I have a simple rule about pistols. If I like the looks, I'll buy it. There's also Robert's second rule of pistols. If I pick up enough brass, I need a pistol for which to reload and shoot with it. As I've gained experience, a third rule has evolved. If it's not a 1911, it's mostly worthless. (Hi-Powers are exempt for aesthetic reasons.) Then there's the forth rule. Old guns don't shoot for shit, but see rule number one.
| Mauser m96 (cone hammer) Why they call this a Broomhandle I don't know. Its an insult to the ergonomics of a broom. The m96 Mauser pistol is awkward and ungainly, but it has an enduring fascination. This near mint example is the early cone hammer style, identifiable because the hammer has cone shaped protrusions to either side. Workmanship is as good as the Germans could make it. In the late nineteen hundreds, good enough was extremely good indeed. This minty example, with its matching holster stock, is a hanger queen. It gets dragged out for show, but its much to nice to shoot today. |
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Mauser m96 (large ring hammer) Before the design finally stabilized, Mauser went through several iterations of the basic design. We have here a shallow milled panel large ring hammer style. The reason for the hammer's name is obvious. I believe the concept here was to allow an individual to cock the hammer against a saddle, or the thigh, while mounted on a horse. At various times, the side panels ranged from flat, with no milled reliefs, to "shallow milled", to the later standard milling depth. There were innumerable other mechanical and physical variations as well. The markings in the center of the panel above the trigger say "Von Lengerke & Detmold New-York" These were the US importers and it is common in the States to see guns so marked. Photo with holster stock fitted |
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Karl Pfund There I was wasting time on Auction Arms when up pops a "German 22 Parlor Pistol." I've never shown the slightest interest in 22 pistols, but for whatever reason I clicked the auction title. Here was this cool gun, in minty condition, made by a "famous" German gunsmith I've never heard of. In and of itself that's not a big deal as I've never heard of most German gunsmiths. For that matter I couldn't name many American gunsmiths. Anyway, I put in a ho hum bid and won. Who would've thunk it! The gunsmith was Karl Pfund. I still know nothing about him, but apparently he made pretty little 22 target pistols. |
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Mauser m96 (wartime commercial) I believe guns are to be used, but the early Mausers are a little too nice to shoot. While looking for a Model 1930 Commercial shooter, this late wartime Commercial appeared. Although there were slight variations on this hammer style, all the later guns are generically lumped together and described as small ring hammer. My knowledge of Mauser lore is limited, but I get the impression this example was manufactured right at the end of pre armistice production. Taken alone, it is a beautiful and well made gun, but when placed next to the earlier examples, it becomes clear workmanship had declined. The Broomhandle is awkward to shoot and it takes great care to realize its full accuracy potential. As I understand it, the little 30 Mauser BBs were the fastest handgun bullets until the advent of the .357 magnum. |
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Luger 1920 Commercial My first try at shooting a Pistol was with my friend's Luger. I co uldn't hit a 2 foot square target at ten yards. There was nothing wrong with the gun. Put it all down to operator error. I'm not a huge Luger fan, but felt there should be at least one in the collection. This example is a 1920 commercial model in 7.63. It is all matching, except the magazine, and is marked "GERMANY." The caliber was necessary instead of 9mm because some time previously I had accidentally bought 100 rounds .30 Luger of brass (I meant to buy .30 Mauser). Got the brass...gotta have a gun to shoot it! |
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Colt Gold Cup National Match Something more in a classic here. A friend bought this beautiful early Colt Gold Cup National Match pistol, but I managed to convince him he would much prefer a parts bin race gun with lots of skateboard tape on the grip. Fortunately, being a competitive shooter, he agreed and sold me this Colt. I was at the rifle range one day and some punters showed up with a couple pistols. They set up a silhouette at about sixty yards and began pasting everything but the target. I pulled out the Colt and nailed it in two shots. I gave 'em a smile, put the Colt away and went back to shooting my rifle. |
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Browning P35 Hi-Power The classic Belgian P35 Hi-Power. What more can one say about this pistol. Its reliable, and strong, and popularized hi cap magazines, and it looks great, and its fun to shoot, and it has cool wood grips. Hi-Powers need cool wood grips. We associate the pistol with John Browning, but Dieudonne Saive at FN deserves most of the credit for what we today know as the "Browning" Hi-Power. |
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Browning P35 Hi-Power The classic Belgian P35 Hi-Power...oh wait, I'll already said all that. This is a slightly later version of the exact same thing. With better sights and a scratch or two, this one is the shooter. Now that my buddy Hearth has embarked on his Hi-Power tuning career, I had him practice on this gun. It's no 1911, but it's miles better than stock. |
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Colt Mk IV Series 70 Government Model This is your basic (circa 1970-80s) high polish blued 45 auto. The slide rattles something fierce and the finish, though much better than it appears in this photo, is not going to win any beauty contests. At the time, Colt couldn't be bothered to get the medallions straight in the grips. I've heard over the years the commercial models were built from parts rejected for military service. True or not, the quality of the gun fits the story. |
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| Sig Sauer P230 I'm sure there was a good reason at the time, but I can no longer remember why I bought this pistol. It is by no means the first time I've had this scenario, but whereas the other examples have been slowly weeded out, this gun hangs on. As .380s go, it shoots well and is extremely well made. And of consideration too, If I sold it, what would I do with all my .380 brass? |
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Colt Mk IV Series 80 Lightweight Commander The Lightweight Commander was my first Colt. People accuse it of having a weak frame, but I don't shoot it that often and then usually with my less than massively powerful target loads. It kicks a little, but is a good accurate gun. With the light loads, a recoil buffer and the amount it gets fired I expect the frame will out live my lifetime. I wanted to be Mr Clever and install a flat mainspring housing with built in magazine guide. Ignorance is bliss. When I pushed out the mainspring retaining pin, the spring missed my face, but hit the ceiling and ricocheted around the garage. Lesson learned. |
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Browning Hi Power 40 If one Hi Power is good, aren't two even better? Why yes, especially if the second one is a 40 S&W. Although not immediately obvious from the side, the 40 has a wider slide and ever-so-slightly less pleasing looks. The 40s came along after the assembled in Belgium era. The finish quality of this Portuguese assembled example is just a tick below the older guns. I'm not sure if you can even buy new high polish 40s any more, so I won't complain. |
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| Springfield 1911-A1 The only thing wrong with most 1911s is the trigger. This soda can killer (I like shooting at a place affectionately known as the glass factory because of all the broken bottles) is an out of the box Springfield Model 1911-A1. Its had a set of diamond pattern grips added, and a Hearthco hammer and trigger massage. There's nothing like a reliable 24oz. trigger pull to make a gun accurate. Dave Hearth makes his own 1911 hammers on a wire EDM. Although he is primarily known for making the best moon clips on the market, if you're really nice to him he'll do up an awesome trigger job. |
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Para-Ordnance P16-40 I've always had a thing for .40 cal. Not sure why, but there you go. The P16 combines several of my favorite things; .40 S&W, hi-cap, and the classic 1911 action. Toss in a Hearthco trigger job and one of his classic hammers, and you've got some good shootin' fun in your future. |
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Glock 22 All right, who let the Glock in here? Not exactly a thing of beauty, but the .40 cal Glock 22 is a capable device. I don't use it for self defense, so it has had slight mods to the trigger which render it a fairly accurate piece. While not at all collectable or pretty, it'll come in handy for coastal defense when the Grand Army of the Falkland Islands invades California. |
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Glock 19 All right, who let the Glock in...oh wait, I'll already said all that. This is where I would like say you couldn't hit the ground if you aimed at it with one of these, but I know there are a lot of folks shooting them with excellent accuracy. In my case, it's operator error. |
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Seecamp I've never much cared for mouse pistols, however, the Seecamp appeals to me. Most .32 autos beat the hell out of your hand, but for some reason this tiny gun is quite pleasant to shoot. Maybe its due to the recoil spring. Its all I can do to rack the slide on this little bugger. Although the photos on this page are not to scale, the size of this picture is about right compared to the 1911s. |
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