Best historic gun maker and why?

Who is the best overall historic gun maker, and why?

I'll submit it's Fabrique Nationale. But what say you?

After Browning had difficulty marketing his innovations, FN employed John Browning and has given us and/or manufactures the High Power, FN FAL (at one point employed by 90 nations as their national battle rifle and coined the "right arm of the free world,"), FN240B (in military service since 1977 to present), M2 .50 caliber (in service from 1933 to present), M4, M249 (in military service since 1983 to present), the SCAR, various law enforcement sidearms, and various bolt action rifles. Also produced the 5.7 caliber, handgun, and SMGs. FN quite possibly employed the most important individual influence in the firearms world, who has several innovations which are still currently relevant (M2, 1911, Hi Power design, etc.). I don't mean to say that Browning designed all these - I'm saying that FN designed all of them or at one point was a major manufacturer of them.

But could it be Springfield, which gave us the .3006, the 1903, Garand, and M14/M1A, along with the entire XD series and variants, widely used by LEO and civilians as one of the main handguns in use?

Colt? - Early Colt revolvers were very influential in the US. Colts revolvers were always very coveted for high quality and artistic work. Maker of the M16/AR16, which is an iconic firearm in service for decades for the US and other nations and on every continent.

While not a "company" per se, so a bit unfair, could it just be the generic Russian military - which gave us the SKS, AK platforms, Tokarev, Makarov, and so many others?

Smith and Wesson?, maker of some of the best handguns in the world for a century or more. Possibly carried by law enforcement more than any other guns in the history of the USA, from revolvers to the wonder 9s to the modern SW MP series. They also gave us the .40 caliber.

Glock? Responsible for the largest innovation in the last 50 years with the polymer striker fired platforms which are now copied by most gun makers. This designed revolutionized handguns and nearly made hammer fired guns obsolete.

H&K? Makers of some of the finest handguns and rifles in the world, carried by many law enforcement and military and special operations units - the USP series, MP5 series, G3 series, sniper rifles, sub machine guns and so forth.

Sig Sauer? - top tier handgun maker and used world wide by military and law enforcement.

CZ? - another top tier handgun and rifle maker used worldwide.

Armalite? Designed the DI system for the M16 prototypes. Sold it to Colt.

Remington, Mossberg, Ruger, Winchester? What say you?

Let's block ads! (Why?)

Best historic gun maker and why?