50 Guns That Changed the World: Iconic Firearms That Altered the Course of History

304 Pages·2015·15.29 MB·English

by  Robert A. Sadowski

Copyright © 2015 by Robert A. Sadowski All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.
Cover design by Richard Rossiter Print ISBN: 978-1-63450-445-4
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-63450463-8
Printed in China
Table of Contents
NINETEENTH CENTURY
PARKER BROTHERS VH GRADE
COLT SINGLE ACTION ARMY
WINCHESTER MODEL 1873
WESTLEY RICHARDS & CO. BOXLOCK
PURDEY SELF-OPENER
MARLIN GOLDEN MODEL 39A
WINCHESTER MODEL 94
WINCHESTER MODEL 1897
SMITH & WESSON MODEL 10
SAVAGE MODEL 99
EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY
LUGER P08
BROWNING AUTO-5
COLT M1911A1
WINCHESTER MODEL 12
WALTHER PPK
MAUSER KARABINER 98 KURZ
M1 GARAND
WINCHESTER MODEL 70
ITHACA MODEL 37
WALTHER P38
POST-WAR
MARLIN MODEL 336
AK-47
RUGER MARK I
REMINGTON MODEL 870
RUGER SINGLE-SIX
COLT PYTHON
SMITH & WESSON MODEL 29
RUGER BLACKHAWK
WEATHERBY MARK V
SAVAGE MODEL 110
COLT M16
1960s
MOSSBERG 500
REMINGTON MODEL 700
REMINGTON MODEL 1100
RUGER 10/22
RUGER NO.1
THOMPSON-CENTER CONTENDER
BROWNING BT-99
PERAZZI MX8
1970s–1990s
BROWNING CITORI
CZ 75
SIG SAUER P220
BERETTA 680 SERIES
BARRETT M82A1
DESERT EAGLE
GLOCK G17
KNIGHT MK-85
KRIEGHOFF K-80
BENELLI SUPER BLACK EAGLE II
BERETTA AL391
Introduction
Picking the fifty best, most iconic firearms is no easy task. There were some
obvious choices, like the Winchester Model 1873 lever-action rifle and the
Mossberg 500 pump-action shotgun as well as the Ruger Mark I semiautomatic
rimfire pistol—guns that have indelibly changed the way we hunt, shoot
competitively, and defend ourselves. Other selections may send you into fits of
fury or have you sit back in contentment. Including firearms that everyone could
purchase and own—depending on the thickness of your wallet, or lack thereof—
was important. Not all of these guns are favorites of mine, but they made the list
due to what their design brought to the shooting community and their influence
on future firearm designs. Pop culture has had an influence on guns, though
notoriety is not a substitute for performance. Production runs are a good
indicator of a firearm’s popularity and durability, and I figured that into my
highly unscientific equations. With no apologies, here are fifty guns that changed
the world.
NINETEENTH CENTURY