a few that would also end up on your list as well. Here they are in no particular order:
The first one was a topic on my post regarding Single Shot Rifles. The Winchester model 1885 High Wall. This was the 1st gun design patented by John Moses Browning.
This gun was the first cartridge firing handgun adopted by the U.S. Military. The Colt Single Action Army model of 1873. This is one of the most copied guns in history.
This next gun was designed in the late 1890s after an American gun (the Borchardt C-93). It began service with various countries, but is most known as the official German side arm, the Luger P08
The second long gun on the list was also designed by John M. Browning. The Winchester model 94 (1894) was a slightly larger version of the earlier 1892 model. The '94 rifle was offered with a wide variety of options and calibers over the years and is the best selling sporting rifle of all time. I especially like the older versions with the crescent buttplate and octagon barrels.
A gun related to the Winchester lever action is the Colt Lighting pump action rifle. Beautiful lines, high capacity and a quick action.
The second Colt Revolver on this list is considered by many to be the ultimate evolution of the double action revolver. The fit and finish on the Colt Python was excellent. Of course the value of these guns has skyrocketed since Colt ceased regular production in 1996.
The Walther PPK (& PPK/S) have sexy lines that have been copied by many pistol makers. This might be due to the ease of making a fixed barrel, blow-back operated design.
The Thompson Sub-Machine Gun arrived too late on the scene to assist the doughboys in The Great War, but was just in time for prohibition and the rise of organized crime. The Tommy Gun did see some use in WWII, but its weight and cost of manufacturing led to its being replaced by the M3 Grease Gun (a gun that will no doubt make TCB's Ugly Gun Awards).
I could not have this list and leave out the Smith & Wesson double action revolvers. While I do appreciate the older blued models
I really like the polished stainless models with the full underlug
Another revolver that I have always found beautiful is the Taurus 669 VR model. This gun is of course designed after the Smith & Wesson K frame, but has the added vent rib (like the Python) and a full underlug. The only problem is that the quality control issues maintain Taurus' status as 'pistolium non grata' in my collection.
Another Smith & Wesson, this gun was a copy of an earlier design that failed to sell. The Smith & Wesson Model 61 Escort also failed to sell and was discontinued after just 4 years. Still I think there is something sexy about a pocket gun called an "Escort".
I could not leave out the Ruger Double Action Revolvers. While some say the guns are clunky or have too many sharp edges, the guns are natural pointers and are simple in construction.
Stronger than the S&W or Colt revolvers, easier to dis-assemble and maintain. They are one of my favorites and when the stainless ones are polished....they are purty!
This last gun is the third Colt and the second Colt 45, it is yet another gun designed by John Browning. The model 1911 pistol celebrated its 100th birthday in 2011 and it is more popular today than ever. Virtually every maker of firearms makes a 1911 variant.
Special Thanks to:
The National Firearms Museum
Turnbull Manufacturing
Mob Guns
Connecticut Gun Exchange
Wikipedia
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