As a general rule, something can only be called “Human Nature” if it extends across all time and places. No matter how you cut it, weapons are a part of what it means to be human, be it a sword, axe, cannon, or what have you. But ever since firearms have been accessible to the masses, they’ve had an enormous impact on the world. Whether we like it or not, guns have shaped the world around us – the fact of the matter is that much of how the world has developed can be directly attributed to the influence of guns in hunting, sport, war, competition, self-defense, and crime.    

I was recently covering Wilson Combat and their remarkable 1911s, and it got me thinking about how influential the classic handgun has been. Even just considering wars alone, there are dozens of weapons which have turned the tides of history, such as the American Long Rifle, Spencer Repeating Rifle, and the M1903 Springfield. Nevertheless, there are those few select firearms that have not only cemented themselves into the history books, but have also visibly impacted modern society. In this week’s edition of Gunivore’s  Fast Five, we are going to evaluate a small sample of these celebrated guns, broken down into different categories.

I must admit, with centuries of time and thousands of firearms to consider, this was no easy task. That being said, I wanted to focus primarily on the innovative weapons that have withstood the test of time. For example, although the M1 Garand – designated as “the greatest battle implement ever devised” by General Patton – was unequivocally important and influential, it did not meet my criteria for making the list.   

PISTOL: COLT 1911

The Colt 1911 was, is, and may continue to be the most influential semi-automatic pistol ever created. In fact, Springfield Armory has even called the 1911 “the most revered and time-honored semi-auto handgun ever designed”. Naturally, this list was bound to contain at least one John Browning invention and this one may be his finest.

As one of the most iconic U.S. Military staples, the Colt 1911 was the standard issue sidearm for nearly 75 years, and is still employed by several elite Special Forces units. Likewise, these powerful single-action pistols are employed by militaries and law enforcement across the globe. Currently, 1911s are once again becoming some of the most popular handguns in the civilian market, with tons of companies getting in on the action. In addition to Colt’s modern revamp of their trademark pistol, Smith & Wesson, Remington, Sig, Wilson, and Taurus, all manufacture new and improved editions of the American classic.

All things considered, these durable .45 caliber workhorses aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.  

Runner up: Browning Hi-Power – As the famous weapons pioneer’s final invention, the HP has seen countless action since its inception in 1935, especially in global conflicts.  

REVOLVER: COLT PEACEMAKER

Once again, Colt makes the list, this time with their illustrious Single Action Army Revolver. This historic handgun has been an industry favorite since its debut in 1873. Christened The Peacemaker, the legendary wheel gun was not only a popular military sidearm, but was also all the rage in the American West. This product of Colt innovation forever changed the business with the introduction of assembly-line manufacturing. As the revolver that “won the West”, the Colt .45 was the first firearm to truly perfect the new self-contained metallic cartridge. Thanks to its frequent appearances in pop culture and historical significance, the Peacemaker is still one of the most sought after revolvers out there. In fact, Colt still markets these 6-shooters for upwards of $2,000.

Runner Up: Smith & Wesson J-Frame – For nearly 75 years, S&W’s J-Frame revolvers have been some of the most dependable and attractive in the industry. While it all started with the Model 36 in 1950, the .38 Special really took off with the Model 60- the first successful stainless steel revolver.

ASSAULT RIFLE: AK-47

Trying to classify history’s most important and influential firearms was getting pretty tough, until I arrived at the rifle category. I can’t think of a more fitting winner than the extraordinary AK-47. When Mikhail Kalashnikov –the Soviet weapons designer behind the AK – began building his rifle, accuracy was not his priority. In order to economically mass produce these firearms for the Red Army, he set his eyes on simplicity, reliability, and most importantly, firepower. With over 75 million AK-47s manufactured, plus an additional 25 million Kalashnikov-family variants, these 7.62 x 39mm rifles are by far the best-selling firearms of all time. In fact, you’d be hard bent to find a global conflict in the last 70 years where there weren’t AKs. Most impressively, despite its inexpensive construction these rifles can handle some of the harshest conditions in the world, such as the Afghani deserts and Siberian plains.

Runner Up: AR-15

As one of the world’s most influential assault rifles, the AR-15 and its derivatives are among the best-selling, most influential, and top-rated firearms in the world. In addition to serving as the rifle of choice by militaries around the globe, AR-15s are a favorite for home-defense, sport, hunting, and competition shooting. The Modern Sporting Rifle, initially crafted by ArmaLite, has seen some tremendous derivatives, including the M16, M4, HK416, and many more. While gaining notoriety, the AR-15 platform rifles have become arguably the most trusted platform in the industry.

SHOTGUN: REMINGTON 870

By name alone, Remington is undoubtedly one of the world’s most important and influential weapons producers. Although they have been manufacturing top-notch firearms for over 200 years, there is one that sticks out to me as the most significant. Around halfway through the 20th century, the American company unleashed their Model 870 shotgun and it is still a modern marvel to this day. Over the course of the last few decades, Remington has released several variations of barrels, stocks, and gauges, including their extremely popular affordable models. Ultimately, the 870 has established itself as the best-selling shotgun in history, with over 11 million units sold. What makes these scatterguns so special is their versatility; Remington 870s are popular world-wide among all kinds of shooters, including hunters, sporting shooters, home-defense shooters, military and law enforcement. Not surprisingly, they are one of the most commonly-used firearms in the U.S. Government, commissioned by the U.S. Border Patrol, Dept. of Education, IRS, Secret Service, U.S. Marshals, and FBI.

Runner Up: Winchester Model 1897

When Winchester released their Model 1897 shotgun, with the help of John Browning (once again) they forever changed the firearms market. The M97 was not only the first commercially successful pump action shotgun – ultimately setting the stage for all further shotguns – but it was also a staple weapon among military and police for almost a century. Although Winchester has stopped producing these iconic shotguns, their influence on the industry is immeasurable.

MACHINEGUN: BROWNING M2

To no surprise, John Browning is the source of another one of history’s most influential firearms, this time with the M2 Browning machine gun. Produced between WWI and WWII, these formidable beasts have been used by militaries in wars on nearly every continent since its inception. But this legendary gun is not just some piece of the past; the renowned Browning machine gun is still widely used today thanks to its timeless power, durability, and reliability. One of the M2’s most outstanding features is its frightening .50-caliber rounds, which are capable of piercing 1-inch steel armor and are lethal at up to 2,000 yards (over 1 mile!).

See more reviews on Stoeger’s M3000, M3500 and Condor Shotgun!

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Gun control may be one of the hottest topics in modern America, but it’s been around for quite some time.  This unwavering criticism all started back in the 1930’s with President FDR, who many consider the hero of the Liberal Movement. While this may not have been his most divisive resolution, he was no stranger to some of history’s most catastrophic decisions, which unfortunately, get overlooked. In addition to turning America’s focus onto collectivism and putting the country on the path to becoming a welfare state, Roosevelt was the president who sent over 100,000 Japanese-Americans to internment camps, denied Jews asylum during the Holocaust, snubbed Jesse Owens, and failed to support Republican efforts to classify lynching as a federal crime.

Moving on in history, following the assassination of JFK in 1963, the discussion about gun control really started to heat up. Over the course of the next few decades, a national movement arose where the fear of guns and the ensuing controversy began to affect the firearms industry. After every major mass shooting and terrorist attack, the immediate response from many Americans is to blame firearms. As a result, certain guns have been targeted incessantly by the media, some more than others. In today’s Gunivore Fast Five review, we’re going to examine some of the most controversial guns on the market today. But before we begin, I highly recommend reading my piece debunking The Biggest Myths About Guns.

AK-47

 Considering that most of the gun debate stems from the number of deaths a weapon causes, it’s no surprise that the AK-47 is one of the most despised. This Soviet masterpiece has solidified its place in history by offering top-grade reliability, firepower, and simplicity, all for an affordable price. Overall, there have been over 100 million AKs manufactured, making it the clear best-seller in the world. Because of the AK-47’s economic price-tag and availability, it has been utilized, some way or another, in almost every war and conflict in the last 75 years. Furthermore, the AK is one of the most durable of its kind, able to brave even the harshest conditions in the Middle East. Because of its nearly universal association with war, terrorism, and crime, the AK-47 is clearly one of the most contentious guns in the world.

• Model: Saiga AK-47 AKM

  

• Caliber: 7.62x39mm
• Capacity: 30-Rounds
• Barrel Length: 16.3”
• Overall Length: 35”
• Weight: 7.7 lbs. (Unloaded)
• Sights: Adjustable Iron
• MSRP: Around $900

AR-15

No firearm in history has taken more heat than the AR-15. Originally designed by ArmaLite (where the AR distinction comes from, not “assault or automatic rifle”, which is commonly mistaken) in the 1950’s, then sold to Colt shortly afterwards, the AR-15 is arguably the most trusted platform in the industry. Besides for being the rifle of choice for countless militaries and law enforcement across the globe, the versatile AR-15 is also the weapon of choice for tons of hunters, competition & sport shooters, and those looking for a home-defense gun. I don’t want to get into the debate about AR-15s, but our friends at The Daily Wire have already published their own debunking of the biggest myths about this iconic firearm.

One of the best AR-15s money can buy is the German Heckler and Koch 416. Arguably on the most powerful rifles on the market, the HK416 is intimidating, sexy, insanely accurate, and promises unwavering reliability – all for a hefty price.

• Model: HK416

  

• Caliber: 5.56mm x 45
• Capacity: 30-Rounds
• Barrel Length: 14.5”
• Overall Length: 31.5”
• Weight: 7.7 lbs. (Unloaded)
• Sights: Various
• MSRP: Around $3,000

FN FIVE-SEVEN

While the Belgian FN Five-Seven is not inherently on of the more controversial guns, it has become a major hot-topic due to its high-velocity super intense 5.7x28mm cartridge. This is definitely the kind of gun about which the left-wing politicians claim “has no sporting purpose!” or is a “cop killer!” and “deadly military gun!”. Although some of the 5.7x28mm cartridges are considered somewhat armor-piercing (which is the root of the controversy), FN has released SS195LF and SS196 loads (to law-abiding citizens) which has yet to be classified as armor-piercing by BATFE. Traditional SS190 loads are still as restricted as they’ve always been and the commercially available 5.7x28mm loads have a significantly less impact than your average .44 Magnum round. At the end of the day, I can safely say that like all other controversies about guns, the controversy with the FN Five-Seven lies within a simple misunderstanding.

For a more comprehensive review of this powerhouse semi-automatic pistol, check out our rundown of the Belgian FN Five-Seven.

• Model: FNH Five-Seven USG
• Caliber: 5.7x28mm
• Capacity: 20-Rounds
• Barrel Length: 4.8”
• Overall Length: 8.2”
• Weight: 1.3 lbs. (Unloaded)
• Sights: Fully-Adjustable Rear / Blade Front
• MSRP: $1,074

ADLER A110 RAPID-FIRE

Shotguns tend to avoid attention in the heated gun control debates, but that was not the case with the Adler A110 Rapid-Fire shotgun, especially in Australia. Politicians and citizens alike have spent months debating the legality of this firearm, many claiming it to be a military-grade killing-machine. The biggest argument against the Adler is its firing speed. While boasting a 7+1 capacity, the beautiful A110 can easily fire all 8 shots in less than 8 seconds, in the right hands. Additionally, some argue that its capacity can be adjusted to almost a dozen rounds, making it even more dangerous. The funny thing is that the Adler is a lever-action firearm, one of the oldest styles in the business and even still it can’t evade controversy. Nevertheless, opponents of the fast shotgun claim it has no place in hunting or defense – that is only serves as a danger to the people. However, when compared to some of the industry’s fastest shotguns, the A110 is right on pace with other, less-controversial models. Clearly, there is something underlying at the root of the debate.

• Model: Adler A110

  

• Caliber: 12 Gauge
• Capacity: 7+1
• Barrel Length: 24”
• Overall Length: 45”
• Weight: Around 7 lbs. (Unloaded)
• Sights: Brass Bead Front
• MSRP: $850.00

TOMMY GUN

Although not so common these days, the notorious Thompson M1921 Submachine Gun (A.K.A. Tommy Gun) is one of the most controversial guns to come out of the United States. This classic .45 caliber legend is one of the most recognizable firearms ever invented, thanks to its frequent appearances in movies and television. The Tommy Gun was famous for not only being one of the fastest guns on the market, but also one of the most powerful. Just thinking about its large wooden stock/handguard and its high-capacity drum magazine sends shivers down the spines of left-wing liberals everywhere. To make matters even more complicated, the “Chicago Typewriter” was the gun of choice for American mobsters during the Prohibition-era leading up to WWII, and onwards. This association with criminal activity and its high-speed firing capabilities makes the Tommy Gun one of the most controversial firearms in history.

• Model: Thompson 1927A-1 T1D
• Caliber: .45 ACP
• Capacity: 100-Round Drum Mag
• Barrel Length: 16.5”
• Overall Length: 41”
• Weight: 13 lbs. (Unloaded)
• Sights: Various
• MSRP: Around $1,750

BONUS: HOLLOW POINT AMMO

Of all the controversies about guns, this one has got to be my favorite. The insanity of the left and the preposterous arguments against specific ammunition perfectly sums up their entire agenda. While the majority of them know next to nothing about guns and ammo, they all know that AR-15s are bad, guns are only good for killing, and that hollow point rounds are the worst thing in the world. Besides for the fact there are even places in the U.S. where it’s illegal to own them, the Supreme Court has refused to even hear an appeal that would challenge San Francisco’s ban on the controversial load. The left are content to ignore the fact that hollow points are universally trusted by police and civilians for defense, more than any other round. I would even go as far as to say that they are the ultimate ammo for defense, and definitely the safest. Its opponents get scared because of its power (it is designed to rapidly expand upon contact) but neglect the purpose of said power. Hollow points are the safest choice because they almost completely eliminate any chance of over-penetration. That means that stray bullets are much less likely to strike any unintended targets – what more could you ask for in a bullet?!

check out more of our reviews on Barrett Firearms Manufacturing and Shotguns!

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