The Top 6 Classic Pistols for Collectors and Field-Use

Zac K. 12.24.24

Classic deer rifles get a lot of love in hunting season, but for some reason, vintage shotguns get far less interest, and as for classic pistols? But that’s a mistake, because there are some very interesting classic handguns that served well at time of introduction, and today they’re just as good for use afield as when they were first introduced—and now they’re collectable as well. Here’s a list of what we think is worth buying:

Colt 1911 Government

Yeah, we know. Some handgun hunters have been poo-pooing the 1911 ever since Elmer Keith told them to do so, way back in the Stone Age. But the reality is, a lot of people have hunted very successfully with the 1911. The key is to make sure your ammo is up to the job, and if you want to cheat a bit, get a pistol chambered in 10mm Auto. Would that be considered a classic? Maybe not, but you won’t hear a dead deer arguing with you… Otherwise, you could always go the opposite direction and get a lighter round for plinking cans or maybe even trying to pot small game. You can even buy a .22LR conversion kit for many of the 1911 models on the market.

Wildey Pistol

Nobody’s poo-pooing the knockdown power of the Wildey Pistol—it came in a range of proprietary cartridges made for bowling over big game. This gas-operated pistol was introduced in the early 1970s and has been in production off and on ever since. It was a revolutionary offering at its debut; most handgun hunters were buying revolvers or break-action single-shots back then, if they wanted to go after larger animals. The Wildey gave them more hitting power in a fast-shooting semi-auto. But the biggest boost to the pistol’s sales was probably its product placement in Death Wish 3, where Charles Bronson’s vigilante character blasted baddies with his Wildey.That was Bronson’s personal pistol in use in those scenes, and a big upgrade from the piddly .32 revolver he used in the first entry in the franchise. The hunting capability combined with the notoriety from this and other films makes the Wildey one of those collectible classics today, if you want a pistol for field use.

Colt Woodsman

Not a deer gun, nosirree. But the John Browning-designed Colt Woodsman has always been a favorite of well, woodsmen, due to its sleek lines, easy portability, reliability and accuracy. You don’t hear quite as much appreciation for so-called “kit guns” today, but in the first three-quarters of the 20th century, many, many outdoorsmen carried a .22LR pistol for dealing with snakes, or filling the camp pot—if you grew up reading Jim Kjelgaard’s books or similar adventure stories, the guides and trappers often had a small handgun along for just these purposes, and the Colt Woodsman might have been the best of them all. Built in multiple production runs between 1915 and 1977, the Woodsman also came out in a government-issue version for the purpose of teaching soldiers to shoot in World War II. All versions of the pistol are collectible, although some are worth much more than others. Be careful when buying, that you don’t spend too much for a pistol you’re scared to use in the field—and that you don’t get ripped off.

Thompson-Center Contender

Perhaps the most successful big game hunting pistol of all time, the single-shot break-action Contender came to market in the late 1960s, designed by Warren Center and produced in conjunction with the K.W. Thompson Tool Company. A revolver offered quicker back-up shots, but many shooters and hunters liked the Contender’s ability to swap barrels quickly to change caliber. Over its 30+ years of production, the Contender came chambered in everything from .22LR to low-pressure deer cartridges like the .45-70. The aftermarket offered even more versatility, and of course the Contender action also became very popular for rifle hunters. With the right barrel (available in several lengths), the Contender could do anything, and it is perhaps the most versatile and useful classic hunting pistol you can buy, if you can live with its limited rate of fire.

Desert Eagle

The legendary Desert Eagle, like the Wildey, was one of the first true big-bore semi-auto pistols. Gas-operated (also like the Wildey), the Desert Eagle came to market in the 1980s for hunters or long-range target shooting. Offered in .357 Magnum, .41 Magnum, .44 Magnum, 50 Action Express and many other hard-hitting cartridges, the Desert Eagle has more drip than any other semi-auto made in the last half of the 20th century. Whether you’re knocking over bowling pins at long distance, or warthogs, the Deagle is a hand cannon with few equals. Also one of the most recognizable handguns in the filmography of the past 40 years, with hundreds of fictional villains and good guys alike choosing this magnum masterpiece—check out the IMFDB page here to get an idea of just how popular this pistol is on-screen.

Ruger Standard/Mk1

Bill Ruger’s great post-war design was ironically developed with significant appreciation for the Luger P-08, as used by America’s enemies in World War II. He also cited the Colt Woodsman as an inspiration, and it’s easy to see why; this .22LR plinker/hunting pistol followed right in the Woodsman’s tracks as a basic utility gun. The Standard’s affordable pricing made it immediately popular, and in the decades since its 1949 debut, this basic design has evolved into the MkIV pistol we see today (the original Standard design ran until 1982). Accurate, lightweight, with a grip angle that suits shooters nicely (borrowed from the Luger), the Ruger is one of the greatest semi-autos of all time for a general field utility pistol.

Zac K.

Retired sea salt with a taste for venison and fresh-caught fish.