A LOOK AT HANDGUN

DESIGN DURING THE

LAST TWO CENTURIES
Classic Handguns of the 20th Century
6
Compared to the 20th century, the previous 100 years
saw the greatest advances in handgun, and for that matter,
fi rearms design. During the 20th century, handgun design had
pretty much culminated by the 1930s. The remaining 70 years
really saw just the refi nement of the already established design
principles.
High points of 19th century fi rearms development started
with the invention of the percussion cap ignition system. This
enabled Samuel Colt to perfect the revolving pistol or revolver,
the fi rst practical repeating fi rearm.
Shortly afterwards, self-contained ammunition was
invented, which led fi rst to the cartridge revolver and later,
when combined with the advent of smokeless powder, to the
fi rst self-loading fi rearms.
Thus, by the start of the 20th century, the revolver design
was fully developed and the semi-automatic pistol was well
established as a viable weapon. By the 1930s, both handgun
types had been developed to a point of maturity.
By the mid-1930s, most of the major handgun developments
had occurred, including the introduction of the high-capacity
FN High Power auto pistol. Revolver development of the same
period saw the introduction of the fi rst magnum cartridge and
revolver in the form of the 357 S&W Magnum.
For the remainder of the century, handgun advances were
directed mainly towards new and improved materials such as
stainless steel, titanium and scandium aluminum alloy. Probably
the most signifi cant material advancement is in the use of
plastics and carbon fi bers. The Austrian Glock pistol broke
new ground in this respect. All these materials have enabled
handguns to become lighter and more compact.
HANDGUN AMMUNITION DEVELOPMENT
While no new signifi cant handgun designs occurred
after the end of World War II, there have been signifi cant
ammunition advances. Todays handgun ammunition is more
reliable and effective than ever before.
In terms of reliability, improvements began during the
1970s and into the 1980s. This improvement in reliability was
also accompanied by improvement in the stopping effectiveness
of ammunition. Much of the latter was prompted by law
enforcement concerns about the ability of 38 Special cartridges
in neutralizing determined attackers.
While more effective cartridges already existed in the
large caliber rounds and the magnums, their heavy recoil made
them diffi cult to shoot quickly and accurately. A fairly effective
solution was found by producing high-velocity 38 cartridges
with hollow-point bullets. The latter were designed to expand
on impact, creating a wounding effect comparable to that made
by a larger caliber bullet.
Initially the hollow-point bullets did not work reliably

in semi-automatic handguns. In time, these problems were

overcome by both ammunition and handgun manufacturers.
SMART GUN TECHNOLOGY
Smart gun technology involves designing a handgun that
can only be used by its lawful owner. From a police perspective,
this provides protection for police offi cers who have had their
sidearm taken by a criminal. A disturbingly high number of
offi cers killed in the line of duty are shot with their own guns.
In such instances, a smart gun becomes inoperable.
An early type of smart gun has been around for some time
in the form of a magnetic-operated lock that prevents the guns
trigger mechanism from being operated. The key to unlock the
mechanism is a magnetized ring worn on a fi nger of the shooting
hand of a gun owner or police offi cer. When the gun is gripped
in a normal manner, the trigger is unlocked. The ring is the key
to the system, so for weak-hand operation of the gun, rings have
to be worn on both hands. One disadvantage is that the ring or
rings must be worn at all times. Another detraction is that the
rings can adversely affect the magnetized strips on credit cards.
During the 1990s, Colt Manufacturing Company
announced they were exploring the feasibility of developing
a practical smart gun. No doubt, the company hoped that,
if successful, they would capture a large share of the police
handgun market. In addition, they hoped to score some good
public relations by developing a handgun that could safeguard
against accidental shootings involving children.
The new technology is based on the same concept of
an internal method of locking the guns fi ring mechanism
in a manner similar to that of the magnetized ring. The
main difference is the magnetic lock has been replaced by a
microprocessor. The key is a microchip contained in a wrist
bracelet.
Many fi rearms companies and Second Amendment
proponents were concerned the gun control advocates would
use the smart gun concept as a weapon to further their cause.
Unfortunately, such warnings proved to be true as gun control
supporters pushed for and sometimes succeeded in getting
legislation requiring gun manufacturers to have smart guns in
production by a fi xed future date. When the due date arrived,
only smart guns would be deemed as being legal.
All this coincided with a spate of lawsuits sponsored by city
governments and gun control groups trying to make gunmakers
liable for the wrongful and criminal misuse of their products.
The fi nal blow came when the Clinton administration
succeeded in pressing Smith & Wesson into an agreement where
they accepted some responsibility for the sale and distribution
of their fi rearms. Smith & Wesson also agreed to continue to
explore the smart gun concept. In return, the company was
offered favorable terms in limiting lawsuits against them by
cities and the sale of their handguns to police departments.
While Smith & Wesson was obviously motivated by the hope
of reducing their legal costs in fi ghting the numerous lawsuits
made against them, they were the only gun company to enter
into this agreement. And this action has hurt them. There
have been calls of Sell out by pro-gun supporters, who have
penalized Smith & Wesson by boycotting their guns in the
marketplace.
This has had the effect of dampening smart gun
development. Colt, in serious fi nancial diffi culties, announced
they were discontinuing their involvement in the project. A
number of other companies, however, are offering built-in
manual trigger and hammerlocks on their handguns.
The problem with the smart gun concept is the danger of
a system failure that results in a gun that cannot be unlocked.
The ideal goal is a system that unlocks when it identifi es
an authorized user by some personal characteristics such as
fi ngerprint or even DNA. Smart gun technology is, at best, a
concept that may be viable at some future undetermined date.