#5 – Colt Woodsman – .22 caliber is a semi-automatic sporting pistol manufactured from 1915 to 1977. It was designed by John Moses Browning The frame design changed over time, in three distinct series: series one being 1915–1941, series two 1947–1955, and series three being 1955–1977.
I have my grandfather’s series one model. It is the first pistol I ever shot. With it I learned marksmanship and weapons safety starting at the age of six.
#4 – Dan Wesson 15-2 357 Magnum - The Model 15-2 became the most well known and the best selling Dan Wesson revolver model to go into production. The 15-2 introduced more barrel and shroud options, including barrel/shroud lengths of 2.5, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 15 inches, partial or fully lugged shrouds with choices of solid or ventilated ribs, plus removable and interchangeable front sights. The Model 15-2 could be ordered as "Pistol Pacs" with 3 (initially) and later 4 (or more) barrel/shroud sets shipped inside a fiberglass briefcase with barrel changing tool and clearance gauges.
Supremely accurate and very quick to reload due to the cylinder latch in front of the cylinder I could, in my younger days, reload as quick as my competitors with automatics.
#3 – Ruger Super Blackhawk 44 Magnum - In the early 1950s, westerns were popular in movies and television. Colt had discontinued the iconic Single Action Army prior to WWII, and few single-action revolvers were available to meet market demand for cowboy-style revolvers. In 1953, the new firm of Sturm, Ruger & Company introduced the Single-Six which proved to be a popular seller, leading Ruger to develop and market a revolver similar to the Single Action Army: the Ruger Blackhawk. The Ruger Blackhawk was named after the Stutz Blackhawk automobile. In 1956, as Smith & Wesson was introducing the new 44 Magnum, Ruger quickly developed a variant of the Blackhawk in the new cartridge which sold well owning to its lower cost and better availability.
My Super Blackhawk cambered in 44 Magnum could fire both magnum and special rounds. The 44 equivalent of 357 magnum and 38 special. I hunted with the pistol and had fun firing the much lower power 44 special rounds which let me fan the pistol like a movie cowboy. Of course I had the cowboy holster, if I had only added a lever action Winchester 94 rifle. A shoulda, coulda been fun memory.
#2 – Glock 43 - Glock pistols are made in five form factors, all modeled after the original full-sized Glock 17. “Subcompact" models are designed for easier carry and being lighter and shorter, are intended to be used with two fingers on the grip below the trigger guard and lack an accessory rail like the larger, after generation two, Glock models.
A Glock 43 with mag extension is my every day carry pistol. It is very accurate, easy to conceal – I have a Colorado concealed weapons permit – and easy to maintain/modify. The new 43X ups the number rounds in a standard magazine.
#1 – Browning High Power - The Browning Hi-Power is a single-action, semi-automatic pistol available in the 9mm and .40 S&W calibers. It was based on a design by American firearms inventor John Browning, and completed by Dieudonné Saive at Fabrique Nationale (FN) of Herstal, Belgium. Browning died in 1926, several years before the design was finalized. FN Herstal initially named the design the "High Power", which alludes to the 13-round magazine capacity, almost twice that of other designs at the time, such as the Luger or Colt M1911. Production was stopped in 2018. Then clones were made, Springfield Armory being one. The resurgence in popularity caused FN to restart production with many new features.
This is my favorite pistol period. So much so that I broke several regulations and policies to take it versus my service weapon down range. It fits my hand perfectly allowing for fast and accurate target engagement. 93 countries use or have used BHP to include FBI HRT. 1.5M were manufactured not including all the clones. Besides Belgium models I have an Argentine model that was made there under license agreement with FN.
Lance Bear Wolf is in some ways a creature of habit. That’s why he still carries a modified BHP versus the SIG and Glock models available during the late 90s when Shadow Tier takes place.
I hope you have enjoyed this look at my top five pistols. Next month, what is in my EDC bag?