Best Pistol of WWII?

[hardy]

I've just seen the rise of evil series again, and can't make out the hand gun Robert Carlyle as Hitler used. It seemed to have an extra barrel on top of the main barrel.

[Garn]

It's interesting to see how this thread has evolved.

It really does come down to three pistols on the list;

Colt 1911a1
FN Hi Power
Walther P38

Each design has its merrits and early every automatic pistol made today uses a design from or is a copy of one of these three pistols.

The P38 would be my choice for a ww2 combat pistol. It is less complicated in take down for field maintainance wich is a big factor. The top of the slide is completely open which improves spent case ejection and makes clearing malfunctions simpler. It has a safety/decocker. Finally a DA/SA trigger is an advantage in a combat pistol.

I've shot all three of these pistols and the p38 has the best ergonomics. That however is very dependent on the shooter.

The only two things going against the p38 would be the design of the main springs and the magazine catch. I know the trigger pull is very heavy in DA, it's a combat pistol so I feel that's a moot point.

Additionally, the pistol that replaced the 1911a1, the m9, has some striking similarities to a p38.

-Rob

[Aufklarung85]

Top 3

As Garn mentioned below the top 3. They are all very good pistols in their own right. The Germans even used FN p-35s when they captured the Fabrique Nationale factory in Belgium. They continued to produce them. I believe they put Wehrmacht marking codes on them as they did everything else.

[imi]

Technical winners
Colt M1911a1
Walther PP
Browning HP
Tula Tokarev (TT)

Design winners
Walther P38
Luger P08

My other fav's
Mab Model D
Astra 400
FÉG 37M

[Gebirg]

I agree, u cant compare them like this - but interesting it is

[james m]

And of these 3 pistols which one is still considered a viable platform today?

*Colt 1911 A1
*Walther P38
*Browning Hi Power

Using current viability as a combat weapon as the criteria the Colt 1911A1 wins hands down.
Jim

[BROBS]

Except for the fact that any falling block pistol uses the P38 design.
Like, as in every M9 used by the US military.

-Brian

[RayG]

As we are talking about the best WWII period guns not later designs. Most pistol shots were probably less then 7 to 10 yrds in a combat emergency combat situation. They are only last ditch emergency defense guns and as such you need a caliber that will hit a man hard and stop him. All military rds are copper jacketed, that means they won't expand much unless a bone is hit. So the best military combat rd is one that will have the most knock down power with those jacketed bullets even if the hit is not in a non critical area as that may be the only hit you make. The big slow moving, heavy, 45 slug gives you a much greater edge in stopping power over the smaller, lighter, and higher velocity 9mm and 30 cal bullets that have a tendency to punch right through tissue with little or no stopping power unless a bone is hit. The P-38, Hi power, and other guns mentioned are all well designed guns but they score low against the 1911 in 45acp in stopping power. And stopping power is what's necessary for a weapon involved in a close, face to face combat situation. Look at the difference between the three calibers. Which do you think would have more knock down power? A slow moving, heavy bullet or lighter higher velocity one Also keep in mind, the 1911 is a very reliable weapon that does not need to take a back seat to any other pistol designs, Ray.

[Tom B]

Browning Hi-Power all the way

[RayG]

Please explain why you pick the HP in 9mm over the 1911 in 45. Both about the same design and both single action. I'm not criticizing your choice as we all have our favorites. Just curious. Ray

[BROBS]

I guess I took the question as the best "designed" pistol of ww2..
Otherwise it's all a caliber debate.

- Brian

[RayG]

Oops, you're right, I just checked the question and it says best pistol, not caliber, sorry, Ray

[RayG]

However, having missed that it said not caliber, I think it's hard to judge what is the best pistol of WWII is without considering caliber. There are probably many 22 & 32cal pistols that if caliber wasn't considered might take top choice because of their design and functionaity. I still feel the 1911 takes top choice as the 1911 was designed to function with sand and dirt in it, in jungles, ice, exposed to daily salt water spray, and sometimes questionable ammunition and to function with the large, heavy 45 ammo. To make that work, the tolerances had to be so loose that the thing would rattle in your hand, and still would hit a man size target at 25 feet. How many other WWII would perform as well under the same circumstances? Ray

[Raven26]

A weapon is only as good as the skill and ability of the person using it.

Having said that, for collecting, P.08 and the 1911.

[Mauser888]

The P-08 is just timeless. However I really do like the early high polish Walther P-38's too.