The year is 1983. Pick a pistol.

March 03, 2018, 07:33 PM

hjs157

quote:
Originally posted by TexasRaider:
And the 1911? I didn't pick it because in 1983, if you bought a 1911, the very first thing you largely still had to do was to go to a local gunsmith, give him your brand new 1911 and say "Make it work." while forking over more cash. The old slabside just was still not yet reliable enough out of the box to be, IMHO, considered a true life preserver.

Apologies to jljones for the thread drift. My experience with early 1980's Colt Government Models was hit or miss. I've owned some good pistols and I've owned some lemons from this era. Most were roundball only affairs. In 1983, I was just becoming acquainted with pistols. In my area choices were quite limited. Other than a handful of Interarms offerings (Star, PPK, P38 & etc.) my exposure was mostly limited to the various Colt Government models and the Smith & Wesson M39/M59. Even though my first centerfire pistol was a Government Model 45 auto, I was intrigued by the M39. Given what I was familiar with at the time (excluding of course the 1911), I would vote for the M39/M59 series. At the time, with my limited knowledge, most of the Interarms offerings seemed to be antiquated or of lesser quality than both Colt or S&W. Of course, had I have known more about the SIG P220 in 1983, my first pistol purchase (and my vote) would have been different. Thanks for a great post.

March 03, 2018, 09:49 PM

kimberkid

quote:
Originally posted by newtoSig765:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by TexasRaider:
*cough* *cough* *cough*....

Of course. Kimber.

Not available until after Shot Show 1995 ...

March 03, 2018, 10:05 PM

newtoSig765

^^^^^^
There's that, too. I think TexasRaider was referring to the reliability issue, though.

March 03, 2018, 11:20 PM

DMF

Unfortunately I think the P7M13 wasn't around that early.

So I'd go with a Beretta 92.

Runners up in order:
1. FN High Power
2. S&W 59
3. SIG-Sauer P226

March 04, 2018, 10:34 PM

HCM

quote:
Originally posted by Steve 22X:
quote:
Originally posted by HCM:
quote:
Originally posted by Bob RI:
645

645 did not come out till 1985/86.

The P226 was released in 1983 but I don’t recall if it was availible yet in the US.

1983 an no 1911, Im thinking Beretta 92SB or Browning BDA /P220.

Other options would be P225, HK P7, or CZ 75.

Other options would be the BHP or S&W 459/659 but only if my unit had its own highly skilled armorer support.

Was the 469/669 out yet in 1983 ?

Glock existed and had been adopted by the Austrians as the P80 but I don’t know if it was availible in the US yet.

While it is not possible for me to verify the accuracy of the 1983 edition of the Shooters Bible (#24) that I am currently looking at, they list the S&W 39, 59, 439/539 and 459/559 as available in either blued or nickel finish.
H&K offered the P9S and VP70Z (ugh).
Browning offered the Hi-Power.

There is no mention of Beretta, Sig or Glock, pistols.

RE the OP: Of those listed in the book I would probably pick a S&W 59 or 459.

I know the P7 was availible in the US because when I was a kid, it was on the cover of Guns and Ammo in 1981.

I also know the Beretta 92SB was availible in the U.S, by 1983. Guns and ammo did a big Autos vs revolvers shoot off in 1981 or 82 and the writer representing autos, Bob Milek, had one of the first 92SB’s in the US in addition to the mandatory Hoag custom 1911.

The SIG P220 .45 was availible as the Browning BDA. The 225 and maybe the 220 were also available via interarms.

The first mention of Glocks I recall was in 1984 or 85.

Here is an article from 85 when Glocks were still a euro thing:

https://americanhandgunner.com/1985issues/HSO85.pdf

I think the first Commercial Glocks cane in in 1986, I traded into my Gen 1 G17 in 1989.

March 07, 2018, 11:01 PM

CAR

1983, for me it was either a Colt Combat Government or a Colt Commander Model.

March 08, 2018, 05:38 AM

Spieler

HK P9S

March 08, 2018, 08:54 AM

caryc

In 1983 I had a 9mm Browning HP, which I still shoot today. Geez, I feeel old....

March 08, 2018, 08:54 AM

caryc

quote:
Originally posted by caryc:
In 1983 I had a 9mm Browning HP, which I still shoot today. Geez, I feel old....

March 09, 2018, 08:45 AM

thomben

Walther P5

March 09, 2018, 11:50 AM

depusm12

Custom ASP S&W 9mm

March 10, 2018, 04:17 PM

Sig M11

quote:
Originally posted by parabellum:
P7

July 29, 2018, 09:38 PM

bczrx

Another vote for FN GP35 [aka: Browning Hi Power].

My understanding is flawed, but I thought I'd read that the first or second generation of Beretta 92 pistols had some locking block issues?

In 1983, I would have selected a Hi Power because it had a reputation that went back to 1937. The British and Canadians had used it for their special forces equivalent sidearm [until recently].

It had almost 50 years of experience in different theaters of combat.

Furthermore, the 9mm round would be something that is very 'non-USA', and would allow easier sourcing of ammo for a 4 man team if not in the USA.

In addition, the injuries from the ammo would not scream 'US involvement'.

parts were not hard to find in many parts of the world- and gunsmiths in places from Argentina to Singapore, from South Africa to Canada, were familiar with it.

The Beretta had 10 years of field experience, in more limited locations.

There wasn't another semi-auto handgun that would be as easy to source parts or ammo for, world wide.

Sure, I could quibble and say the Star Model B 9mm, as it is basically a derivation of the 1911, but in 9mm. This would have the international ammo aspect, but would be harder to source parts for in the field.

The CZ75 was a VERY promising Com-Block weapon, that would be available outside said block primarily through Tanfoglio's TZ-75 copy.

Getting an actual CZ75 would be harder, and sourcing parts in the field would be about as hard as sourcing parts for a S&W 59.

For all of those reasons, I'd stick to the BHP in 9mm [post 1962 version- so it has the external extractor].