"Classic" Guns

I was listening to an old radio segment of one of my favorite talk shows (Tom Gresham's Gun Talk), and they brought up the subject of classic guns. It was great fun to listen to people call in and suggest what they thought should be considered a "classic" gun. "Classic" doesn't necessarily mean old, but a gun that significantly changed the firearm industry.

Of course we have the obvious classic guns like the Colt Single Action Army, Colt .45 1911, Winchester Model 1873, M4, AK-47, and the Browning Hi-Power, but my list will have guns that may not be considered "classic" but should be or will be in 50 years or so.

• Colt 1903 Pocket Hammerless
• One of the most overlooked pistols was designed to cater to the concealed carrier. Also can be considered a precursor to the 1911.

• Beretta 92
• Love it or hate it, it's one of America's longest serving military weapons. Timeless design  that is replicated by other manufacturers and ultimate reliability. 

• HK VP70
• The first pistol with a polymer frame. That's right - Glock wasn't the first.

• Remington 700
• Possibly the most iconic American hunting rifle. Available in almost every caliber and any configuration. Many consider the 700 to be the standard in which other rifles are compared, but I've never heard it called a "classic."

• SKS
• Russia's semi-automatic rifle that changed the way we looked at the carbine.

• Walther PPK 
• Not only a staple of German WWII weapon manufacturing, but an iconic movie legend. The company has changed hands several times, but the PPK has stayed the same.

• Thompson Machine Gun
• Nothing portrays the "1950s gangster" style more than the Tommy Gun. Shooting the almighty .45 ACP, it packed quite a punch.

• Winchester Model 12
• Basis for all pump shotguns to come. One of the first widely successful pumps produced. Used in WWI, WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam War. 

• Glock 17
• Police bought it because it was cheap and reliable. Now it's widely accepted as industry standard in polymer reliability....unfortunately.

• Mossberg 500
• Believe it or not, Mossberg has sold more 500 model shotguns than the 870 Remington. Did you know that? 

• Sig Sauer P226
• The often overlooked P226 is quite a workhorse. All metal frame, unreal reliability, beautifully designed and well equipped right out of the box.

• Smith & Wesson Model 686
• While the Python will always be considered a classic, the 686 will carry the torch for years to come. 

I know I've only scratched the surface of what could be considered a "classic" gun, but I'd love to hear from others what you think is a classic.