What is the quintessential american 9mm pistol?

[Canuck223]

I thought I knew what quintessential meant, but I looked it up and I was incorrect. It means: 1) purest and most perfect form, manifestation or embodiment of quality etc. 2) highly refined extract. Thus, the quintessential American 9mm pistol must be a European import, probably a SIG, but my vote would be for a Browning Hi-Power which like the 1911 is difficult to improve upon.

I think in a left handed way, you've hit on the answer, even if it's not flattering.

The embodiment of American quality was the Model 39. It was everything the users asked for. The double action first shot of the Model 10. The single action trigger of the 1911. The 9mm case the Nato countries were adopting as standard.

And it sucked. The grip was too small and slightly awkward. The capacity was one round better than the 1911 and three rounds better than the revolver, but skipped the obvious idea of the double stack mag of the competition, the HiPower.

The Americans tried, and to a large measure failed to define the standard. The Europeans set the bar and pulled the rest up.

 

[CanadianLawman]

Were hi-powers ever made in america?

Made in Toronto during WWII.